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Congratulations Leon Rice, your exploits on the hardwood have necessitated official OBNUG coverage of another sport. The people have spoken and the people get what they want... We aim to please. So, for the rest of the season, I will be providing coverage for Bronco Basketball.
After the upset of 25th ranked Wyoming (on the road, with four players suspended no less), expectations haven’t been higher for a team that only features one senior. Ahh yes, the future of Boise State basketball is bright. Hopefully, the basketball team can leverage this early season success to create a sustainable program much like big brother football has done over the past decade. Leon Rice and his excellent coaching staff have laid an impressive foundation for building a successful program.
For the basketball program to take the next step, the coaching staff and the players still have work to do. But, so do we as fans. Taco Bell Arena is a good (not great) basketball venue. The atmosphere I saw at the LSU game, however, was excellent and is an easy sell to recruits. Now, consider these average attendance figures at Boise State home games:
- 2009-2010: 3,061
- 2010-2011: 4,594
- 2011-2012: 4,359
- 2012-2013: 4,397 (If you disregard the first four games, this number jumps to 6,676)
Basketball attendance is only barely higher than last year and still below 2010-2011 numbers. Luckily, the Mountain West is stacked. For instance, this is nuts! A highly-competitive league will supply excellent opponents traveling to BOI on a weekly basis and with the University of New Mexico coming in on Wednesday, better attendance figures are on their way. See you there! #SelloutTacoBellArena
Last week
You hopefully know the story by now, so I won’t get too in depth. Derrick Marks, averaging 16.3 points, and reserves MikeyThompson, Kenny Buckner and Darrious Hamilton were all suspended for the first conference game of the year. Despite the setback, Jeff Elorriaga was able to hit a game-winning three at the buzzer.
Boise State trailed by as many as ten points in the second half and then a technical foul by Leon Rice created the spark needed to steal (yes, steal) a victory against an unbeaten team on the road with a shorthanded team. Despite the Root Sports announcers claiming a high-paced game favored Boise State (maybe at full strength), Boise State had an excellent game plan that required the team to be controlled and methodical, yet muck it up just enough to make Wyoming uncomfortable. With only nine turnovers and stretches of not-so-pretty basketball (yes, I’m talking about you Jake Ness, but you’re awesome), Boise State did just that.
This week
Boise State
Record: 13-2, 1-0 MWC
AP Ranking: NR
RPI: 26
Best Win: @Creighton (RPI: 20)
Worst Loss: @Utah (RPI: 109)
New Mexico – Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 7:00pm MST, Taco Bell Arena
TV: Root Sports
Record: 15-2, 2-0 MWC
AP Ranking: 25
RPI: 13
Best Win: UCONN (RPI: 14)
Worst Loss: South Dakota State (RPI: 92)
Key Player: Kendall Williams (14.6 ppg, 4.6 apg)
@ Air Force – Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 4:00pm MST, Colorado Springs, CO
TV: Root Sports
Record: 9-5, 1-1 MWC
AP Ranking: NR
RPI: 120
Best Win: Nevada (RPI: 173)
Worst Loss: @Richmond (RPI: 94)
Key Player: Michael Lyons (18.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
Your Turn
What's your take on Boise State Basketball? Will we see huge crowds at Taco Bell Arena the rest of the season? Will bigger crowds and more exposure result in better recruiting?