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BSU prepares for big home game
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The Boise State men’s basketball team is in the middle of a dog fight. The Broncos are fighting for a regular season Western Athletic Conference championship, as well as seeding in the WAC tournament. While BSU is currently in a three-way tie for second, the race appears to be wide open with five games left to go.
“That’s kind of what we talked about as coaches,” BSU Head Coach Greg Graham said Tuesday. “There could be four or five teams [that could] win this thing.”
That parity in the league has four teams within half a game of each other. Utah State still holds the top spot with a 10-2 record, despite falling to Nevada (10-3) on Monday. The Broncos and New Mexico State, both 10-3, are also in the middle of the neck-and-neck push toward the finish. That is why Thursday night’s game between BSU and Nevada is so crucial to the final outcome of the season.
“It’s anybody’s ball game home or away, you can win or lose,” Graham said.
The Broncos have already faced NMSU twice, which means after Thursday BSU will only have one game remaining against one of the the top three teams in the league. BSU will host USU in the season finale, March 6.
“It’s going to be a dog fight here, we’re fortunate to be at home,” Graham said.
This past saturday BSU lost sole possession of No. 2 in the WAC with a 99-80 loss at NMSU. The loss was just the third on the road for BSU this season. The Broncos are now looking to rebound against a Nevada team that is coming off its 85-80 win over USU.
Coach Graham said Tuesday that it will take a big effort from his bench to get through the last five WAC games unscathed.
In the Broncos’ first meeting with Nevada, the Broncos prevailed 95-80 behind 14 bench points and four assists.
“It’s going to be important [the bench] here down the stretch,” Graham said. “Kurt [Cunningham] had a good game against them last time. [He] played very, very well.”
The bench will be especially important against a Nevada team that plays nine players more than 10 minutes per game.
The Wolf Pack also has just three seniors, which has meant a lot of young players have been forced to step up this season.
“I think the young guys have gotten more solid,” Graham said about Nevada.
The Wolf Pack enter Thursday’s game having won 24 of its last 36 road games, four consecutive WAC regular season championships and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. So while the Broncos are looking to break through to the next level, Nevada is defending its recent domination over the conference.
Both teams will have plenty of work left ahead, regardless of the outcome of Thursday’s game.
The Broncos will host Fresno State (11-13, 4-6) and USU (18-7, 8-2). BSU will also travel to Hawaii (10-12, 6-4) and San Jose State (10-13, 2-8).
Gameday convenience
The Boise State athletic department is looking to make access to the games against Nevada on Thursday and Fresno State on Saturday more efficient. BSU is asking fans to purchase their tickets in advance at all Select-A-Seat outlets or online at www.idahotickets.com.
Fans are also encouraged to pick up their “will call” tickets early and to have their photo I.D. ready at that time. If buying tickets at the box office, they are urged to arrive early to purchase the tickets from the Taco Bell Arena box office which opens at 5:45 p.m.
JAKE GARCIN
Sports Editor
