Bronco basketball
begins exhibition season

The Boise State men’s basketball team takes to the court

for the first time tomorrow night at the Taco Bell Arena versus

Albertson College at 7:35 p.m. for an exhibition game. The Broncos

are returning five players from last year’s successful team,

and bringing in seven new players.

Fans will recognize the starting five starters for the Broncos.

They are the returning letterman from the team last season.

“The five vets have often set the tone. Not just one

person,” BSU Head Coach Greg Graham said.

Preseason second team All-WAC power forward Jermaine Blackburn will

lead the team. In the frontcourt with Blackburn is senior Jason

Ellis. The Broncos will be starting small. Blackburn is a natural

small forward moving up. In his place at the small forward position

is sophomore Coby Karl. The two guards starting are senior Franco

Harris, and sophomore Eric Lane.

“He (Lane) should make us a lot more explosive,” Graham

said.

Lane spent last season backing up fifth year senior Joe Skiffer.

This season, the job is his to lose at this point.

“I kind of look at it as a no pressure situation,” Lane

said. “I just need to go out there and everything will take

care of itself.”

Graham drafted out his plan to use the players as of now. Backing

up Ellis at the center position is Tez Banks. The junior JUCO

transfer will give Ellis much needed rest he lacked last season

without losing too much on inside rebounding. Blackburn has Kareem

Lloyd backing him up. Lloyd looks a lot like Aaron Haynes. He is

lanky and as the ability to still drives inside and rebound.

“We have a lot of talent and we will come together,”

Banks said. “But it’s going to take time.”

Newly acquired guard McNeal Thompson will back up Lane at the point

guard position, and Seth Robinson will be backing up at small

forward and shooting guard.

Graham will be using a lot of different formations and match ups to

be sure who can play where.

Fans may recognize one of the Coyotes suiting up tomorrow night.

Richard Fried played for the Broncos and transferred over the

summer to Albertson. Also playing for the Coyotes is

Richard’s little brother Justin, who signed a letter of

intent during the spring.

The team will play one more exhibition game versus Northwest

Nazarene on Nov. 11 before opening their season at home versus

Idaho on Nov. 19.

Trevor Horn
Sports Writer

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