PREVIEW | CBK: BOISE STATE (12-4, 3-0) VS UNLV (8-7, 1-2)
Boise State University vs University of Nevada Las Vegas
Date: Tuesday January 16th, 2024
Time: 8:00 pm MT
Stadium: ExtraMile Arena
TV: CBSSN
Radio: KBOI 670 AM
Know Thy Enemy
The Boys are back in town after a weekend win in Reno. Boise State now looks to school the Rebels of UNLV on Tuesday night at ExtraMile arena.
The Rebels despite the record of 8-7 and 1-2 in league play has really been a tough out for teams this season. Last week they beat New Mexico and then lost to Utah state by just a single point. Both of those teams are top-5 in the league and many have both the Lobos and the Aggies dancing in March.
This season’s UNLV squad features seven returners from last year’s team along with seven newcomers. The newcomers are made up of three Division I transfers, a junior college transfer and three freshmen. UNLV has 10 upperclassmen, including five fifth-year seniors. A total of four players on the roster are playing in their hometown
of Las Vegas.
The Rebels are highlighted by the Broone brothers, Kalib and Keylan who both average over 10 points again with Kalib leading the team in scoring, averaging almost 14 points per game. They also have a freshman of the year candidate in Dedan Thomas Jr. who averages over 12 points per game.
When it comes to the tale of the tape the Rebels are 4th in the conference in scoring offense, but 8th in scoring defense. They fill up the cup at a 47% clip. Interestingly enough despite the record they do have a +7.4 scoring margin. UNLV also ranks in the bottom third of the country in pace of play averaging just 66 possessions per game.
The 2023-24 season marks the third as head coach for Kevin Kruger. Following his first season in 2021-22, Kruger was named one of 15 finalists for the Joe B. Hall Award, which is presented annually to the top first-year coach in Division I men’s college basketball by
collegeinsider.com. In his second season, UNLV won 19 games, which is the most for the program in a season since 2015-16, and recorded its best non-conference record in 32 years. After the 10-0 start the team received votes in both top 25 polls and Kruger was named ESPN’s National Coach of the Week. Prior to being named head coach, Kruger was an assistant for the Runnin’ Rebels for the previous two seasons.
UNLV and BSU have gone at it 28 times in school history. Boise State holds a 18-10 advantage in the all-time series. This series has been tight with the average score being 75-73. However, Boise State is 9-1 in the last 10 matchups, including winning the last eight and is 10-2 at home since 2010.
What Happened Last Time in Boise
Marcus Shaver, Jr. went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final minute-and-a-half to ice a 73-69 victory. The Rebels executed an alley-oop play that cut the Broncos' lead to two points with 2:13 remaining in the game. Boise State grew the lead back to six before a second-chance triple from the Rebels and Shave returned to the charity stripe with 18 seconds on the clock on the ensuing possession.
After Shaver sank the pair of free throws, UNLV responded with another 3-pointer at the other end to once again make it a one-possession game. Shaver was sent back to the line for a third time in the final, and the Bronco guard took advantage of the opportunity to put the game away for good.
UNLV led for the majority of the first half before the Boise State defense came alive, limiting the Rebels to just three field goals and forcing eight turnovers in the final 10 minutes of the period to take a 38-32 lead entering halftime. The Broncos never trailed in the second half, and held the lead for all but 43-seconds in the final 20 minutes.
Player to Watch
UNLV
FR., DEDAN THOMAS JR., G#11
Dedan Thomas Jr might be the tipping point if this game goes the UNLV way. Thomas Jr. is a true freshman playing in his hometown of Las Vegas. Thomas was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and was named the Mountain West Preseason Freshman of the Year. On the season he’s averaging over 10 points per game and in their three conference games this year he’s averaging over a dozen points per game.
BOISE STATE
SO., RODDIE ANDERSON III, G#0
Last Friday was the Roddie Anderson that we all thought we’d get after seeing his highlights from a year ago. Anderson scored 7 straight points for the Broncos at one point in the second half, highlighted by a steal and slam and then a catch-and-shoot three in the corner. Anderson has not been a “shoot first” guy this season, but his offensive outburst was much needed and certainly welcomed. It will be interesting to see which version of Agent Zero we get tonight!
PROBABLE STARTERS
BOISE STATE
UNLV
Rev's Route to a Bronco Win
Point Guard Play
The two point guards in this game have two very different styles of play and play very different roles for their respective teams. Dedan Thomas Jr. is definitely in the “star” role for the Rebels and can do it all. Roddie Anderson is more of a facilitator and defensive minded player for the Broncos. This game could come down to which point guard has the better game.
Shut the Lid
Boise State has played some really stellar defense in their last two games against some really prolific offenses. Last week Colorado State was averaging over 80 points per game and the Broncos held them to 58. Nevada was averaging over 77 points per game and Boise State held them to 56 points and held Nevada to just two offensive rebounds all game long. Boise State is #8 in the country in defensive rebounding, allowing offensive rebounds only 23% of the time.
Revs Rant and Prediction
Saturday’s game against San Diego State won’t be the bout that we all want it to be if Boise State doesn’t take care of business tonight. UNLV is a very underrated team that has all the signs of figuring this thing out by the time the Mountain West tournament comes around. The good thing for Boise State is that they only have to play the Rebels once and it so happens to be in the home of the nation's longest home win streak.
This is a massively underrated matchup that Boise State can’t afford to lose. I think the environment of ExtraMile and the depth of Boise State will be enough to get this one in the win column.
Boise State 71, UNLV 66
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