/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66023260/1191159346.jpg.0.jpg)
It’s that time of year again; the long drought between football season ending, and spring ball beginning. If only we had a sport or two to tide us over.
What if I told you that such a sport existed?
Welcome to Boise State Men’s Basketball 101!
I know most of you are dedicated fans who could school most people on the ins and outs of the team, but here’s your crash-course on Boise State MBB, just in case you haven’t been paying attention.
The Record So Far:
10-5 (2-1 in MWC)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19573240/bsubb.jpg)
Upcoming Schedule:
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19573337/bsubb2.jpg)
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach Leon Rice
- Twitter: @FakeLeonRice (presumably)
- Nickname: “The Professional”
- Notes: Leon is entering his 10th season at the helm, and the Broncos have thrived under his leadership. Last season was a bit rough, with his worst finish as BSU’s head coach, but once again his team looks primed to contend in the MWC.
Assistant Coach Mike Burns
- Twitter: @BSUcoachBurns
- Nickname: “Mr. Clean”
- Notes: A defensive mastermind, Coach Burns has been known to use his waxed dome to distract opposing free-throw shooters.
Assistant Coach Tim Duryea
- Twitter: @DuryeaTim
- Nickname: “Superintendent Chalmers”
- Notes: Formerly the head coach of Utah State, Tim’s head coaching career was sent into a tailspin by the infamous Nick Duncan double-bird. After struggling through one season post-bird-flipping, Tim decided to come to BSU and learn the ways of finger magic.
Assistant Coach R-Jay Barsh
- Twitter: @CoachRjayBarsh
- Nickname: “Maximus”
- Notes: New to Boise State this season, Coach Barsh has made an immediate impact on Twitter, being one of the most popular BSU coach accounts. He’s also one of multiple RJ/RJay’s on the team at the moment, which is NOT AT ALL CONFUSING.
Director of Basketball Operations David Moats
- Twitter: @CoachMoats
- Nickname: “Token Ginger”
- Notes: Nobody is 100% sure what “Basketball Operations” actually is, but every time David goes on vacation, absolutely nothing gets done.
Graduate Assistant Drew Bryson
- Twitter: @dbryson20
- Nickname: “Yes Man”
- Notes: A serial retweeter, nobody really knows much about him aside from the constant stream of general BSU hype he retweets.
Graduate Assistant James Reid
- Twitter: @coachjamesreid
- Nickname: “Iceman”
- Notes: We were fairly certain that he’s actually former BSU basketball star James Reid, but his coaching bio is completely empty. He might be a pod person, or one of those AI-generated things.
Video Coordinator Connor Kolodziej
- Twitter: {REDACTED}
- Nickname: “Baba Yaga”
- Notes: Aside from a single tweet by an SMU athletics account, there is no online record of Connor Kolodziej.
Players:
Marcus Dickinson
- Jersey: #0
- Position: Guard
- Class: Senior
- Nickname: “B.D.E.”
- Twitter: @5GoneGetLive (protected)
- Fast Fact: Models all aspects of his look and life on Russell Westbrook, and is still in denial about the whole Houston trade.
Marcus Shaver
- Jersey: #1
- Position: Guard
- Class: Junior
- Nickname: “Happy”
- Twitter: @marcus10shaver
- Fast Fact: Transferred to Boise as a way to level out the weather after living in the opposite extremes of Phoenix and Portland.
Justinian Jessup
- Jersey: #3
- Position: Guard
- Class: Senior
- Nickname: “Double J”
- Twitter: @justinian_10
- Fast Fact: Often rumored to be the reincarnation of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, who apparently had mad ball skills.
Bing Huang
- Jersey: #4
- Position: Guard
- Class: Freshman
- Nickname: “Google”
- Twitter: @bing__huang
- Fast Fact:
RayJ Dennis
- Jersey: #10
- Position: Guard
- Class: Freshman
- Nickname: “Dennis the Menace”
- Twitter: @rayjdennis10
- Fast Fact: He has not made a video with any of the Kardashians, please stop asking.
Riley Abercrombie
- Jersey: #11
- Position: Forward
- Class: Freshman
- Nickname: “Outback”
- Twitter: @Riley_Aber
- Fast Fact: Does not appreciate being called a Kiwi
Max Rice
- Jersey: #12
- Position: Guard
- Class: Freshman
- Nickname: “Mad Max”
- Twitter: @maxrice12
- Fast Fact: Possibly related to Head Coach Leon Rice, but has far better hair, so likely a distant relation.
Emmanuel Akot
- Jersey: #14
- Position: Guard
- Class: Junior
- Nickname: “Maple Syrup”
- Twitter: @emman_akot
- Fast Fact: Formerly an Arizona Wildcat, Emmanuel was denied a transfer eligibility waiver because the NCAA is a crackpot organization that operates outside of logic, rules, or decency.
Derrick Alston Jr.
- Jersey: #21
- Position: Guard
- Class: Junior
- Nickname: “Skinny”
- Twitter: @deejuusz
- Fast Fact: Probably the last season we will be able to watch him at Boise State, sadly. The League is calling.
Chase Berry
- Jersey: #22
- Position: Guard
- Class: Junior
- Nickname: “Chuck”
- Twitter: ♂️
- Fast Fact: Owner of the absolute best player profile picture on Bronco Sports. Check it out.
RJ Williams
- Jersey: #23
- Position: Forward
- Class: Senior
- Nickname: “Nipsey”
- Twitter: @that1tallguy23 (protected)
- Fast Fact: Is on #TeamHeadband for life, and therefore currently holds the title of OBNUG’s favorite player.
Abu Kigab
- Jersey: #24
- Position: Forward
- Class: Junior
- Nickname: “Buckets”
- Twitter: @AbuKigab
- Fast Fact: Used to play for Oregon, but repented of his sins and is a full-fledged Bronco. All is forgiven.
Robin Jorch
- Jersey:#25
- Position: Center
- Class: Senior
- Nickname: “Smooth”
- Twitter: ♂️
- Fast Fact: He has since shaved, but, for a brief moment in time...
I would like us all to take a moment to acknowledge Robin Jorch’s mustache.
— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) March 13, 2019
It is awesome.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...okay, back to the game. pic.twitter.com/PxbazOsqZe
Mladen Armus
- Jersey: #33
- Position: Forward
- Class: Junior
- Nickname: “Gronk”
- Twitter: ♂️
- Fast Fact: I bet you thought we made up the nicknames. Nope.
I like nicknames.....I made an executive decision this am to nickname Frosh Mladen Armus “Gronk” @ETSU_MBB pic.twitter.com/xxr2jJOpjR
— Steve Forbes (@ForbesETSUhoops) February 9, 2018
Alex Hobbs
- Jersey: #34
- Position: Guard
- Class: Senior
- Nickname: “Tiger”
- Twitter: @Lptko34
- Fast Fact: Fans should feel cheated that we never got another player with the first or last name of Calvin. EVERYTHING WAS SET UP FOR THIS!