Jason Haskins's Blog, page 4

Boise State Broncos men's basketball aim to close 2024 strong

 

Heading into the final weeks of the calendar year, the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team is looking to unlock their full potential.

Fans have been treated to a high-octane offense averaging 80.8 points per game, with a win over the Clemson Tigers and a second-place finish at the Cayman Islands Classic on the resume. After victories over Hampton and South Dakota State, the Broncos were seconds away from winning the tournament, prevented only by a last-second three in falling to Boston College, 63-61. 

Boise State (6-3) split two games after the tournament and last Saturday had one of their worst halves of the 2024-25 season. In a 74-69 loss to the Washington State Cougars (8-2) in downtown Boise, the Broncos trailed by 24 early in the second half. Boise State managed a valiant comeback that fell just short, closing the gap to four in the game's final minute.

Andrew Meadow had 21 points and 7 rebounds off the bench to lead the Broncos in the loss.

The Broncos need to be at their best in closing out this first part of the season, starting on Saturday in Idaho Falls against the Saint Mary's Gaels.

Boise State: Next five games

The meeting on 12/14 (9 p.m. ET) with the Gaels is an Idaho Falls rematch, where Boise State defeated Saint Mary's. In the 63-60 victory, Tyson Degenhart led the Broncos with 17 points, pulled down four rebounds, and dished out five assists.

Saint Mary's (9-1) enters this year's matchup looking in mid-season form. The Gaels own wins over Nebraska (77-74), Utah (72-63), and USC, defeating former Bronco Chibuzo Agbo's squad 71-36.

The only loss for Saint Mary's so far is to Arizona State, where the Gaels lost by four. Six players for Saint Mary's average more than 8.7 points per game. Boise State will have to deal with the size of Saint Mary's in squaring off against Paulius Murauskus (14.7 points, 9.5 rebounds) and Luke Barrett (10.6 points, 7.6 rebounds).

After Saint Mary's, Boise State returns home to host Texas Southern on 12/17 and the start of conference play, welcoming Air Force to town.

The Broncos finish out the calendar year with road games at San Jose State on 12/28 and Wyoming on New Year's Eve.

San Jose State and Wyoming each have one conference loss already, losing to New Mexico (by six) and undefeated Utah State (by three) respectively.

Broncos stat leaders

Entering the season, Boise State had its star returners in place. Degenhart and O'Mar Stanley were the headliners, with key players like Meadow and RJ Keene II returning.

Joining them was all-conference transfer Alvaro Cardenas, a talented point guard who arrived from San Jose State. Beyond that, questions remained.

Asked and answered through the season's first nine games, with the Broncos regularly playing a rotation of nine to ten players.

Degenhart continues to play at a high level, averaging 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. The senior forward is shooting 56.4 percent from the field, connecting on all seven attempts in a recent victory over Utah Tech.

Degenhart is struggling from deep (4 -24) but committed only eight turnovers so far this season.

Second on the team in scoring is transfer Javan Buchanan. Buchanan (12.3 ppg) is shooting 55.6 percent on field goal attempts and scored 52 points in the final two games of the Cayman Islands Classic.

Meadow is averaging 11.9 points and leads the team in made threes (16) and rebounding (6.6). 

Cardenas (9.9 ppg) and Stanley (9 ppg) round out the top scorers for Boise State. Cardenas also has 14 steals and 52 assists, while Stanley averages six rebounds per game. Though not a bad season by any stretch, Stanley has struggled to get going at times but does lead the team with 11 blocked shots.

Freshman Julian Bowie, Dylan Anderson, Emmanuel Ugbo, Chris Lockett, and Keene are all finding ways to contribute (valuably, I might add) so far this season.

This deep rotation has helped efficiency on offense, though Boise State is prone to long stretches of not scoring. Eighty points is a magic number so far for Boise State. In each victory, the team scored higher than this number and each loss, under.

Boise State is shooting 48 percent from the field but only 31.3 percent on three-point attempts. The Broncos do hold a 7.4 rebound advantage per contest and are averaging 16.1 assists per game.

Defense has been prone to its own lapses, especially in the first half against Washington State (where, honestly, the entire effort was lackluster in that half). But Boise State is keeping opponents under 30 percent on three-point attempts. 

Huge aspirations remain on the Broncos radar. And while three losses are somewhat disappointing, this Boise State team is still figuring each other out. Knocking out two more non-conference wins will be a major booster. If that happens, and positive momentum carries Boise State into Mountain West play, the Broncos could very well close out 2024 on a five-game winning streak.

Then? Well, 2025 awaits, and hopefully, the chasing down of the one thing eluding Boise State: an NCAA tournament victory.

More on Boise State Broncos 2024-25 season

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Boise State Broncos women's basketball galloping full throttle towards 2025

 

Winding down non-conference play in the coming weeks, the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team is enjoying quite the start to the 2024-25 season.

Blowout victories, close wins, and tough losses, plus contributions from the entire roster have helped the Broncos gallop to a 9-2 start. Suffice to say, Boise State has earned a little breather this week.

Big wins over the Colorado, University of San Francisco, and Illinois State are among the highlights for this Boise State team, who averages 73.3 points per game. Five times already this season the Broncos have scored over 80 points. Even better, the team is playing well on defense, too.

An opponent did not reach 60 points against Boise State until the seventh game this season and eight times the Broncos have kept opponents under that number.

Boise State did run into a tough stretch at the Gulf Coast Showcase. After an opening round win over Illinois State on a last-second Dani Bayes bucket, the Broncos dropped their next two. West Virginia, then ranked 12th before falling in the title game to fifth ranked Texas, beat an overmatched Boise State team in a 82-47 victory.

In the third-place game, Boise State led much of the game before ultimately falling to Butler (9-2), 70-64. 

Still, the Broncos bounced back with two recent wins and are preparing for three games before the calendar turns to 2025, including their first Mountain West game of the season.

