PREVIEW | CBK: BOISE STATE (12-5, 3-1) vs SAN DIEGO STATE (15-3, 4-1)
Boise State University vs San Diego State University
Date: Saturday January 20th, 2024
Time: 11:00 am MT
Stadium: ExtraMile Arena
TV: CBS
Radio: KBOI 670 AM
Know Thy Enemy
If there ever was a game that could really get Boise State some national attention it would be this one against San Diego State. A big time match up against a team that was in the National Championship game last season on network CBS is the opportunity that is staring the Broncos in the face on Saturday.
San Diego State comes into Boise after beating up on Nevada on Wednesday night. All Signs are still pointing to the Aztecs as the class of the Mountain West and the team to beat. SDSU is 15-3, 4-1 on the season with all three of those losses coming away from the friendly confines of Mission Viejas Arena. Their lone conference loss came at the hands of New Mexico at “The Pit” last Saturday in the very same time slot and channel as this Saturday against the Broncos.
What makes the Aztecs so good is their continuity on offense. Their current head coach Brian Dutcher and their former head coach Steve Fisher like to settle on a starting lineup early in the season and leave it that way. Last season the Aztecs had the same starting five for all but three game last season and this year 16 of the 18 have featured the same starting squad. Like Boise State, SDSU is a veteran squad with four upper classmen in the starting lineup.
San Diego State is very much a defensive minded team that is thrid in the MW in scoring defense, allowing a meager 66.8 points per game. Their offense is just about average, scoring a touch over 76 points per game. The Aztecs’ Jaedon LeDee is their top scoring option and they will try and get him the ball as often as they can. LeDee averages over 21 points per game. After LeDee the Aztecs have a number of players that contribute on offense. Boise State fans should be familiar with a number of SDSU top contributors like Micah Parish and Lamont Butler.
The Aztecs are coached by Brian Dutcher. Dutcher has been a fixture on the SDSU bench for a long time. Dutcher is in his 7th season as head coach, but has spent the last quarter century with the Program. Dutcher has been pretty successful in his first six years in which he led the Aztecs to six Mountain West title games, their conference-high 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Mountain West crowns and four trips to the NCAA tournament, including a run to the 2023 national championship game. Along the way Dutcher’s Aztecs became the first Mountain West program to win a game in the Sweet-16, Elite 8 and Final Four.
Boise State is 11-18 in 29 all-time matchups with the Aztecs. Since 2012 the Broncos are 9-4 at home against SDSU.
What Happened Last Time in Boise
A 12-0 solo-run from Max Rice in the final five minutes of the game powered an upset victory for Boise State men's basketball as the Broncos knocked off No. 18/19 San Diego State, 66-60, in front of a sold-out ExtraMile Arena.
The Aztecs led by eight with 4:42 when Rice drew a foul and earned a pair of free throws. After making the first attempt, the second bounced off the rim and was collected by Naje Smith, who kicked it back out to Rice for a 3-pointer. Less than a minute later Rice made yet another second-chance three, and followed it up with a third-straight bucket from deep on the following possession, giving the Broncos the lead and forcing a San Diego State timeout with 2:42 left.
Rice converted a fastbreak-layup to cap his run, while good team defense and a pair of free throws from Marcus Shaver, Jr. closed out the home-finale win. Rice scored 16 of his 26 points in the second half to lead the Broncos.
Player to Watch
SDSU
SR., JAY PAL, F#4
There has been increasing speculation that senior forward Jay Pal should take over the starting spot at the 4 instead of sophomore Elijah Saunders. Pal has been a really effective role player that has had his share of standout games coming off the bench for the Aztecs. Pal has scored 8 or more in two of the last three games and last time out almost had a double-double with 8 points and 10 rebounds. Most of the time SDSU can count a bucket or two and a handful of rebounds from the big man, but every now and then he can go off for 15. If Pal has a big game off the bench the Broncos could be in trouble.
BOISE STATE
SR., MAX RICE, G #12
Max Rice has had a solid start to Mountain West play, averaging over 10 points per contest but hasn’t found his three-ball just yet. Last time the Aztecs came into ExtraMile, Rice had a game for the ages. If Boise State is going to win he will have to have a near repeat performance.
PROBABLE STARTERS
BOISE STATE
SDSU
Rev's Route to a Bronco Win
They Are Free for a Reason
The Broncos were 12 of 18 from the line against UNLV including missing a number of key free throws on the front end of one-and-one’s late in the second half. Even O’Mar Stanely who is a very capable free throw shooter was 1 of 4 from the charity stripe. Boise State has to capitalize on any opportunities they get to score on Saturday and that starts with hitting the free ones.
Bench Points? What are those?
It’s very apparent that coach Leon Rice’s circle of trust is very small yet again this season. Outside of his starting lineup there are two or three others that get any sort of playing time. Last time out against UNLV the Broncos managed all of two points from their bench. I’m not saying these guys need to average double digits, but the offense can’t come to a screeching halt when starters need a breather.
Revs Rant and Prediction
Coach Rice called his time on the carpet with his statement after last game saying, “(UNLV) just wanted it more.” It seemed that way on Tuesday night as Boise State clawed their way back into the game, but didn’t finish the fight. I know you can’t win them all, but how in the world do you let a team come into your building and have more “want to.” The Broncos are at a crossroad on Saturday. Win the game and it may just propel you to a regular season conference title, lose the game and you’re behind the eight ball, maybe not for March, but for other aspirations. Can you lose a second straight in your own building? I know SDSU is good, really good, but they have shown they are beatable on the road.
This one is really close, but I think the boys are still a bit rattled from Tuesday. A slow start and lack of production from the bench sinks the Broncos in this one.
Boise State 69, San Diego State 73
Comments
Post a Comment