ORLANDO – The Boise State mens basketball team probably won’t have the sparkling, impressive win-loss record that some teams will have heading into conference play.
But the Broncos hope to still be better off because of it.
Boise State opened up the ESPN Events Invitational with a 82-75 loss to Virginia Tech Thursday night in a game in which the Broncos led by as many as 12 points in the first half.
It was a second-straight loss to an ACC team for the Broncos (2-2), who lost last Sunday at Clemson to start this road trip.
While some teams are padding their record with easy opponents to start the season, Boise State has already played three top-100 KenPom teams in the first two weeks. So that’s why coach Leon Rice and the Broncos aren’t panicking or worried after back-to-back losses.
“If you wanted a 12-0 record you’d schedule all home games,” Rice told Bronco Nation News after the game. “This team needs to be challenged and we need to find out what our issues are and how we get better at them.
“When you have a team of workers and guys who care about each other and guys who want to be better, we’ll find a way to be a really good team. And I think we are already. You can’t throw the baby out with the bath water because you lost to two ACC teams.”
Some fans on social media wanted to after the game though.
Boise State entered the season with maybe the most hype and excitement of any team in program history. Coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances the Broncos had goals of not only reaching the Big Dance for a school-record third-straight season, but winning the first game in the tournament in program history.
And now after a 2-2 start some are already to move on. During and after the loss Thursday some went to social media – and the comment section on the Lithia Ford of Boise Postgame Show on Bronco Nation News – to voice their displeasure with the team through four games. On the postgame show one even predicted a 17-16 record was coming for the Broncos.
Rice took offense to the negativity. He scheduled hard for a reason – and he’s not ready to give up on the team after two losses.
“Then they don’t understand basketball because not many teams are going to beat Clemson at Clemson and Virginia Tech is going to win their fare share also, I know that,” Rice said of fans disappointed with the start to the season. “It makes you better. These losses don’t hurt you in the NET, you are playing great teams.
“We have to get better and that’s why we did it and why we’re playing these games. I mean look around the country – Tom Izzo (Michigan State) is 3-3 right now. Guess what? They are going to get better. They’ve played great teams and that’s what he does. He challenges his guys and it’s why they are really good in March. Other teams aren’t getting that kind of experience and exposure of their weaknesses and they don’t get better.”
No Mountain West team is playing as many as four straight games against teams ranked in the Top 100 at KenPom in nonconference play. Boise State is currently in the midst of seven consecutive. How’s it compare nationally? None of the top 10 ranked teams at KenPom nationally are playing as many Top 100 teams in a row as the Broncos during nonconference play. Boise State’s current stretch is the toughest of any team in the Mountain West and one of the toughest in the country.
Tyson Degenhart had 18 points to lead there Broncos, while Chibuzo Agbo had 15 points, O’Mar Stanley had 13 and Max Rice had 12.
After getting out-rebounded by 15 in an 85-67 loss at Clemson on Sunday, the Broncos won the battle of the boards 35-28 against Virginia Tech. Boise State also shot 47.4 percent from the field.
Two huge factors in the loss? Free throw shooting, and turnovers. The Broncos had 16 turnovers which turned into 27 Virginia Tech points. The Hokies also went 23 of 27 from the free throw line compared to just 13 of 16 for Boise State.
The Broncos trailed 72-70 with 2:14 remaining when the Broncos appeared to secure a loose ball and call time out. But a jump ball was called, and Virginia Tech had the arrow and four seconds still on the shot clock.
Boise State forced Virginia Tech guard Sean Pedulla into a long 3-point attempt well beyond the arc, but he swished it as the shot clock buzzer sounded. A chance to tie or take the lead instead was a 5-point deficit with 2:10 to go.
“That was a huge play,” Rice said. “What a great shot boy that kid. That was a big, big play in what was going to be a last-possession game.”
Last year Boise State lost to South Dakota State in the season opener and then had a horrible loss to Charlotte to drop to 1-2 on the year. Two years ago the Broncos lost to UC Irvine and Cal-State Bakersfield in bad early season losses.
Boise State is 2-2 for a third straight season – but have two competitive losses to ACC teams. The Broncos trailed by 3 points at the half to both Clemson and Virginia Tech.
“I think if you look at the last three years, this 2-2 is a lot different than the other 2-2s,” Degenhart said. “We lost to two really high quality opponents who are going to do a lot of damage this year in the ACC. The last two years we had some hiccups early in the season (and still made the NCAA Tournament).
“I think we’re moving along really well as a group. We’re still figuring out the kinks and the right lineups for us. Things are going to come. You’re going to see this team click and it’s going to click here pretty soon. … We’re going to figure it out. We’re going to keep working and sticking together.”
And guess what? With the next three games against VCU on Friday, either Butler or Penn State on Sunday and then Saint Mary’s on Dec. 1, the Broncos probably will lose another game or two at some point here shortly.
The record might not look pretty for a bit. How the team looks in conference play and beyond will be the real test.
The Broncos are confident the brutal early schedule will eventually pay off. Even if it doesn’t feel great right now.
“When you play against a good team any time you make a mistake they expose it,” Rice said. “These tournaments are great because you get to play a great game after a great game after a great game. There is no time to feel sorry for yourself and no time to worry about it. We play a really good VCU team. It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire with another great game.”
One that figures to make the Broncos better – whether they win or not.
Tip off Friday is set for 6 p.m. MT against VCU. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
Bronco Nation News will have a special edition Lithia Ford of Boise Pregame Show at 1 p.m. MT to preview both the football game against Air Force at 2 p.m. and the men’s basketball game against VCU at 6 p.m.
