PREVIEW | CBK: BOISE STATE (5-3) VS WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY (3-5)
Boise State University vs Western Oregon University
Date: Saturday December 9th, 2023
Time: 2:00 pm MT
Stadium: ExtraMile Arena
TV: KTVB
Stream: Mountain West Network
Radio: KBOI 670 AM
Know Thy Enemy
The Broncos are looking to build on a two-game win streak when they face the Wolves of Western Oregon University on Saturday afternoon. The Wolves of WOU are a DII school in Monmouth, OR. Western Oregon is a member of the GNAC conference which is the same conference as local Northwest Nazarene University. The Wolves were picked to finish 8th in their conference and are currently 3-5, 0-2 on the season.
The Wolves average a touch over 75 points per game and are 45% shooters from the floor. They have four starters who average double figures with junior guard Qiant Myers leading the way, averaging 17 and change on the season. The biggest issue that the Wolves face is defense and rebounding. WOU gives up an average of 78 points per game and has a negative 4.9 rebounding margin.
Western Oregon is coached by Wes Pifer. Wes Pifer enters his fifth year (and fourth season) as the men's basketball head coach.Pifer arrived in Monmouth from Northern Arizona University, a Division-I program playing in the Big Sky Conference. He most recently served as the associate head coach for the Lumberjacks and was on the NAU staff from 2013-19.
As far as I can tell in my limited research these two schools haven’t ever played each other.
What Happened Last Time
First Meeting
Player to Watch
WESTERN OREGON
JR., QIANT MYERS, G #2
Myers has been with the Wolves for three season now and is finally coming into this own as the top player for the red and black. As a Freshman he averaged just over 3 points per game, as a sophomore it jumped to a touch over 6. This year he’s made a big leap and is averaging over 17 points per game. As the point guard he also leads the team in assists, averaging seven per game. Myers is an all-around type of guard who can score and facilitate the offense. He’ll for sure be enemy #1 for the Broncos on Saturday.
BOISE STATE
SO., RODDIE ANDERSON, G#0
My eyes will be on Roddie Anderson on Saturday to see if he can use this as a “get right” game. Anderson the off season transfer was the heir apparent to long-time Boise State point guard Marcus Shaver Jr. All of Bronco Nation had high hopes that Anderson would be a “plug and play” type of guard who could attack the rim and facilitate an offense. We all saw the highlight of him driving the lane and dunking over a defender. It’s safe to say that Anderson hasn’t lived up to that potential yet, but the season is still young. Tuesday’s game was one to forget for Anderson as he ended up with a season-high six turnovers to just one assist and three points in 19 minutes against North Texas.
PROBABLE STARTERS
BOISE STATE
WESTERN
Rev's Route to a Bronco Win
Buckets for Buzo
Chibuzo Agbo had himself a night last time out against North Texas. Agbo right now seems to be the most consistent player on this team. His career-high 27 points came at just the right time and he is proving that he is the go-to player when the Broncos need a bucket. They have to keep running this offense through #11 and let him fill up the cup.
Rebound Relationship
Boise State was absolutely owned on the glass against North Texas. This is very concerning because a hallmark of a Leon Rice coached team is defense and rebounding and right now the Broncos can’t seem to grab any of the boards. Saturday they have a chance to get things going again on both the offensive and defensive boards against a WOU team that also struggles on the glass. Boise State has to assert their dominance and attack the glass on Saturday.
Revs Rant and Prediction
Take a Breather. At this point in the season Boise State has the #9 hardest strength of schedule in the nation. Now that can be taken one of two ways. One, it means that a 5-3 record isn’t all that bad because they have played some really good teams. The other way to look at it is, Boise State is only slightly above average and isn’t really good enough yet to hang with the big boys. Whichever way you take it the next stretch of games could prove to be the turning point of this season before they head into Mountain West play. The combined records of their next three home games, including this one against Western Oregon is 9-16. After that they finish up the noncon with two tough games against a good Washington State team and then Utah Valley here in Boise. If Boise State can win the next three games, they will be on a nice five-game win streak heading into the Wazzu game.
However, that brings me to my next concern. Before the showdown with the Cougars, the Broncos have to, I mean, desperately have to figure out this point guard situation. Both Whiting and Anderson have not really been cutting the mustard so far this season. Maybe Buzo needs to be the one bringing up the ball, I don’t know, but what I see on the floor is that the Broncos don’t have that one guy who will demand the basketball and really initiate the offense when it matters most. I have confidence that coach Leon will figure it out and hopefully in these next three games they can work out the final kinks and get on a roll for the rest of the season.
Boise State wins this one easily.
Broncos 78, Wolves 60
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