PREVIEW | MBB: Boise State (22-6, 12-3) at San Jose State University (16-12, 7-8)
Boise State University at San Jose State University
Date: Saturday February 25,2023
Time:5:00pm MT
Venue:Event Center Arena, (5,000)
TV: NBC Sports Bay Area
Stream: Mountain West Network
Radio: KBOI 670 AM
Commentators: Bob Behler and Abe Jackson
Know Thy Enemy
The Cinderella Spartans might be hearing the clock strike midnight on their season as they have lost two straight and now sit on the outside looking in for that coveted “first round bye” in the Mountain West conference tournament next month. They will need some things to go their way to not have to play in that dreaded Wednesday game. However, this has been one of the best seasons in Spartans history. It is their best season they have ever had in the Mountain West and depending how the last few games go they could have their best conference record since the 1995-96 season, when they were apart of the WAC.
The Spartans have been really fortunate this year on the health front and that has allowed them to start the same five guys for every game so far this season. Omari Moore, Alvaro Cardenas, Sage Tolbert, Trey Anderson and Ibrahima Diallo have all played in 28 games and all have started 28 games. And these guys play a lot as well. Moore, Cardenas and Tolber all average more than 28 minutes per game. The Spartans will rotate 7-9, but rely heavily on Robert Vaihola and Tiber Gornerer off the bench. Both average about 20 minutes per game.
Numbers wise, SJSU sits in the bottom half of the league in scoring offense, averaging 66 points per game and they also sit in the middle of the league in scoring defense, allowing almost 70 points. The Spartans don’t shoot it particularly well, shooting only 42% from the field which is second to last in the conference. They also struggle from the freethrow line, shooting a conference worst 68%. However, the other side of that coin is that they have plenty of opportunity to rebound and they capitalize on that. Currently San Jose State leads the conference in combined team rebounds and team offensive rebounds and is second in the league in rebounding margin! It does look like the Broncos will have their work cut out for them on the boards Saturday afternoon.
San Jose State is coached by Tim Miles. Miles has really started to lay the groundwork for a program that is desperate for a winner. Miles has already doubled his win total from a year ago. Interesting fact, there were two seasons after his time at Nebraska ended and time at SJSU started. During those two seasons Miles served as an analyst for the Big Ten Network, Fox Sports, and FS1.
Boise State has won 11-straight contests against San Jose State entering Saturday’s feature. Since 2011 Boise State is a perfect 7-0 on the road when playing San Jose State. During the Covid season SJSU played their “home” games in Phoenix, AZ and the Broncos were a perfect 2-0 there as well.
What Happened Last Time
After Naje Smith forced a turnover to get his team the ball, Boise State looked to none other than Marcus Shaver, Jr., to take its final shot in a tie game with 30 seconds left on the clock. An inbound play put the ball straight into Shaver's hands out of a timeout, and the fifth-year guard dribbled the clock down before drilling a step-back three-pointer with 2.4 seconds remaining to lift Boise State men's basketball to a 67-64 victory over San Jose State.
The Broncos opened the game shooting 2-of-8 from the floor, but responded by making seven of their next eight to take a 21-14 lead over the Spartans at the second media timeout. 10 points from Max Rice in the final 10 minutes of the opening half helped Boise State maintain a 41-29 advantage as the teams went to the locker rooms.
After the teams traded buckets through the first two media timeouts, San Jose State used two separate scoring runs to claw its way back into the game, making a three with 3:07 remaining to take its first lead since 15:47 remained in the first half. Tyson Degenhart made the front end of a one-and-one to tie the score at 64 apiece, setting up the game-winning sequence for Boise State.
Player to Watch
SAN JOSE STATE
JR., IBRAHIMA DIALLO, C #5
The seven footer from Senegal, Ibrahima Diallo is becoming a pillar in the rebuilding of this Spartans program. The transfer from Ohio State is getting his chance to play and is making the most of it. Diallo has started every game this season, and is averaging over 20 minutes a game. He may be only averaging 6.6 points and 5.8 rebounds a game, but his stat sheet doesn’t tell the story of his dominating, rim-protecting presence on the floor. Diallo has had at least one block in all but four games this season and has had multiple blocks in 16 of 28 games. Omari Moore is their star, but Diallo will make his presence known and felt on Saturday.
BOISE STATE
SR., MAX RICE, G #12
The Senior guard had a night to remember Wednesday night as he scored 30 points, going 9-for-20 from the field and 5-of-10 from deep in 38 minutes in the win versus New Mexico. It was a career night for the Bishop Kelly product. Rice had 24 points with just 1:11 left in the game and proceeded to hit six consecutive free throws to not only hit a career-high, but also help seal the much needed victory for the Broncos. To say Rice is having a bounceback season is an understatement as Rice is really becoming a major part of this offense and a major factor in the game plan for opposing teams. Look for Rice’s veteran leadership to shine as the Broncos look to get another much needed victory.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Boise State
San Jose State
Rev's Route to a Bronco Win
One At A Time
When the Broncos step into the Event Center on Saturday the might be in shock. Not because of the grandeur of the arena, but in the lack of it. Everything about where the Spartans play their home games is underwhelming. The place only holds 5,000 people but is only half full on a good night, the court design looks like it could be found at your local YMCA, and even the name of the arena is as generic as can be, “Event Center.” On top of all of that the Broncos and Spartans are separated by five games in the conference standings. If you add all those things up it’s a perfect recipe for an upset. Boise State needs to come into this game with the heightened awareness of this fact and not allow San Jose State to capitalize on the situation, because many have fallen to the Spartans at home. SJSU is 10-3 this season in their own building. The only way the Broncos can do that is take it one possession at a time and one bucket at a time. Build a lead, play solid defense and get out of there with a “W” and not worry about the margin of victory.
Editor Note:
Even despite completing the Daily Double and winning both the regular season title and conference tournament last season and proving with their record this year that last year wasn’t a fluke, the Broncos are still “On the Bubble” in many NCAA tournament projections. I think it all comes down to name recognition. Teams like San Diego State and Nevada are well known in men’s hoops and Boise State is just now gaining traction in the college basketball landscape. If Boise State can get a win on Saturday it will set up a major battle for the top of the Mountain West Standings next Tuesday against the Aztecs in Boise. Coach Leon Rice will do everything in his power to keep his team focused on this game against SJSU and not let them think about next week. Maybe it’s a good thing the Broncos are still fighting for postseason respect and they realize the importance of winning every game possible. Saturday against the Spartans will have it’s moments, but unlike last game it will not come down to the final possession. Boise State wins by double figures.
Broncos 83, Spartans 67
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