Boise State Broncos: Stat leaders

In Boise State's most recent victory, 76-59 over the University of San Diego, the Broncos extended their non-conference home winning streak to 15 games.

ExtraMile Arena has been extra cozy to the Broncos and the success this season has been due in large part thanks to a deep roster.

On defense, Boise State is holding opponents to 58.3 points and forcing 19 turnovers per game. Perimeter defense is excellent (25.4 percent from deep) and overall, opponents shoot 38 percent from the field.

The Broncos are shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 33.7 on three-point attempts. Ten players average three or more points per game.

Natalie Pasco tops the list with 11.3 points per game. Pasco leads the team with 24 made threes, shooting 44.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Tatum Thompson is filling up the score sheet, averaging 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Thompson also leads the team with 15 steals.

Abby Muse and Elodie Lalotte form a nice 1-2 combo in the paint. Muse averages 6.5 rebounds and has 28 blocked shots and 22 assists this season. Lalotte, mostly off the bench, is averaging 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds and shooting 58.3 percent from the field.

Mary Kay Naro leads the team with 33 assists while Bayes and Maya Hansen have combined for 27 made three-pointers (with Hansen at 45.2 percent).

Two freshmen are playing valuable minutes for the Broncos. Teryn Gardner (5.5 ppg) and Libby Hutton (4.9 ppg) are both playing at a high level. Gardner has 13 made threes and scored 10 points on four different occasions. 

Each had fantastic efforts in the victory over Colorado, with Gardner nabbing five steals and Hutton collecting seven rebounds.

Upcoming games

The Broncos receive a full ten days off between games. Up next are two games in Seattle for the Husky Classic.

First, on 12/18, Boise State plays Furman, who is currently 8-3 (with one more game prior to the meeting with the Broncos.

On 12/19, Boise State takes on North Dakota State, who are 6-3 with two games scheduled between now and then.

It is then on to Mountain West play for Boise State. The Broncos open on the road against San Diego State (9-1). The Aztecs only loss was by one point to Providence and have three more non-conference games on the schedule prior to this meeting.

Last season, the two teams met up three times. Each team won on their own floor and met again in the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament. The Aztecs won a close won over Boise State, 72-69.

More on Boise State Broncos women 2024-25:

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Josh Allen show rolls on thru week 13 of season 7

 

Lined up, four quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft remain in the race to clock-in with an appearance in Super Bowl LIX. Heading into the final five weeks of the regular season, all appear ready to go full throttle down the stretch.

One quarterback has his team already with a division title, turning their eyes towards a carefree push to the conference's top seed.

Another has some work to do to lead his team to a division title. And a third is enjoying a career year with the playoffs well within range.

The fourth quarterback is in the thick of a division race that could be the only route to the playoffs.

Five things remain to sort things out, with plenty of scenarios left on the table. Thru week 13 of their seventh season, it is safe to say that collectively this has been the best for the first round quarterbacks of the 2018 class.

Josh Allen

At 10-2, riding a seven-game winning streak, Josh Allen has the Buffalo Bills atop the AFC East. The Bills already clinched a division title, their fifth consecutive, and are vying to snag the top seed. Buffalo sits one game back of mediocre (looking) Kansas City. If the Bills can pull even with KC, Buffalo owns the head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to a week 11 victory.

The wonder of Allen continued last week against the San Francisco 49ers, where the MVP candidate scored via land, air, and sea.

Fine. Perhaps not by sea. Allen passed for two touchdowns, ran for another, and took one in after a lateral from Amari Cooper.

Despite Buffalo's winning ways, Allen's numbers are down from previous seasons. Even among the four quarterbacks from '18, Allen trails in most categories and only has one game of 300+ passing yards (after finishing with five in the 2023-24 season). In four games this season, Allen passed for less than 200 yards.

Allen has a completion percentage of 64.6, throwing for 2,691 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only five interceptions (which all came in the three games prior to the victory over San Francisco.

Through 12 games, Allen has been sacked 13 times and has taken a smarter approach to running the ball this season, though he still has 334 yards and six touchdowns.

Allen and Buffalo would love, I am sure, to have the top seed come playoff time. The best they can do is take care of their own business down the stretch, which at the very least should be a 4-1 record.

Weeks 14 - 18: @ LAR (12/8), @ DET (12/15), vs NE (12/22), vs NYJ (12/29), @ NE (1/5)

Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens (8-5) currently are 1.5 games back in the AFC North, trailing the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite Jackson's career-best numbers, Baltimore has had trouble closing out games, with four of their five losses by five points or less.

Jackson has cooled off the last three games, two of which were losses. Jackson is 55 of 91 for 621 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.

Overall, Jackson has 3,290 passing yards this season, with 29 touchdowns against only three interceptions while completing 67 percent of his attempts. Jackson has felt less pressure to carry the team in the ground game, thanks to Derrick Henry. However, the quarterback still has 678 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, with three touchdowns.  

Only a major slide would prevent Jackson and the Ravens reaching the playoffs. A division title is within reach, with big games against the Steelers and Browns on the horizon. Four wins to close the season is possible, though having to play Houston four days after Pittsburgh is a little harsh.

Weeks 14 - 18: BYE, @ NYG (12/15), vs PIT (12/21), @ HOU (12/25), vs CLE (1/5)

Sam Darnold

A recent two-game stretch where Sam Darnold had six turnovers brought out the naysayers. It was a bumpy patch, but Darnold settled down. Even with the turnovers, Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings found ways to win, a streak that has now reached five games. At 10-2, Minnesota is one game back of the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.

A playoff ticket should be coming soon for the Vikings, who won their last two games by a combined four points. One of those, a 30-27 victory over the Chicago Bears, Darnold notched his first 300-yard passing game in nearly two years. 

