SACRAMENTO, Calif. – There have been plenty of historic moments and program firsts for the Boise State men’s basketball team of late.
There’s still one more big one to go.
The tenth-seeded Broncos meet No. 7 seed Northwestern on Thursday at 5:35 p.m. MT on TruTV in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a chance to achieve the most historic moment in the history of Boise State basketball – win a game in the Big Dance.
Boise State is 0-8 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
“The last couple years we’ve done a lot of checking off boxes that this program has never done before and that’s one of the last boxes,” Boise State senior Max Rice said. “I think it would be huge for this program, to check off an NCAA Tournament win.
“That’s something that has been our goal all year. We’ve been locked in on that goal. We’re really close to achieving that goal. I think it would be huge.”
The eight appearances without a win are officially the most of any of the 68 teams in the field. Iona, which has 15 appearances, had its only win in 1980 vacated due to an ineligible player.
Boise State has been to the tournament three previous times under coach Leon Rice but lost all three. The Broncos fell to No. 9 seed Memphis last year, 64-53, and lost in the First Four to Dayton (56-55) in 2015 and to La Salle (80-71) in 2013.
The Broncos are hoping things will be different this year – and it seems to be the best chance they’ve ever had to finally do it. After one-sided matchups in previous years, including last year against Memphis, the Broncos appear to match up nicely with Northwestern.
And unlike last year, there won’t be a NBA lottery pick on the opposing team. The talent appears even, and the point spread of Northwestern -1.5 reflects that.
It’s a winnable game – and the perfect time to do it.
“It would mean so much for our fans,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said. “I want it so bad for our players to keep ‘em going. I want to keep this group together as long as I can keep this group together and the moment you lose, it’s done.
“I think that’s my biggest motivator. They had no control over the past. Those are milestones and great things to accomplish, so we’d love to do it, no doubt.”
Boise State has checked nearly every box in the last few years including winning both the regular season and Mountain West Tournament championships last year while also finishing with a program record 27 wins.
The Broncos also are back in the Big Dance in consecutive seasons for the second time in program history and the first since 1993 and 1994. Last year’s No. 8 seed was the highest seed the Broncos have ever earned.
This is the third at-large bid to the tournament for the Broncos in program history, but the first into the main 64-team bracket. Both other times the Broncos were awarded at-large bids they were sent to the ‘play-in’ game in Dayton.
Boise State’s appearance on Thursday is already historic. It could become legendary with a win.
“This team has been special,” Leon Rice said. “Their accomplishments have been worthy of being remembered for a long, long time.”