PREVIEW | MBB: Boise State (21-6, 11-3) vs University of New Mexico (20-7, 7-7)
Boise State University vs University of New Mexico
Date: Wednesday February 22, 2023
Time:8:30pm MT
Venue: ExtraMile Arena (12,644 )
TV: FS1
Radio: KBOI 670 AM
Commentators: Bob Behler and Abe Jackson
Know Thy Enemy
They’re Baaack! The Lobos take their turn coming to ExtraMile Arena Wednesday to prove that last month's overtime win against the Broncos was no fluke. UNM was in the midst of a four-game losing streak before they said enough was enough and absolutely demolished San Jose State on their home floor over the weekend.
New Mexico, like many of the teams in the middle of the Mountain West, had phenomenal non conference performances, but have floundered during league play. The Lobos sit at 20-7, but all seven of those losses have come from Mountain West opponents. They have lost some “good” games and they have also lost some head scratchers including two just recently to Wyoming at home and at Air Force. You could explain away those two losses because of the absence of their leader and point guard Jaelen House, but not being able to beat a Wyoming team that has essentially “punted” on this season in your own building is almost unforgivable. But almost on cue, House returns and the Lobos get back to their winning ways with a 28-point beatdown of the Spartans.
By now most are familiar with the two marquee Lobos, Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn Jr., but it’s been the steady play of another that really has been a difference maker for New Mexico. His name is Morris Udeze. Yes, House and Mashburn are the 1-2 of this team, but when you look at the box score, more often than not Udeze will be the next leading scorer. When teams have three guys that need attention, more often than not it will cause problems for their opponents.
Looking at the numbers, a reason for their up and down league play could be the fact that they are both the #1 offense in the conference, scoring an average of 78.2, and at the same time #11 in total defense, giving up 75.7 points per game. You can’t simultaneously score the most points and give up the most points and expect to win every night. They have only won two conference games this year when giving up 75 or more.
New Mexico is coached by Richard Pitino. Pitino is in his second season on the sidelines for the Lobos and is 32-25. Pitino spent his college years earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history at Providence College in 2005. During his time at Providence, Pitino was the manager for the Friars men’s basketball team under Tim Welsh.
The Lobos and the Broncos will meet for the 23rd time in school history when they tip-off Wednesday night. Boise State trails New Mexico 9-13 in the series between the schools. Boise State is much better at home versus the Lobos than on the road. When playing at home Boise State is 6-4 compared to 3-9 on the road.
What Happened Last Time
A career-high 28 points and two clutch three-point sequences from Tyson Degenhart were not enough for Boise State as the Broncos were knocked off in the final seconds of overtime by New Mexico, 81-79 last month.
The first half was defined by physical play around the basket as the teams combined for 44 points in the paint and just three buckets from behind the arc in the opening 20 minutes. The Broncos shot 51% from the field while the Lobos were held to just 35% as Boise State took a 37-31 advantage into the locker room.
Boise State and New Mexico exchanged runs in the early stages of the second half before the Lobos took their first lead of the half with under 10 minutes to play. The Broncos chipped away at the lead, but the home team had an answer for nearly every Boise State basket.
Two free throws from New Mexico put the home team up 72-69 with just four seconds left. Needing a three-point bucket, Boise State inbounded the ball at half court and executed a play that got the ball into the hands of a wide-open Degenhart, who drained the shot from behind the arc to force overtime.
New Mexico jumped out in front early in overtime, building a five-point advantage. Boise State called a timeout with 32-seconds remaining, trailing 72-69 with the ball on their half of the court. The Broncos went Degenhart's way again as the sophomore powered his way to the rim for the and-one layup, which he converted at the free-throw line to tie the game. The Lobos called a timeout on the other end of the floor with 3.5-seconds showing, and earned a layup on the ensuing inbound play that knocked off the Broncos for good.
Player to Watch
NEW MEXICO
GR., MORRIS UDEZE, F #24
Morris Udeze is the third leg of the tripod that is the Lobos basketball team. The team is headlined by House and Mashburn Jr., but Udeze is holding his own and is shining in his own right. The graduate transfer from Wichita State has played and started every game for the Lobos this year. In his 27 starts this year he’s averaging 15.8 points, 9.1 rebounds per game. Udeze had a major outburst last Friday scoring 31 points in 31 minutes against San Jose State. Last time against Boise State Udeze was a problem for the Broncos scoring 15 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Everyone knows House and Mashburn, but Boise State can’t forget about the big man Udeze in his one.
BOISE STATE
5TH YR., LUKAS MILNER, C #25
Milner started the first three games of the season, but since then has been coming off the bench for coach Rice. Milner has been pedestrian at best this year, but he has been playing very well in the last two fixtures for the Broncos. Against Colorado State the big guy played 21 minutes, scored 5 points and had 5 rebounds in the two-point win. Last time out against UNLV Milner really played well scoring 9 points in 16 minutes, was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and his 75% of his free throws. Milner’s playing with some confidence right now and the Broncos need to get as much run out of him as they can down the stretch.
PROBABLE STARTERS
BOISE STATE
NEW MEXICO
Rev's Route to a Bronco Win
Above Average
It’s well known that it takes a little to be above average. Boise State’s offense is averaging 73 points per game this season in Mountain West Play. When the Broncos score at or above their average they are 8-1 in those games. The lone loss was against these Lobos last month. However, as mentioned before, the Lobos have only won twice when they have allowed 75 or more. If Boise State can find two more points above their average they have a good shot at winning.
Perimeter Defense
Over the last two games the Broncos are letting their opponent shoot 50% from beyond the arc. They gave up 13 three’s to Colorado State and 11 three’s to the Rebels on Sunday. Boise State has made a living this year by playing solid defense, but lately they have been giving up a lot of volume and good looks from downtown. You’d have to think they will address this coming into Wednesday night seeing as though the Lobos shot 7-of-11 from deep against San Jose State last week.
Editor Note:
Dust Up In The Desert
By now if you follow the Boise State basketball program at all you’ve heard about the incident following halftime of the game against New Mexico last month in Albuquerque. Coach Rice was pretty animated and adimate with his post game comments saying he hopes the Mountain West investigates what transpired in the hallway outside of the visiting team locker room with the New Mexico baseball team. Well, New Mexico beat-writer Geoff Grammer did look into it and wrote an article about his findings. Without going into it, let's just say twitter has been hotter than an Arizona sidewalk in July over the past 24-hours with multiple fan bases weighing in on the subject. If Wednesday night’s rematch of an epic OT thriller did have enough juice to it, this article from the Albuquerque Journal sure did add fuel to the fire.
I have said that this game will look a lot different than the one last month and I will stand by that. I think the Broncos are such a force at home that it will have to take a major breakdown by Boise State for them to lose this one. Broncos win another tight one.
Boise State 77, New Mexico 73
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