Darnold finished 22 of 34 for 330 yards and two touchdown passes.

Overall, Darnold is enjoying his best season as a pro, passing for 2,952 yards and 23 touchdown passes. Darnold has thrown ten interceptions, but zero in the last three games.

Three division games await the Vikings, along with two games against teams with playoff aspirations. No easy stretch over the final weeks but Minnesota should win at least three of five, with a division title within reach.

Weeks 14 - 18: vs ATL (12/8), vs CHI (12/16), @ SEA (12/22), vs GB (12/29), @ DET (1/5)

Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield and the (6-6), after a tough stretch where they lost five of six, finally found solid footing in recent weeks. After a bye in week 11, Tampa Bay won their next two games. Couple with a mini slide from the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa is back in the thick of the race for an NFC South division title.

Atlanta is also 6-6 but has the advantage of two wins over Tampa Bay this season.

Mayfield is having a (mostly) fantastic season, aside from the turnover bug biting at inopportune times. Despite 11 interceptions, Mayfield is performing well. Helping matters is a trio of running backs, racking up yards on the ground and through the air.

Utilizing the backs in the passing game has helped ease the lack of depth at wide receiver, where Mike Evans only recently returned. Over the last three games, Mayfield threw only two touchdown passes.

On the season, Mayfield has 25 touchdowns, plus three more on the ground to go along with 229 rushing yards. Mayfield is completing 70.8 percent of his passes, throwing for 3,034 yards.

A playoff spot without winning the division might be tough for Mayfield and the Bucs. Tampa Bay has a good chance to go 4-1 down the stretch. Doing so is another matter. If Tampa Bay can keep a banged-up Mayfield on the field, then another division title may very well be theirs. 

Weeks 14 - 18: vs LV (12/8), @ LAC (12/15), @ DAL (12/22), vs CAR (12/29), vs NO (1/5)

Josh Rosen

Though he hasn't played in some time, Josh Rosen remains part of this series. Even if Rosen never returns to the game (where he is off pursuing a master's degree), Rosen was here at the beginning in this series of posts, so here he will remain. 

Thanks for following along in this continuing series following the careers of five quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Check back in for the conclusion of season seven after week 18 is complete in early 2025.

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Midpoint MVPs of Season 7 Sizzling Sam Darnold Season seven itch Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Mountain West Conference title game: To the victor go the CFP spoils

 

Boise State vs the UNLV Rebels. Round three. In the words of the late, great Mills Lane, "Let's get it on!"

The 2024 Mountain West Conference championship game will mark the third time the two teams will play each other since late 2023. Last December, riding the momentum of interim head coach Spencer Danielson, the Broncos defeated the Rebels in Las Vegas, 44-20.

In that game, Boise State rolled up 527 yards of offense to help secure the victory.

Boise State (11-1) traveled to Las Vegas earlier this season, again defeating UNLV 29-24. This desert duel was a close game throughout, with the Broncos using a drive of over eight minutes to seal the deal.

On the line in this season's title game (December 6, 8 p.m. ET on FOX) at Albertsons Stadium in Boise is much more than bragging rights and the shot at a bowl game.

Yes, bragging rights will be included for the victor, but the spoils are much bigger. For 11th-ranked (10th in the AP) Boise State, a victory secures a spot in the first iteration of the 12-team College Football Playoff, with a possible first round bye to boot.

A victory for 22nd-ranked (19th in AP) UNLV means they have their own argument for a CFP appearance thanks to a near-perfect season of their own.

However it boils down, the game should be a good one on a cold Friday night in Boise.

Boise State Broncos

Boise State arguably put together its finest season in a decade, with their only loss coming way back in their second game to the top-ranked Oregon Ducks. And it was a game Boise State very well should have won, losing only by three.

The Broncos have displayed a fantastic team effort but let's face it, a substantial portion of this season's story belongs to junior running back Ashton Jeanty.

Jeanty is among the top two contenders for the Heisman Trophy. He should be a "no doubt about it" winner with his stats, production, and what he means to the team but sadly, it may not be enough.

Threatening to break a single season rushing record held by Barry Sanders, Jeanty has 2288 yards this season, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. He has 28 touchdowns on the ground, plus another through the air.

Jeanty has five games with 200+ yards but in the earlier meeting this season the Rebels held him to 128 yards on 33 carries. This was Jeanty's second-lowest yardage output of the season, with only 127 yards (in one half) against Portland State lower. 

The Boise State Broncos boast one of the top scoring offense in the nation, ringing in 40.6 points per game. Thanks primarily to Jeanty, the Broncos rank sixth in rushing yards per game (253.5), adding 224.8 in the air.

Maddux Madsen has taken the majority of snaps at quarterback, completing 61.7 percent of pass attempts. Madsen takes care of the ball (only three interceptions) and has tossed for 2,556 yards and 21 touchdowns. 

Madsen was 18 of 33 for 209 yards and one touchdown in the last meeting with the Rebels. Madsen's last five games have been a bit of a roller coaster. In games against San Jose State and San Diego State, Madsen was 46 of 62 for 593 yards and five touchdowns. In the other three games, Madsen is only 40 of 79 for 481 yards, three touchdowns, and a pick.

The redshirt sophomore has produced big throws and has a stable of receivers to choose from. Cameron Camper, Latrelle Caples, and tight end Matt Lauter are the primary targets. Camper has 51 catches for 811 yards, Caples 32 for 406, and Lauter 38 for 461. The trio combined for 14 touchdown receptions.

The next trio is the group of Austin Bolt, Prince Strachan, and Chase Penry, who combined for 47 catches, 592 yards, and five touchdowns.

Boise State's defense has had its share of problems, primarily in the deep passing game but overall is a deep, solid crew. Opponents scored 23.6 points per game and the Broncos finished the regular season with 45 sacks and six interceptions.

