Non-conference play wrapped up last Sunday for the Broncos (8-3), where they prepped with quite a slate of games. Things went rosy for this Boise State team, but could have been a lot rosier if not for tough, and perplexing, losses.
By now, fans are quite aware the Broncos started off on the very wrong foot, dropping a home game to Hawai'i Pacific, a Division II squad. A shocking start to the season, yes, but thankfully Boise State has mostly settled in since. In terms of its two other losses, Boise State could mark them in the "good losses" column, if they really wanted to.
The Broncos lost a close one to the USC Trojans (who went on to win the tournament), 70-67, in the opening round of the Maui Invitational. Boise State also fell to N.C. State in the same tournament.
USC is 10-1 this season, with the one loss coming at the hands of Washington. And while N.C. State is 7-4, losses came against Auburn, Kansas, Texas, and Seton Hall.
The Broncos closed out non-conference play in style, picking up Quad 1 wins over Butler (on the road) and Saint Mary's (neutral site).
Two much-needed wins heading into the gauntlet that is the Mountain West. A gauntlet that grew more difficult with the addition of Grand Canyon. Right now, the Broncos are gelling at the right time with players settling into roles and where the team will rely on depth to ascend to the top.
Boise State Broncos: Team and individual stats
Returning a small, but mighty, core in 2025-26 factored into expectations. Gone were two elite players with Tyson Degenhart and Alvaro Cardenas. Back in the blue and orange were Andrew Meadow (a starter), Javan Buchanan (Mountain West 6th Man of the Year), Pearson Carmichael (Fabulous freshman, sometimes starter), RJ Keene II (starter, glue guy), and Julian Bowie, who saw plenty of court time last season.
The true question: How would the new arrivals fit in?
It has taken a team effort to replace the production of Degenhart and Cardenas. Though truly "replacing" the production is tough to do. The majority of the returning players are receiving the opportunity to do their part.
Meadow, averaging 11.9 points per game, opened the season with five straight games scoring in double digits. He only has two games since in crossing into this territory but is still shooting 42.5% from three-point range.
Buchanan slid into the starting lineup and is scoring 12.3 points and averaging 5.4 rebounds per game. Buchanan also has been steady from deep, shooting 36.1%.
Then there is Keene, who continues to out hustle everyone on the floor, contributing a little bit of everything. Keene is averaging 5.5 rebounds per game and has 24 assists this season against only two turnovers.
Carmichael took a couple games to get going but has been consistently the first person off the Bronco bench in recent weeks. Averaging 9.5 points per game and shooting 40% on three-point attempts, Carmichael was in top form in the victory over Duquesne, dropping a career-best 26 points. (He connected on six of eight from deep.)
The top newcomers are both starters, and both contributing mightily. Drew Fielder is tops in the scoring department at 14.4 points per game and is shooting 58.3 percent from the field. Fielder, after struggling to score only seven points on 1 of 12 shooting against USC and NC State, has been on a tear. In the last four games, he averaged 22 points and seven rebounds while shooting 37 of 54 from the field.
Andrews is solid in scoring (11.3) and assists (4.3) while putting in a lot of minutes. The transfer from UCLA is also shooting 86% from the free throw line. Andrews dropped 26 points in the loss against NC State and 20 in the victory over Butler.
Along with Carmichael, Spencer Ahrens, Aginaldo Neto, and Dominic Parolin power the bench. (Bowie, whose father unexpectedly passed right as the season began, recently announced on social media he was stepping away from the team the rest of this season.)
All help Boise State score to the tune of 78 points per game while holding opponents to 69.5. The Broncos have three straight games where opponents scored under 70, also accomplishing this feat in six of their eight victories this season.
Boise State vs Nevada and Mountain West play
Boise State hits the road, taking on a Nevada Wolf Pack (8-3) team with a roster made up of almost entirely new players to the program.
Nevada enters the game on a four-game winning streak, including a three-point win at home against Duquesne. Nevada is averaging 77.4 points per game and allowing 77.2. Boise State holds a slight edge in rebounding and field goal percentage but the Wolf Pack averages only 9.1 turnovers per game.
The big force for Nevada is Fresno State transfer Elijah Price. Price is averaging 11.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, with 1.6 blocked shots per game. Fans should be in a treat with a battle between Price and Fielder in the middle.
Corey Camper Jr. (15.9 ppg) is the leading scorer for the Wolf Pack, with Tayshaun Comer close behind at 15.4.
Prior to the four wins in a row, Nevada dropped three of four. The Wolf Pack defeated San Francisco and lost games against Santa Clara (by 15), UC Davis (4), and Washington. (17).
Nine of the twelve teams in the Mountain West enter conference play with a winning record. Utah State, Colorado State, New Mexico, and Wyoming all posted nine wins. Boise State and Nevada followed, then Grand Canyon and Fresno State with six. San Diego State reached six wins by opening conference play with a victory over Air Force.
The usual suspects, it seems, are primed to make a run at a conference title. Boise State's defense will carry them far and keep them around the top of the league. If their offense can follow suit, and avoid cold spells that so often doomed the team in recent years, a title can be theirs. Then, and only then, can we talk about finally getting the NCAA tournament victory monkey off the program's back.
First, one game at a time, and seeing where the march towards the tournament leads.
The Broncos open conference play this Saturday (12/20) in Reno, taking on the Wolf Pack, where tip-off is set for 8 p.m. (MT)
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