PREVIEW | CBK: BOISE STATE (4-3) VS NORTH TEXAS (5-2)
Boise State University vs University of North Texas
Date: Tuesday December 5th, 2023
Time: 7:00 pm MT
Stadium: ExtraMile Arena
TV: KTVB
Stream: Mountain West Network
Radio: KBOI 670 AM
Know Thy Enemy
ExtraMile Arena will be a welcomed sight for the Broncos as they play their first ‘home’ game in more than three weeks! Boise State plays host to one of the best defensive teams in the country in the University of North Texas.
UNT is looking to build on what was their best season in program history last season. Last year, the Mean Green won a program record 31 games, tied the program record for conference wins and won the 2023 NIT championship. However a new year brings changes as UNT now has a new head coach and is looking to replace their top three scorers from last season. The Mean Green have nine guys that have made an appearance in all seven of their games and have started the same seven guys in every game.
So far the Mean Green are off to a solid start winning their last three and five of their first seven games. UNT has been mainly doing it with timely shooting and defense. The Mean Green are 3rd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing a meager 56.7 points per game and have held their opponent to 50 or less in their last three games including letting up just 39 against Towson a few weeks ago.
The offense for UNT has really come alive in the last two games with the team scoring 79 points in each of the last two games and shooting just under 50% from the field and 41% from three. Offensively this team is led by Aaron Scott who is the top producer from a season ago and so far this year has doubled his points per game average from 7 least year to over 14 this year. Surprisingly enough, UNT’s second leading scorer comes off the bench in Jason Edwards. Edwards averages almost 25 minutes per game and is averaging a tick over 13 for the Mean Green.
UNT is now led by first-year head coach Ross Hodge who was elevated to the position following last season. Hodge was UNT’s associate head coach for all six seasons prior to being promoted.This is Hodge’s first NCAA head coaching job. He was a two-time junior college head coach from 2006-11 at Paris JC and then Midland JC.
These two schools have met 9 other times in history with Boise State leading the all-time series 8-1. Boise State is a cool 5-0 when the Mean Green have come to blue and orange confines.
What Happened Last Time
It’s been over 14 years since UNT and BSU squared off on the hardwood. Boise State used an 11-2 run to give the Broncos an insurmountable lead with just under 7 minutes left in the game. Boise State had to hold on for dear life, but was able to come out with the 79-73 win at Taco Bell Arena.
Player to Watch
NORTH TEXAS
SO., JASON EDWARDS, G#2
It’s not usual for the player to watch to not ever be a starter, but bench player Jason Edwards is someone to keep an eye on Tuesday night. Edwards hasn’t started a game this year for UNT, but is second on the team in scoring and averages more minutes per game than two of their starters. Edwards has scored in double figures in three of the last four games including having the team-lead in points in two of those games. When #2 comes on the floor, he's looking for the ball and he’s looking to score.
BOISE STATE
JR., O’MAR STANLEY, F#1
O’Mar Stanley started his first game for the Broncos last Friday against St. Mary’s and went a perfect 3-of-3 from the floor for 10 points. Stanley has been a major contributor off the bench for the Broncos this season and is playing really good basketball. His 10.3 points per game is good enough for 3rd-best on the team, and his 5 blocks is tied for the team high. In Boise State’s last home game, O’Mar had 9 points, 4 rebounds to go along with both a block and a steal.
PROBABLE STARTERS
BOISE STATE
NORTH TEXAS
Rev's Route to a Bronco Win
Home Cookin’
Boise State is riding a 16-game home win streak and hasn’t lost inside ExtraMile Arena in over a calendar year. They haven’t even lost a game played in the state of Idaho in 18 tries dating back to last season. The Broncos will feed off a home crowd and even though they are playing a tough team defensively they will find a way to ride the momentum of a home crowd for the win.
Play Your Game
UNT is the type of team that wants to dictate the pace of the game. They are currently ranked the nations 3rd best defensive team and the nations 4th-most deliberate team on offense. UNT averages 62.1 possessions per 40 minutes. They want to grind out possessions and slow you down. Boise State can’t get sucked in to playing the Mean Gream style of basketball and have to play their own style of game.
Revs Rant and Prediction
It was refreshing to see the Broncos on the right side of the final score after going 1-3 on the 11-day road trip. This team is still finding their stride, but if the first half of the game last Friday night is any indication on what this team could be, we could be in for a really awesome season. I mean last time out the boys were pressing all the right buttons. They started the game playing great defense which sparked an 11-0 run, all kinds of guys were getting involved with 10 different players scoring, and their star player was having a star player type of night with Degenhart scoring 17 points with 5 assists. This is the recipe that the team needs to have if they want to make a run because so far the Mountain West looks to be a tough mountain to climb.
Boise State will be fueled by a ruckus home crowd and will make a late second half surge to secure this victory.
Boise State 70, North Texas 62
Comments
Post a Comment