The Broncos have been somewhat quiet in the sack department in recent weeks. Jayden Virgin-Morgan has nine, with Ahmed Hassanein close behind with 8.5. The two have combined for 74 tackles this season.

Ty Benefield leads the team with 65, plus two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Zion Washington has 56 and A'Marion McCoy has 55.

UNLV Rebels

Aside from against Boise State, the only time the UNLV Rebels (10-2) lost this season was 44-41 to a now 9-3 Syracuse team.

The Rebels average 39.7 points and allow only 22. Through the air, UNLV averages 179.9 yards per game and has an overall rushing attack slightly better than Boise State with 254.1 yards per game.

The key to the ground attack is quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams. Williams finished second on UNLV with 768 rushing yards, leading the team with nine touchdowns. In the season's first meeting with Boise State, Williams had 105 yards on the ground. He was also sacked six times and picked off once.

Williams has a completion percentage of 61.4, throwing for 1,735 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions this season. Only once in the last six games has Williams thrown for over 200 yards but has three 100-yard games on the ground in the same span.

Jai'Den Thomas was the team's leading rusher with 833 yards, scoring seven times on the ground. UNLV utilized Thomas more as of late. After only seven carries for 43 yards against the Broncos, Thomas has 41 carries for 270 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games.

While Madsen spreads the ball around for Boise State, UNLV really only has two primary receivers, with a tight end special in the red zone. Ricky White III (75 receptions, 1020 yards, 11 TD) and Jacob De Jesus (32 receptions, 456 yards, 2 TD) combine for 68 percent of the receptions for UNLV. 

White had five catches for 57 yards against Boise State and only twice this season had under five receptions in a game. De Jesus only caught one pass in the first meeting but in his last three has 14 catches for 157 yards.

Tight end Kaleo Ballungay has only 13 receptions this season but six of those have gone for touchdowns.

UNLV boasts one of the best defenses in the country, led by linebacker and Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Jackson Woodard. Woodard accumulated 114 tackles. 3.5 sacks, and four interceptions this season. 

The Rebels are excellent ballhawks, notching 17 picks. Jalen Catalon, with 82 tackles and five interceptions, leads a stellar secondary.

In the last three games, UNLV is holding opponents to 16.7 points per game and on the season the Rebels have 36 sacks.

Prediction: This game will be another hard-hitting affair. Much like the first game, time of possession will be a key. Cold weather will factor in but this game will ultimately be decided via the team who passes the ball better. The Rebels will deliver all they can but with so much on the line for the Broncos, I see Boise State prevailing 31-27.

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Boise State Broncos fall short in title game of Cayman Islands Classic

 

Rare will a team win a basketball game without hitting a field goal for the last 8 minutes and 55 seconds.

The Boise State Broncos almost proved that wrong on Tuesday night in the championship game of the Cayman Islands Classic against the Boston College Eagles. 

After a frigid stretch in the second half, two free throws by Alvaro Cardenas with 12.2 seconds left gave the Broncos a 61-60 lead. A step back three-pointer by Joshua Beadle with two seconds left proved to be the dagger, sending Boston College to a 63-61 victory.

It was only the second made three (2-12) of the game for the Eagles, who entered the contest shooting 40 percent from deep. 

The Broncos (5-2) had their chances to put this game away, taking a 54-45 lead on two Javan Buchanan free throws with 8:27 left. Boise State, however, failed to score for over three minutes. The cold stretch ended when O'Mar Stanley hit one of two free throws.

By then, Boston College (6-1) had retaken the lead and used a 15-1 run to go up 60-55 with 3:19 left.

Boise State continued to miss from the field, but the Eagles also got cold. Each team was in the foul bonus for roughly the last ten minutes of the second half. The Broncos were able to stay in it down the stretch thanks to free throws, where they scored their last nine points. Boston College was 11 for 12 from the line before they missed three straight free throws (plus a lane violation). 

Buchanan had another outstanding game for the Broncos, finishing with a game-high 24 points, including 17 in the second half.

Boise State shot only 39.2 percent (23.5 on three-point attempts) and committed 14 turnovers. The Broncos finished with 30 rebounds and 10 assists.

Boston College was much better in the field goal department at 49 percent. The Eagles also had two more rebounds than the Broncos, though they committed 18 turnovers.

Three players finished in double figures for Boston College, led 16 from Chad Venning, who also had seven rebounds.

First half

Two offenses who put up great numbers in the tournament's first two games found much tougher sledding, especially in the first half. Tough passing lanes and cold shooting contributed to the struggles for both teams.

Boise State got out to an early lead that ranged from three to five points. Scoring balanced nicely between the starters and the bench and an early Andrew Meadow three gave the Broncos a 21-16 lead with a little over seven minutes left in the half.

Both teams went nearly three minutes without scoring but the Broncos maintained a five-point lead after a Cardenas layup with 4:21 on the clock. 

That was almost the last scoring of the half for Boise State.

As part of an 8-0 run, the Eagles took their first lead of the game with two minutes left. The lead extended to three before freshman Julian Bowie hit a three-pointer prior to the buzzer.

Buchanan had seven first-half points, with Bowie scoring five.

Second half

Scoring heated up right away for Boston College, with the Eagles hitting their first three shots to take a five-point lead. Cardenas cut the lead to 33-30 with a bucket.

Then Buchanan, who dropped 28 points in the semifinal victory over South Dakota State, took over.

Buchanan scored eight straight points, capped with two free throws to tie the score at 38. Bowie followed this with a three to give the Broncos the lead.

Buchanan scored 17 in the second half and his layup with 8:55 left was the last field goal of the game for Boise State.

Thirty seconds later, Buchanan's free throws gave the Broncos a nine-point lead. The Eagles switched things up, going to a zone defense for a long stretch, frustrating the Broncos.

Defense kept Boise State in it, though Stanley (one point, six rebounds, six turnovers) was again in second half foul trouble.

