Holding onto a 9-4 record after 13 games, the Boise State men’s basketball team is slated to officially begin conference play on Jan. 5, against San Jose State.
Throughout the pre-conference play, the Broncos have shown a tremendous amount of growth and have displayed what conference play can look like from here on out. They have given a glimpse into what to watch for while opening up conference play.
MAX RICE & TYSON DEGENHART
A historic moment came on Dec. 29, against Utah Valley when sixth-year guard Max Rice and junior forward Tyson Degenhart both reached 1,000 career points in the same game.
Rice and Degenhart became the 33rd and 34th members of the 1,000-point club, respectively, at Boise State; however they are the first teammates to do it in the same game.
“It’s pretty amazing,” head coach Leon Rice said. “Those two guys getting to 1,000 on the same night is really special because they’ve been so big in building this program and doing anything for the team … The 1,000 points equals a lot of wins they’ve been a big, big part of and it was neat they get to get it on the same night. It was pretty special.”
Before the season started, Max Rice admitted he predicted that the two would accomplish the 1,000 point milestone in the same game.
“To do it with him is awesome,” Max Rice said. “It’s an honor. It’s a credit to all the teammates I’ve had.”
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
It has been over 400 days since the Broncos have lost a game in the ExtraMile arena.
The win against Utah Valley, made it the 21st-consecutive home win for Boise State, tying Oral Roberts for the longest active streak nationally.
Since the start of the 2019-20 season, the Broncos are 58-7 at ExtraMile Arena, and the home court advantage has boded well for the Broncos throughout the year.
The energy in the arena during home games is unmatched.The Boise State squad attributes much of their success to the loud, supportive and lively crowd that packs ExtraMile Arena.
“I think that’s a big shoutout to our fans,” Max Rice said. “They’ve been great for us. I think we just feel really comfortable here and we seem to play pretty well here.”
There is no doubt that the talented team carries this program to the level it is, but the fan support seems to be a huge advantage when it comes to close games and tough matchups.
“When I took this job that was a priority,” Leon Rice said. “You can’t have a good program if you don’t have a good home court and it’s just getting better and better… Shout out to our fans. We don’t get these things done without great atmospheres. Nothing is worse than going out and seeing an empty arena. When you see the fans show up and there’s energy, it helps you.”
With upcoming matchups against conference opponents, the home court support will be much needed for the Broncos to garner wins when they need them most.
NEW ROSTER ADDITIONS
The Broncos starting lineup, though it changes quite frequently, has seen some new faces and additions.
Forward Cam Martin, sophomore guard Roddie Anderson, freshman forward Andrew Meadow and junior forward O’Mar Stanley have all earned considerable amounts of playing time.
In the offseason, the Broncos did an excellent job at adding amazing talent through the transfer portal. With the departure of key players after the 2022-23 season, the Broncos were in desperate need of powerful new talent.
Though the newcomers are still coming into their own and learning Bronco basketball with each passing week, there is no denying the talent of the new additions.
Martin, Anderson, Meadon, and Stanley, each hold unique talents and have shown immaculate growth in their first 13 games as Broncos. Of the aforementioned names, Stanley stands out the most in the group of newcomers.
Being a true future NBA talent, Stanley has been a force to be reckoned with.
The St. John’s transfer is a powerful player that became a crowd favorite. With explosive dunks, tremendous blocks and court energy, there is no denying why Bronco Nation has grown to adore Stanley in such a short period of time.
THE BENCH
One of the biggest problems the Broncos have faced in the past is the lack of bench depth.
Although the Broncos have some promising new additions to the roster, there is no denying that there has been a lack of growth coming from their bench.
Through the preseason, almost every member of the team has had an opportunity to log some minutes. The Broncos have created huge winning margins against opponents, giving them the opportunity to utilize bench players such as Sam Winter, RJ Keene, Kobe Young, Jace Whiting and Mohamed Sylla. Though Leon Rice has opted to stay fairly consistent in this starting five lineup, each of these players have had an opportunity to represent the Blue and Orange.
In the 2022-23 season, there was hardly any use of bench players and the squad relied heavily on their core six players who received the majority of minutes. This process did not bode well for the team late in the season as star players battled injuries, leaving big roles to be filled by under qualified bench players.
Despite the utilization of bench players early this season, their performances have been underwhelming. There will need to be huge strides in the development of strong bench players so as to not repeat history.
CHIBUZO AGBO
Senior guard Chibuzo Agbo has been on fire for the Broncos and has grown into his own after completing his first season with the Broncos in the 2022-23.
Agbo has truly mastered the art of 4-point plays and put up a career-high 27 points against North Texas in early December.
Averaging 15.3 points a game, Agbo has not only been a force to be reckoned with on the offensive end, but he has been a reliant force on defense as well.
With many accomplishments already fulfilled in the preseason, the Broncos will look to conference play with wide eyes.
The Broncos are slated to begin conference play on Jan. 5, in San Jose, California, as they face San Jose State.
