PREVIEW | CBK: BOISE STATE 8-3) AT WASHINGTON STATE (10-2)
Boise State University at Washington State University
Date: Thursday December 21st, 2023
Time: 9:00 pm MT
Stadium: Spokane Arena
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Radio: KBOI 670 AM
Know Thy Enemy
Tyson Degenhart can be heard singing, “I’ll be home for Christmas” as he and the Broncos head to Spokane to battle the Washington State Cougars in a neutral sight battle at Spokane Arena on Thursday night! This will be the final game for Boise State before Christmas and they won’t be back in action until they return home to face Utah Valley right be for the New Year.
Boise State is facing a Wazzu team that is 8-2 on the season, but are coming off a loss at the hands of Santa Clara last time out. WSU was on a nice six-game win streak before losing to the other Broncos in the Jerry Colangelo Classic down in Phoenix, Arizona over the weekend.
The Cougars have been playing really good basketball to start this season, scoring an average of 78.5 points per game and holding their opponents to just over 62.5 points per game. They are shooting almost 50% from the field and 34% from downtown. Wazzu struggled from the freethrow line, shooting only 66% from the charity stripe.
Interestingly enough, not one player from the starting lineup in last year’s matchup against the Broncos, is starting this year and only two players that played in the game last year have played in a game this season for WSU. This year’s version of the Cougars are still looking for that magical recipe in the starting five, with only three players starting all 10 games so far, but there is no question who is leading this team. WSU is led by two players on the bookends of their careers. Myles Rice, a redshirt freshman, leads the team with 15.6 points per game and shoots close to 82% from the freethrow line. The other is fifth year senior Isaac Jones who is also averaging over 15 points per game to go along with 7.5 rebounds.
Washington State is coached by Kyle Smith. Coach Smith enters the 2023-24 season in his fifth season at the helm of the Cougars. In his first four seasons at WSU, Smith achieved what no other coach in program history has, posting a .500 or better record in his first four seasons, after taking over a sub-.500 club. Smith has rebuilt the Cougars in his image, establishing themselves as an up-and-coming force in west coast basketball. In addition, he posted back-to-back winning seasons, the first time in over a decade at WSU.
Boise State and Washington State have met eight other times in history with both teams splitting the series evenly at four games apiece. Boise State is 2-1 in games against the Cougars that are held at a neutral sight.
What Happened Last Time
Washington State traveled to Boise for a neutral site, pseudo-road game at Idaho Central Arena in the capital’s downtown. The Cougs dropped their second straight contest to the Broncos, playing without Andrej Jakimovski, falling 61-71. The result was WSU largest defeat at the hands of BSU. Junior TJ Bamba led the game with 24 points and senior DJ Rodman grabbed 14 rebounds in the loss.
Player to Watch
WASHINGTON STATE
Rs.FR., MYLES RICE, G #2
Myles Rice continued an incredible start to his freshman season, the 2-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week is WSU’s leading scorer at 15.6 ppg, shooting 46.7%, while dishing out 29 assists and grabbing 19 steals. The Cougs Rice is probably one of the best guards that the Broncos have faced all season.
BOISE STATE
SO., RODDIE ANDERSON III, G #0
After a rough couple of games, Roddie Anderson might be finding his role and groove as the point guard Boise State is needing. Anderson had a really nice game last Sunday against Fullerton. Anderson only scored two points, but he had six rebounds, four assists and a block. More importantly he had a big fat ZERO in the turnover column. You’d always take more scoring, but Boise State has three guys that are on fire lately and so Anderson’s job is to get the ball into their hands first and foremost and last time out he did a really good job of it.
PROBABLE STARTERS
BOISE STATE
WESTERN
Rev's Route to a Bronco Win
The Key to Success
Washington State is one of the best rim protecting teams in the country, averaging 6.1 blocks per game. They are currently top in Pac-12 and tied for 10th in the country. Freshman Center, RuebenChinyelu leads WSU with 16 blocks and five Cougs have at least 8 blocks. Boise State, during their current win streak have averaged 36.8 points in the paint per game. Boise State has to establish an inside scoring threat to open up their true A-game which is the three ball.
Mind Games
This game on the calendar is always a tough one. Players are done for the semester and have booked their flights home for a few days for Christmas. Last year the Broncos traveled to Santa Clara for their last game before the holidays and laid an egg. Thankfully on paper this is a more appetizing opponent so hopefully the Broncos will be fully engaged in this one.
Revs Rant and Prediction
I think we are starting to see the potential of this “Super Team” we have all been waiting for. The last three games have been just what the doctor ordered for a Boise State team that was having a hard time gaining any traction. Yes, these last three games were against teams that won’t be moving the needle much this season, but the fact that the Broncos came out and won each of these games in convincing fashion with the ‘Big 3’ having big games each night was something of beauty. Now if O’Mar and Roddie can continue to get comfortable in Leon’s system this team could really be dangerous.
This game against Washington State will be a true measuring stick to see if the Broncos have indeed improved over the last few weeks. I think they have and Boise State wins this one with the same recipe they’ve been using. Degenhart shows out for the hometown fans.
Broncos 77, Cougars 70
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