The Broncos were able to chip away thanks to decent free throw shooting and thanks to Venning's three missed free throws down the stretch. 

Cardenas (11 pts) and Tyson Deganhart (10 pts, 2 of 9 shooting) were the only other Broncos to finish in double figures. Bowie added eight. 

A preseason tournament title and another victory over an ACC school would have been nice resume additions. The loss is tough to swallow but the Broncos continue to prove they have a deep bench to supplement nights when the starters are struggling.

On Tuesday night, it was too much to overcome, especially with struggles from the field. Now, they have a week to reflect before returning to the court next Tuesday (12/3) at home against Utah Tech.

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Boise State Broncos women's basketball off to glorious start

 

Five victories in five tries. Exactly the type of start to the 2024-25 season the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team desired. 

Buoyed by depth, unselfish play, and a balanced effort on both sides of the court, the Broncos are taking care of business in multiple facets. Boise State won games they were heavily favored in (Eastern Oregon, UC Riverside, College of Idaho), a road test (University of San Francisco), and a big home win over a team from the Big 12 (Colorado Buffaloes).

In winning their first five games, Boise State has thus far one-upped their fast start from a season ago. It is the first time the Broncos started 5-0 since the 2020-21 season and are finding success far down the bench, with seniors to freshmen contributing to this glorious start.

Broncos: Season at a glance

The big early win over Colorado and winning its first road game has helped Boise State stay balanced in this young season. A strong start also builds confidence towards what should be competitive conference play, where the Broncos are one of six Mountain West teams with zero or one losses.

Defense has long been a calling card for Boise State under head coach Gordy Presnell and this season is no different. The Broncos hold opponents to 50.4 points per game, with no team yet hitting 60 points against Boise State. Opponents are shooting 33.1 percent from the field and a sub-freezing 17.9 percent from deep.

Helping the Broncos along is fantastic pressure inside the key, and out. Abby Muse has blocked 20 shots already and junior Tatum Thompson has 11 steals.

Thompson has taken a leap so far in '24-25, leading the team in scoring with 10.8 points per game and pulling down 6.4 rebounds.

Thompson is one of nine Broncos averaging at least 4.2 points per game. No other is in double figures, but it is lovely to see a box score fill up every game with Boise State receiving contributions from all aspects.

Natalie Pasco (8.8 ppg) leads the team with nine made threes and Dani Bayes (7.6 ppg) has six, though only shooting 24 percent from deep. 

Muse is shooting 65 percent and averages six points to go along with 6.6 rebounds, helping the Broncos to a plus 6.4 advantage on the boards. Mya Hansen (6.4 points) is struggling from the field a bit at 34 percent, Elodie Lalotte averages seven points, and Mary Kay Naro leads the team with 13 assists.

Three freshmen are also seeing adequate playing time, led by Teryn Gardner. Gardner is second on the team with six made threes, while Libby Hutton and Milly Sharp are seeing valuable minutes. 

Overall, turnovers remain a slight problem for the Broncos, who average 16 per game. Still, Boise State is shooting 42.9 percent from the field in averaging 70.8 points per game.

Three-point shooting has had its ups and downs, with the Broncos shooting 29.8 percent on 114 attempts.

Upcoming schedule for Boise State

Boise State returns home on Sunday, where they host the Weber State Wildcats (2-3). Weber State is fresh off a win Friday night over the Nevada Wolf Pack, using a 20-4 run to close the first half to help secure the victory.

Last season, the Broncos defeated the Wildcats 76-47. Four Boise State players scored double figures, led by Bayes with 13. Hansen (11 points, 7 assists), Thompson (10), and Pasco (10) joined Bayes.

After that matchup on Sunday (11/24 @ 4 p.m. ET), the Broncos head to the Gulf Coast Showcase in . Boise State starts that tournament with a game against Illinois State on 11/29 (11 a.m. ET) and then will face either West Virginia or High Point on 11/30.

Boise State will finish the tournament with a game against Butler, Santa Clara, Texas, or New Mexico State.

This tournament should be a nice measuring stick for the Broncos. Only High Point (2-3) among these seven teams currently has a losing record. Texas (4-0) and West Virginia (6-0), ranked thirteenth, both have not lost, while Butler, Illinois State, Santa Clara, and New Mexico State each have only one loss.

Depending on how the cards fall, Boise State going at least 2-1 on the tourney is a realistic possibility. Do that, or better, and Boise State entrenches itself firmly in the discussion to make a run at the conference title. Not that they weren't before but starting December 9-0 or 8-1 is going to be a glorious way to warm up those winter months.

Proven players shine in November as Heisman race heats up

 

Heading into the final weeks of November, the race for the 2024 Heisman trophy is running neck-and-neck.

By my unofficial estimation, the race has narrowed to four competitors. With only two to three games remaining for these players before the Heisman ceremony on December 14, it is only two competitors (barring end of season injuries or meltdowns) who are vying for the esteemed honor.

Ashton Jeanty of the Boise State Broncos and Travis Hunter of the Colorado Buffaloes.

This is not to discount the fine play of the other two among the final four.  Simply, Jeanty and Hunter have delivered outstanding performances, smashing and jetting their way to the front of the pack.

Ashton Jeanty

The junior running back is running at a record pace. Jeanty has already smashed numerous single season and school records for the 13th-ranked Boise State Broncos (9-1), adding to the list in passing Jay Ajayi for the single-season rushing yards leader. 

With the potential of playing in at least four more games in '24, Jeanty still has the potential to pass Barry Sanders for the season record at a national level, which Sanders set in 1988 with 2628 yards. 

Jeanty currently leads the nation in rushing touchdowns (26) and yards (1,893), averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Boise State has also found ways to get Jeanty involved in the passing game, where he has 17 catches for 98 yards.

