PREVIEW | CBK: BOISE STATE (9-4,0-0) AT SAN JOSE STATE (7-7,0-1)
Boise State University at San Jose State University
Date: Friday January 5th, 2024
Time: 8:30 pm MT
Arena: Provident Credit Union Event Center
TV: FS1
Radio: KBOI 670 AM
Know Thy Enemy
The Broncos are back in action for the first time in 2024 as they open up conference play against the optimistic San Jose Spartans. The Spartans come into this game against the Broncos 0-1 in conference play, as they were dealt a heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss 75-73 against Wyoming on Tuesday. The Spartans were in control of the game for all of the first half and the Cowboys didn’t take their first lead until the 4:22 mark of the second half.
The Spartans are trying to build on what was a historic season in 2022-2023. Last year the Spartans set all kinds of school records including winning their first ever conference tournament game. However, this year is totally different team after losing their top scorer to the NBA. The Spartans replaced three starters from a season ago, but are very optimistic in the pieces they have returning and that they have added. SJSU is very high on their guard combination of Alvaro Cardenas and MJ Amey. Amey was sidelined for the majority of last season with an injury, but so far this season he’s averaging over 13 points per game. They are also excited about their Center Adrame Diongue who comes over from Washington State via the transfer portal. Diongue played sporadic minutes in the 23 games he appeared in as a freshman at Washington State. His seven-foot frame has had instant impact this season as he leads the team in blocks with 20 so far on the season.
San Jose State’s game plan is to put up a high volume of shots, especially from deep. SJSU leads the conference in attempted three pointers averaging over 25 attempts per game. The Spartans average over 75 points per game which is in the bottom half of the league, but they also give up over 71 points per game which is in the bottom third of the conference. Interestingly enough, despite their size and length, the Spartans are in the negative in rebound margin, being out worked on the glass by over a rebound per game. By comparison Boise State out rebounds their opponens by almost seven per game.
San Jose State is coached by Tim Miles. Miles returns for his third season after a historic run for San José State University men’s basketball program during the 2022-23 season. Last season, Miles and Spartans achieved feats that had not been seen in program history including having both the Mountain West Player of the Year in Omari Moore and the Coach of the Year in Miles. Coach was also a Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Finalist in recognition of the team’s 13-win improvement from the previous season.
The Broncos and Spartans are no strangers on the court as Friday will be the 17th meeting between the two programs. The Broncos have dominated the series 15-1. The Broncos had won 15 straight until last season when the Spartans upset the Broncos in overtime last February.
What Happened Last Time
The Broncos shot 41.5% from the field and held the Spartans to under 37% from the field and under 26% from three as the defense held San Jose State in check for much of the game. Boise State held a 12-point lead over the Spartans with under eight minutes to play in regulation, but San Jose State limited Boise State to just one field goal and four points through the remainder of regulation, resulting in a 16-4 run for the home team to force overtime.
The shooting struggles continued for Boise State in overtime, missing its first five field goal attempts before being forced to send San Jose State to the free throw line. The Spartans made seven of their final eight free throw attempts to close out the victory. Chibuzo Agbo led the Broncos with 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc.
Player to Watch
SAN JOSE STATE
JR., ALVARO CARDENAS, PG #13
The junior out of Granada, Spain is putting together another solid season and despite the loss last time out, Cardenas filled up the stat sheet for the Spartans. He led the team with 21 points and also chipped in 9 boards and four assists. Cardenas is in the top-30 in the country for most assists per game, averaging 5.7. The entire offense flows through Cardenas, so the success of the team rides on his ability to facilitate the offense.
BOISE STATE
SR., CHIBUZO AGBO, G#11
Chibuzo Agbo might be the only Bronco that is looking forward to going back to Provident Credit Union Event Center on Friday. The last time the Broncos traveled to San Jose the Spartants upset the Broncos in OT. However, Chibuzo had a really strong shooting night going 4-of-5 from deep and had a team leading 17 points in the contest. Agbo has really been a mainstay this season for the Broncos and could be a dark horse contender for conference player of the year if he keeps up his current pace. Buzo is averaging over 15 points per game and is shooting over 48% from the field and almost 46% from downtown. Right now he is 10th in the conference in scoring average and shooting percentage, but he’s the league's best three point shooter. Agbo needs to continue this hot start to the season as the Broncos go through the gauntlet that is the Mountain West.
PROBABLE STARTERS
BOISE STATE
SAN JOSE STATE
Rev's Route to a Bronco Win
Downtown “D”
Boise State has to be ready to face the barrage of three pointers that is going to come their way on Friday night. The Spartans take over 25 three pointers per game and make over 8 of them. Right now Boise State is fifth in the conference in three-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot over 31% from deep.The Spartans opened up their last game hitting 5 three pointers in the first 10 minutes. SJSU has been playing well at home this season winning all but one of their six home contests so far and nothing gets a home crowd fired up like seeing a few three pointers hitting the bottom of the net. Boise State has to defend the Arc on Friday if they want to win this one.
Board Games
Defense and Rebounding are the keys to this one. Boise State has been better on the boards in their last few games and they have to continue that on Friday. SJSU has shown that they aren’t going to out play you on the glass even with their length down low. Boise State needs to control the boards and not allow second chance opportunities on defense and to create some second chances on offense.
Revs Rant and Prediction
The Broncos closed out their non conference portion of their schedule at 9-4. This year Boise State was able to avoid the “bad loss” that has plagued them the last couple of years. However, the Broncos didn’t really get that “signature” non conference win either. They simply went “par for the course” according the many experts. Now they open up conference play against a Mountain West field that had five teams in the tournament in the latest Bracketology predictions. Having that many in the field is amazing, the not so fun part is that the Broncos are on the outside looking in at this point and need to do some work to get back in the conversation for the ‘Big Dance.’ It’s early in conference play, but the way I see it is the Broncos have to go nearly perfect at home and go at least 50% on the road if they want to get an at-large bid in the tournament.
The road to March starts now with a trip to San Jose. This one could be closer than many think, but I think the Broncos are too deep and too talented to let this one slip away.
Boise State 74, San Jose State 69
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