One team unscathed through the first two weeks is the Boise State Broncos (12-4, 3-0). Winning thanks to timely outbursts on offense and, above all else, a physical, gritty defense keeping opponents in check.
This was evident in the past week with two victories, both huge wins in their own regard. The first was a home victory over the Colorado State Rams (13-3, 1-2), who were ranked 17th at the time. Boise State delivered a 65-58 victory, holding Colorado State to 25 points under their season average. The Broncos forced 16 turnovers and held the Rams to a frigid 25 percent from three-point range.
A repeat performance happened Friday night in Reno, with Boise State picking up a 64-56 victory. The Broncos clamped down, holding the Nevada Wolf Pack (15-2, 2-1) to 36 percent on field goal attempts and 25 percent on threes. Rebounding was a huge asset, where Boise State was plus 19 in that department.
Much of the success, though a team effort, can be pointed to Roddie Anderson III. Anderson held two of the conference's top point guards in check. Colorado State's Isaiah Stevens came on late but finished with 15 points, 3 assists, and six turnovers. And with Nevada, Jarod Lucas was held to 5-14 from the field and 14 points.
In two games, Anderson also had five steals.
Anderson, after a 0-point, 8-assist effort against the Rams, found his scoring touch against the Wolf Pack, finishing with 12 points (plus four assists). It was Tyson Degenhart who picked up the slack against Nevada, finishing with 20 points and 9 rebounds.
Chibuzo Agbo had a steady week with 25 points and 12 rebounds, picking up some slack for Max Rice, who struggled. Rice did an excellent job on defense and collected eight rebounds against Nevada but was 5-20 from the field during the week. O'Mar Stanley struggled against Nevada (1-8) from the field. Stanley, though, was 6-6 from the free throw line and pulled down nine rebounds.
The offense is doing just enough but as we've seen, defense is king in this conference. A little bit more offense efficiency will be needed to back up these outstanding defensive efforts with two more huge games on the horizon. Both games will be at Extra Mile Arena, where the Broncos put their 22-game homecourt winning streak on the line.
Boise State vs UNLV
The UNLV Rebels (8-7, 1-2) nearly had an upset over a ranked team in their pockets heading into Tuesday's meeting with Boise State. UNLV led the entire game until Utah State converted a rare five-point play with 8.4 seconds left, giving the Aggies (16-1, 4-0) a 87-86 victory.
UNLV has been competitive early in conference play, defeating New Mexico by 10 and losing to San Diego State by 11. The Rebels have five players who average in double figures, with seven players averaging at least seven points per game. UNLV, in averaging 77.3 points, takes care of the ball, committing only 10.7 turnovers.
Guard play highlights the Rebel action but it is forward Kalib Boone leading the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game. Boone scored 29 in the victory over New Mexico and 18 against Utah State. He is shooting 64.1 percent from the field and collecting 5.1 rebounds per game.
Guard Luis Rodriguez is nipping on Boone's heels with 13.3 points per game. Rodriguez leads the Rebels in rebounding (6.7), one of three averaging at least six per game, and nearly had a double-double against the Aggies with 23 points and nine rebounds.
Dedan Thomas Jr. leads the team with 6.6 assists while also scoring 12.3 points.
Boise State is on a roll in meetings with UNLV, winning eight straight games against the Rebels (dating back to the conference tourney in 2020). Tuesday's game (1/16) is at 8 p.m. (MT) and can be watched on CBSSN.
Broncos host Aztecs
Two of the top conference teams in recent seasons, where meetings have been close, and championships decided. The schools split their two meetings in 2022-23, a season after the Broncos went 3-0 against the Aztecs. This capped a Broncos championship, where Boise State won the three games by a combined seven points.
In the two seasons prior to '21-22, San Diego State (14-3, 3-1) went 5-0 against the Broncos.
The Aztecs most recent game was an 18-point loss to the New Mexico Lobos (14-3, 2-2) in the Pit. San Diego State seemed in control most of the first half before New Mexico rattled off a 17-2 run. From there, the Lobos never looked back.
San Diego State started conference play with 27-point win over Fresno State and defeated UNLV by 11. The Aztecs, much like Boise State, escaped a meeting with San Jose State, winning by three. (The Spartans, on a side note, finally won a game after losing three conference games by a combined 14 points. They defeated Air Force on a last second three-pointer.)
Depth is a huge positive for a team averaging 76.9 points per game, only scoring under 70 three times this season. The Aztecs pull down 38 rebounds and commit 11.2 turnovers per game. San Diego State does struggle with the three-pointer, shooting only 32.5 percent.
The main focus for Boise State will be the force that is All-American candidate Jaedon LeDee. LeDee does everything at another level, averaging nearly a double-double with 21.6 points and 8.6 rebounds. He is shooting 56.1 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.
LeDee has not been held to single digits in points all season and has ten games where he scored at least 20.
Reese Waters is currently San Diego State's best three-point shooter at 41.9 percent. Waters averages 11.9 points, with Micah Parrish not far behind with 10.4.
Parrish also pulls down 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Lamont Butler is handing out 3.4 assists and scoring 6.4 points but is shooting only 29.8 percent from deep.
Prior to facing the Broncos, San Diego State hosts Nevada on 1/17. The Saturday (1/20) morning meeting between the Broncos and Aztecs will be a nationally televised affair on CBS, starting at 11 a.m. (MT).
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