Five times this season Jeanty has scored three or more touchdowns. Plus, Jeanty has totaled 200 or more rushing yards in four games. His lowest output was 127 yards, playing in only one half against Portland State. UNLV has had the most success, limiting Jeanty to 128 yards on 33 carries.

Jeanty is getting plenty of attention but with this type of season, I feel it should be much more. Still, he has a chance to punctuate the season in style and to be among the top players at this point is quite an achievement.

Upcoming: @ Wyoming (11/23), vs Oregon State (11/29), potential MW title game

Travis Hunter

Hunter is receiving the most hype among these four players. Part of that is because he plays in the Big 12 and plays for head coach Deion Sanders, leading to more national attention. Of course, it is the fact that he excels on both sides of the ball, rarely taking plays off, that has Hunter as the favorite in many circles. 

In aiming to duplicate the feat of Charles Woodson, who won the Heisman as a two-way player in 1997, Hunter is putting in the work for the 17th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes (8-2). Yes, the new iteration of the Big 12, with 16 teams, is having a down year. But the Buffs find themselves tied for first and Hunter is a huge reason for that. 

Hunter has 74 receptions, placing him sixth in the FBS to go along with 911 yards (14th) and 9 touchdowns (t-8th). These numbers alone would get him general head nod approval. Throw in the stats on defense and it is all more impressive what he is doing.

Hunter's eight pass deflections lead the team, and he also has 23 tackles, three interceptions, and one forced fumble.

One of Hunter's best games was 9-catch, 153-yard, and 2-touchdown effort in a victory over Cincinnati. Hunter also has five games in which he recorded nine or more receptions and five games with over 100 yards receiving.

Playing at an elevated level on both sides of the ball is something to take pride in. And Hunter is certainly doing that, which could very well propel him to the top when all is said and done.

Upcoming: @ Kansas (11/23), vs Okla. St. (11/29), potential Big 12 title game

Cam Ward

Cam Ward for the ninth-ranked Miami Hurricanes (9-1) has consistently been the best quarterback this season. Ward ranks first in yards (3,494) and touchdown passes (32) while completing 66.8 percent of his passes and throwing only six interceptions. 

Miami took a step back with a recent loss to Georgia Tech but Ward continues to thrive.

In his last two games, Ward was 50-80 for 748 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception. In 2024, Ward has only one game in which he threw for under 300 yards and zero touchdowns, both in a victory over Florida State.

Ward, in any other season, thanks to his status as a quarterback, would be the front runner for the Heisman. He still has a chance to rise to the top if Jeanty and Hunter fall off to end November.

Upcoming: vs Wake Forest (11/23), @ Syracuse (11/30), potential ACC title game

Dillon Gabriel

Dillon Gabriel has the pleasure of quarterbacking the top team in the nation with the undefeated Oregon Ducks (11-0). Honestly, I haven't thought much of him as a Heisman contender this season. Gabriel is good but not overwhelming, though clutch play late in games has propelled him into this conversation.

The Ducks have won three games this season by three points or less.

Gabriel has passed for 3,066 yards and completed 73.8 percent of his pass attempts, with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. Gabriel also has six touchdowns on the ground.

The super-senior has only two games of 300+ yards and most touchdowns in a game this season is three. In the last two games, Gabriel is 45-65 for 401 yards, three touchdowns, and a pick.

Gabriel, with the Ducks having an upcoming bye week, may not have enough opportunities to make one final push for the Heisman. However, consideration is on the table if he plays well, and the Ducks finish undefeated.

Upcoming: vs Washington (11/30), potential Big Ten title game

Other players to be considered, though the chance remains slim they make a huge move to lock down the award:

Jalen Milroe (QB - Alabama)Jaxson Dart (QB - Ole Miss)Shadeur Sanders (QB - Colorado)While among all these players, my heart has Jeanty winning. Sadly, logic tells me voters are going to give the edge to Hunter, who deserves the award as well.

photo image: Picpedia

More on 2024 Heisman race:  

Heisman race: Update in October Ashton Jeanty Heisman Express

Boise State Broncos: Men's basketball take care of homecourt in victory

 

Fresh off a road loss to the San Francisco Dons last Saturday, the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team looked to bounce back in style on Tuesday night at ExtraMile Arena.

It will not go down as the flashiest of victories but the Broncos (2-1) took care of business, defeating the Corban Warriors 100-65.

Against the Warriors, who play their ball in the NAIA, Boise State had every reason to go into this game on cruise control. There were hiccups (say "hey", too many turnovers) but the Broncos were efficient in extending their home winning streak against non-conference opponents to 14 games.

Almost a week after opening the season with a rout at home against Oakland, Boise State enjoyed the cozy confines of ExtraMile Arena. Six players reached double figures for Boise State and 10 of 11 Broncos who played found the scoring column. 

Javan Buchanan had a team-high 16 points on 7 of 8 shooting. O'Mar Stanley finished with a double-double (15 points, 13 rebounds) plus four blocked shots. Dylan Anderson (14), Emmanuel Ugbo (13), Tyson Degenhart (11), and Andrew Meadow (11) also reached double figures.

The Broncos finished with a 61.9 percent clip from the field but were only 4 of 13 on three-point attempts. With a distinct size advantage, Boise State collected 45 rebounds (to Corban's 24) and seven blocked shots, though the team finished with 12 turnovers. 

Corban was respectable in the turnover department with 14 and shot 39.7 percent from the field. Spivey Word led the Warriors with a game-high 32 points.

First half

Boise State had to work through some issues early despite hitting 6 of 7 to shots to open the game. Two ties and seven lead changes happened in the first eight minutes or so before the Broncos settled in.

Slowly the Broncos extended out their lead thanks to a balanced attack and contributions across the board. Plus, it helped that after four turnovers in the game's first seven minutes, Boise State only had one more in the rest of the half.

