Buoyed by depth, unselfish play, and a balanced effort on both sides of the court, the Broncos are taking care of business in multiple facets. Boise State won games they were heavily favored in (Eastern Oregon, UC Riverside, College of Idaho), a road test (University of San Francisco), and a big home win over a team from the Big 12 (Colorado Buffaloes).
In winning their first five games, Boise State has thus far one-upped their fast start from a season ago. It is the first time the Broncos started 5-0 since the 2020-21 season and are finding success far down the bench, with seniors to freshmen contributing to this glorious start.
Broncos: Season at a glance
The big early win over Colorado and winning its first road game has helped Boise State stay balanced in this young season. A strong start also builds confidence towards what should be competitive conference play, where the Broncos are one of six Mountain West teams with zero or one losses.
Defense has long been a calling card for Boise State under head coach Gordy Presnell and this season is no different. The Broncos hold opponents to 50.4 points per game, with no team yet hitting 60 points against Boise State. Opponents are shooting 33.1 percent from the field and a sub-freezing 17.9 percent from deep.
Helping the Broncos along is fantastic pressure inside the key, and out. Abby Muse has blocked 20 shots already and junior Tatum Thompson has 11 steals.
Thompson has taken a leap so far in '24-25, leading the team in scoring with 10.8 points per game and pulling down 6.4 rebounds.
Thompson is one of nine Broncos averaging at least 4.2 points per game. No other is in double figures, but it is lovely to see a box score fill up every game with Boise State receiving contributions from all aspects.
Natalie Pasco (8.8 ppg) leads the team with nine made threes and Dani Bayes (7.6 ppg) has six, though only shooting 24 percent from deep.
Muse is shooting 65 percent and averages six points to go along with 6.6 rebounds, helping the Broncos to a plus 6.4 advantage on the boards. Mya Hansen (6.4 points) is struggling from the field a bit at 34 percent, Elodie Lalotte averages seven points, and Mary Kay Naro leads the team with 13 assists.
Three freshmen are also seeing adequate playing time, led by Teryn Gardner. Gardner is second on the team with six made threes, while Libby Hutton and Milly Sharp are seeing valuable minutes.
Overall, turnovers remain a slight problem for the Broncos, who average 16 per game. Still, Boise State is shooting 42.9 percent from the field in averaging 70.8 points per game.
Three-point shooting has had its ups and downs, with the Broncos shooting 29.8 percent on 114 attempts.
Upcoming schedule for Boise State
Boise State returns home on Sunday, where they host the Weber State Wildcats (2-3). Weber State is fresh off a win Friday night over the Nevada Wolf Pack, using a 20-4 run to close the first half to help secure the victory.
Last season, the Broncos defeated the Wildcats 76-47. Four Boise State players scored double figures, led by Bayes with 13. Hansen (11 points, 7 assists), Thompson (10), and Pasco (10) joined Bayes.
After that matchup on Sunday (11/24 @ 4 p.m. ET), the Broncos head to the Gulf Coast Showcase in Southwest Florida . Boise State starts that tournament with a game against Illinois State on 11/29 (11 a.m. ET) and then will face either West Virginia or High Point on 11/30.
Boise State will finish the tournament with a game against Butler, Santa Clara, Texas, or New Mexico State.
This tournament should be a nice measuring stick for the Broncos. Only High Point (2-3) among these seven teams currently has a losing record. Texas (4-0) and West Virginia (6-0), ranked thirteenth, both have not lost, while Butler, Illinois State, Santa Clara, and New Mexico State each have only one loss.
Depending on how the cards fall, Boise State going at least 2-1 on the tourney is a realistic possibility. Do that, or better, and Boise State entrenches itself firmly in the discussion to make a run at the conference title. Not that they weren't before but starting December 9-0 or 8-1 is going to be a glorious way to warm up those winter months.
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