The lead reached 21 just before halftime when freshman Julian Bowie (six points, five assists) hit a short pull-up jumper. This put Boise State up 50-29, ultimately the score at halftime.

Degenhart hit all four of his field goal attempts and had nine points at halftime. Seven players had an assist in the half and three Broncos had three or more rebounds.

Broncos weather Word

Word started the second half locked in for the Warriors. He scored 16 of Corban's first 19 points and the Warriors even got the lead down 17 on multiple occasions. 

Despite Word's best efforts, the Broncos clamped down and again slowly extended the lead. The combination of Anderson, Meadow, Buchanan, and Ugbo combined for 38 points in the second half.

Buchanan put an exclamation on the night's festivities with a thunderous dunk to get Boise State to the 100-point mark for the first time this season.

Ugbo finished with eight rebounds and nine different Broncos had an assist. 

Alvaro Cardenas and RJ Keene II each had three steals.

Up next: Clemson Tigers

The non-conference home winning streak will be tested when the Clemson Tigers come to Boise on Sunday.

The two teams met up last season, where the Tigers took down the Broncos, 85-68. That matchup was close for 20 minutes and Boise State even tied the game early in the second half. But the Broncos went cold, and Clemson won going away.

Boise State, of the 68 points scored in that game, only returns players who scored 22 of them. Stanley had 11 off the bench and Degenhart scored seven, with Keene contributing four.

The main difference in that game was cold-shooting and a big rebounding advantage (+15) for the Tigers. Clemson shot 50.8 percent from the field and 53.3 from deep, while Boise State landed at 39.3 and 30.4, respectively.

Clemson (3-0) is coming off a 24-12 season in which they . The Tigers defeated New Mexico, Baylor, and Arizona before they ultimately fell to Alabama.

The Tigers also won on Tuesday night, defeating Eastern Kentucky 75-62. Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin are the top two returning players for Clemson. Hunter is the team's leading scorer and had 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists last season against the Broncos.

Schieffelin was in some foul trouble in last year's game and finished with five points and nine rebounds. This season, he has 37 points and 31 rebounds in three games.

Another player to keep an eye on is Viktor Lahkin, who had 19 points and 12 rebounds in the victory over EKU. 

In the ACC preseason poll, the Tigers were picked to finish fourth out of 18 teams. A win Sunday on a national stage would take a little sting off the road loss to an exceptionally decent San Francisco team. Tip-off is set for 11:30 (MT) on CBS Sports Network.

image credit: Flickr

More on Boise State basketball 2024-25:

Preparing for glory

5 QBs first round 2018 NFL draft: Midpoint MVPs thru season 7, week 9

 

Two quarterbacks have raced to the front of the pack as MVP candidates at the midpoint of the 2024 NFL season.  Two quarterbacks, both selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.

A third quarterback from the same class is on the fringe of the race, even after cooling down from a hot start.

Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are in familiar positions. Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have won five of six (with the loss an odd one to the Cleveland Browns) and are in second place in the AFC North. Allen, meanwhile, has the Buffalo Bills (7-2) feeling comfy in the AFC East, with their closest competitor (New York Jets) four games back.

Sam Darnold is the third quarterback and has the Minnesota Vikings (6-2) in second place in the NFC North.

In fact, all four active quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft are slinging the leather around the field. It is Jackson, however, who sits in the top spot through week nine.

Lamar Jackson

Jackson secured his second MVP award last season and with the way he is playing this season through nine weeks, on track to lock down a third.

The last five games have seen Jackson make a dramatic jump into the race. Always solid, Jackson has the Ravens clicking, scoring 41 points three times in the last five games. In this span, Jackson has twice passed over 300 yards and the lowest was 280 (in which he was 16 of 19). Discounting the loss to Cleveland (15 incompletions) and an overtime victory over Cincinnati (16 incompletions), Jackson has been stellar with only 14 incompletions in those other three games.

Having a fantastic and consistent running back in Derrick Henry has also helped Baltimore's offense click.

For the season, Jackson is completing 68.2 percent of his pass attempts, throwing for 2379 yards. Fifteen of his twenty touchdown passes have come in the last five games and Jackson has only thrown two interceptions all season.

And Jackson's ground game is still a factor, where he has 505 yards and two touchdowns.

Chances to get back to the top of the division are on the horizon, with games against Cincy and first place Pittsburgh on the horizon. Last time out against the Bengals, Jackson had 348 yards and four touchdown passes. The next four weeks are tough for Baltimore, but they have a good chance to go 3-1 (or better).

Weeks 10 - 13: vs CIN (11/7), @ PIT (11/17), @ LAC (11/25), vs PHI (12/1)

Josh Allen

Allen is once again running neck-and-neck with Jackson for MVP consideration. This time around, through week nine at least, Allen has the Bills in prime position for a top spot in the AFC (where they'd be, if not for pesky undefeated Kansas City).

Stats for Allen are not in another stratosphere and, in many categories among these four quarterbacks, sits in the fourth spot. An emergence of a consistent running attack with James Cook helps, keeping Allen from having to do everything himself. And it resulted in 17 touchdown passes against only two interceptions, the first of which didn't happen until week eight.

Allen had a tough performance in a week five loss to the Houston Texans, going 9 - 30. Since, the Bills have won four straight, with Allen tossing nine touchdowns and 956 yards.

Overall, Allen is completing 64.1 percent with 2001 yards. Running is down, with only 211 yards on the ground. But the Bills are protecting Allen, allowing only 11 sacks, and the passing game should rise with the trade for Amari Cooper.

A bye week is on the horizon but so are three tough games. Included in this is a matchup with possibly still undefeated Kansas City, where the Bills hope to gain ground either way. 

Weeks 10 - 13: @ IND (11/10), vs KC (11/17), BYE, vs SF (12/1)

Sam Darnold

Sacks and turnovers have been an issue for Darnold in the last four games. The Vikings are 2-2 and Darnold has been sacked 15 times with four interceptions and one lost fumble. Sacks are not all on Darnold, with a banged up offensive line part of the equation.

Still, Darnold is enjoying one of his best seasons as a pro, throwing for 1900 yards with 17 touchdown passes and 7 interceptions. Completion percentage (69.5) is solid and Darnold has the Vikings one game behind the Detroit Lions. 

Aaron Jones is providing nice support in the ground game, with Darnold contributing 102 yards, and the offense has not yet reached its potential. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is an all-universe talent and Jordan Addison is getting better each week. Plus, the Vikings activated tight end T.J. Hockenson last week, adding another weapon to the arsenal.

A test awaits for the Vikings with three straight road games. The opponents are not necessarily top tier but as we have seen this season, big upsets take place each week. With any luck, Darnold should lead the Vikings to no less than a 3-1 record in the coming weeks.

Weeks 10 - 13: @ JAX (11/10), @ TEN (11/17), @ CHI (11/24), vs ARI (12/1)

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) are going through things right now, having lost four of five. Two have these have been in overtime, including the most recent hard-fought affair with Kansas City.

Injuries to top receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were devastating. Evans should return this season, while Godwin's injury will keep him on the shelf for the season. A defense that has allowed 27+ points in five straight games has also not helped.

Mayfield is out there battling, often forced to pass much more than desired. He has thrown 30 or more passes in four straight games (and seven of nine this season).

Despite a slight interception problem (nine on the season), Mayfield is tossing up career numbers. His completion percentage sits at 71.9 and Mayfield has passed for 2389 yards and 23 touchdowns. 

Life does not get any easier in week 10 but much better opportunity awaits after a bye week. Currently two games back of the Atlantic Falcons in the NFC South, Mayfield and the Bucs have work to do. And a 2-1 stretch in the coming weeks would go a long way in helping them out.

Weeks 10 - 13: vs SF (11/10), BYE, @ NYG (11/24), @ CAR (12/1)

Josh Rosen

No updates. Still kicking it in business school, maybe playing pickup games of flag football somewhere. Maybe not. 

Thanks for checking in on this continuing series following the careers of the five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Back with more updates after week 13.

More on season 7:

5 QBs - Sizzling Sam Darnold 5 QBs - Season seven itch image credit: Flickr

Boise State Broncos 'D': Sweet tunes of the sack attack

 

In a Nike commercial from way back in 2010, running back LaDainian Tomlinson takes part in the LT Style: Electric Glide. Here, one of the lyrics includes the resounding "Pick up the blitz" followed by "Here comes the blitz."

The Boise State Broncos (7-1, 4-0) defense in 2024 have perfected the second part, leaving opponents scrambling to accomplish the first part.

Through eight games, 12th-ranked Boise State has perfected the art of the sack. A deep rotation on the defensive line, with stars on the interior and the edges, has propelled things along. But pressure and success have come from all angles, turning an at times maligned defense into one that strikes fear into opponents.

All the while, it is fair to sing the sweet praises when it comes to knocking opponents off their feet.

Boise State Broncos: Sack lunch

Expectations on the d-line were high at the start of the season, given the talent returning from last season. Leading the charge was preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year Ahmed Hassanein, who had 12.5 sacks and 53 tackles in 2023.

Hassanein, despite extra focus on him, is still wreaking havoc and is currently second on the team with 7.5 sacks.

Fellow edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan has been a disruptive force so far for Boise State. Virgin-Morgan has excelled at pressuring quarterbacks and forcing bad throws, all while leading the team with eight sacks. The redshirt sophomore accumulated 5.5 of those in the last three games and his total has him tied for fifth in the nation.

Herbert Gums, Braxton Fely (4.5 sacks), Michael Callahan, and Sheldon Newton are also making their mark up front.

All told, Boise State has 38 sacks this season, placing them second in the nation. Ole Miss leads with 41 but they have also played one more game than the Broncos.

Still, the defensive line tells only a portion of this sack story. The secondary is playing their part and overall, it is a defense playing better each week.

Eyes on Boise State's 'D'

Scorched early in the season for big play after big play, Boise State's secondary and pass defense in general was out of sorts. It was a bit surprising, given the talent the team had coming back to the defensive back and linebacker positions.

Things have settled since those early weeks. This is thanks to ramping up the pressure and, even though lapses occurred, better consistency from the secondary.

Helping them, I think, has been an effort to get them involved in blitz packages, where players like Seyi Oladipo (4.5 sacks) and Rodney Robinson (3 sacks) are excelling.

Low interception numbers are also concern, though Boise State has found life in this area in the last two games. The Broncos had three interceptions. One, Andrew Simpson, against UNLV, and two in the victory over the San Diego State Aztecs, including a pick-six for A'marion McCoy.

Three members of the secondary lead the team in tackles, led by the player who picked up the other interception against the Aztecs, Alexander Teubner. Teubner has 47 tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

Ty Benefield has done a bit of everything for the Broncos. Benefield is second on the team in tackles with 44, has two fumble recoveries, one interception, and 3.5 tackles for loss. 

Zion Washington has 39 tackles, currently third on the team.

From the linebacker position, Simpson has 33 tackles, two sacks, and leads Boise State with nine tackles for loss.

Overall, Boise State allows 25.6 points per game. Stout against the run (115.4 yards per game), the team does have some work to do in the passing game (249 yards per game). To be fair, some of this is from early weeks against pass-heavy teams, and teams passing more to play catch up.

Heading into the final four games of the regular season, these numbers should get even better. Especially if sacks continue to arrive in bunches. And with any luck, Boise State will get to keep screaming "here comes the blitz" deep into December.

More on Boise State football 2024:

Recap of victory over UNLV Dream a little dream in 2024 Recap of victory over Georgia Southern