Boise State Broncos men's basketball
The Boise State Broncos men's basketball team represents Boise State University in the Mountain West Conference. The Broncos are led by head coach Leon Rice, hired in March 2010, and play their home games on campus at ExtraMile Arena in Boise, Idaho. BSU's most recent appearance in the NCAA Tournament was in 2022 where the team finished ranked #23 in the AP/Coaches polls.
| Boise State Broncos | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | |||||
| University | Boise State University | ||||
| Head coach | Leon Rice (12th season) | ||||
| Conference | Mountain West | ||||
| Location | Boise, Idaho | ||||
| Arena | ExtraMile Arena (Capacity: 12,820) | ||||
| Nickname | Broncos | ||||
| Student section | The Corral | ||||
| Colors | Blue and orange[1] | ||||
| Uniforms | |||||
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| NCAA Tournament Appearances | |||||
| 1976, 1988, 1993, 1994, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2022 | |||||
| Conference tournament champions | |||||
| Mountain West 2022 WAC 2008 Big Sky 1976, 1988, 1993, 1994 | |||||
| Conference regular season champions | |||||
| Mountain West 2015, 2022 WAC 2008 Big Sky 1976, 1988, 1989 | |||||
| Conference division season champions | |||||
| Big West East Division 1999 | |||||
History
Greg Graham era
Athletic director Gene Bleymaier hired Greg Graham to be head coach in 2002.[2] In eight seasons, Graham had a 142–112 record at Boise State and led Boise State to a berth in the 2004 NIT, 2008 NCAA Tournament and 2009 CBI.[3] For leading Boise State to the NCAA Tournament, the Western Athletic Conference named Graham "Coach of the Year" in 2008.[4]
In 2010, after a 15–17 season, Bleymaier fired Graham and stated: "We appreciate everything that Coach Graham and his staff have contributed to Boise State the past eight years. We felt that in the best interest of the program we needed to make a change."[5]
Leon Rice era
Leon Rice replaced Graham as head coach of the Broncos on March 26, 2010.[6] In his first season as head coach, he led Boise State to the finals of the 2011 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament and to the semifinals of the 2011 College Basketball Invitational. He is the first Boise State head coach to win 20 games in two of his first three seasons and has 20 or more wins in eight of his ten seasons. In 2013, he guided the Broncos to their first ever at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. In 2015, he led the Broncos to their first ever Mountain West regular season championship, and first conference title for Boise State since 2008, and was named the Mountain West coach of the year. On February 13, 2021, Rice won his 214th game to become the winningest head coach in Boise State history. In 2022, Leon Rice led Boise to arguably their best season in school history. The Broncos won a program high 27 games, 15 conference games, the Mountain West conference regular season championship, Mountain West conference tournament, an 8-seed in the NCAA tournament and the highest AP ranking in program history at 23.
In-season tournament championships
- 1984–85 Gem State Classic (wins over Northwest Nazarene, Idaho State)
- 1986–87 Real Dairy Classic (wins over College of Idaho, Idaho State)
- 1986–87 Albertson's Holiday Classic (wins over Southwest Texas State, San Diego)
- 1987–88 Real Dairy Classic (wins over Lewis-Clark State, Idaho State)
- 1987–88 Albertson's Holiday Classic (wins over Sam Houston State, St. Mary's (CA))
- 1988–89 Real Dairy Classic (wins over Northwest Nazarene, Idaho State)
- 1988–89 Albertson's Holiday Classic (wins over Portland, Wisconsin–Green Bay)
- 1990–91 Real Dairy Classic (wins over Valparaiso, Idaho State)
- 1990–91 Albertson's Holiday Classic (wins over Monmouth, Georgia Southern)
- 1991–92 Real Dairy Classic (wins over Sacramento State, Stephen F. Austin State)
- 1991–92 Albertson's Holiday Classic (wins over Air Force, Western Michigan)
- 1992–93 Real Dairy Classic (wins over Elizabeth City State, Georgia State)
- 1992–93 Albertson's Holiday Classic (wins over George Mason, Southern Utah)
- 1993–94 Real Dairy Classic (wins over Siena, Illinois–Chicago)
- 1994–95 Albertson's Holiday Classic (wins over Bucknell, Davidson)
- 1996–97 Albertson's Holiday Classic (wins over Campbell, Gonzaga)
Regular season conference titles
- Big Sky (3): 1976, 1988, 1989
- Big West (1): 1999 (East)
- Western Athletic (1): 2008
- Mountain West (2): 2015, 2022
Conference tournament championships
- Big Sky (4): 1976, 1988, 1993, 1994
- Western Athletic (1): 2008
- Mountain West (1): 2022
Conference Player of the Year awards
- Big Sky (2): Arnell Jones (1988), Chris Childs (1989)
- Big West (1): Roberto Bergersen (1999)
- Mountain West (1): Derrick Marks (2015)[7]
Postseason results
NCAA Division I Tournament results
The Broncos have appeared in eight NCAA Division I Tournaments, with a combined record of 0–8. Their first five bids came via conference tournament championships, the first four in the Big Sky. The bid to the First Four in 2013 was the first at-large bid in school history, and they received a second in 2015. They made their eighth appearance in 2022. Dubiously, their loss in the First Round game meant that they tied Eastern Kentucky for most losses without a victory in the NCAA Tournament (eight).
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result | BSU head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Round of 32 | #4 UNLV | L 78–103 | Bus Connor | |
| 1988 | 14 W | Round of 64 | (3) #10 Michigan | L 58–63 | Bobby Dye |
| 1993 | 14 W | Round of 64 | (3) #8 Vanderbilt | L 72–92 | |
| 1994 | 14 W | Round of 64 | (3) #10 Louisville | L 58–67 | |
| 2008 | 14 E | Round of 64 | (3) #13 Louisville | L 61–79 | Greg Graham |
| 2013 | 13 W | First Four | (13) La Salle | L 71–80 | Leon Rice |
| 2015 | 11 E | First Four | (11) Dayton | L 55–56 | |
| 2022 | 8 W | First Round | (9) Memphis | L 53–64 |
NCAA Division II Tournament results
The Broncos appeared in one NCAA Division II Tournament (referred to at the time as the College Division), with a 1–1 record.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result | BSU head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Regional Semifinals Regional 3rd Place | UC Riverside Sacramento State | L 81–83 W 63–61 | Murray Satterfield |
NIT results
The Broncos have appeared in seven National Invitational Tournaments (NIT), with a combined record of 5–7.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result | BSU head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | First Round Second Round | Utah Washington | W 62–61 L 68–73 | Bobby Dye |
| 1989 | First Round | Oklahoma State | L 55–69 | |
| 1991 | First Round | Southern Illinois | L 74–75 | |
| 2004 | Opening Round First Round Second Round | UNLV Milwaukee Marquette | W 84–69 W 73–70 L 53–56 | Greg Graham |
| 2017 | First Round Second Round | Utah Illinois | W 73–68 L 56–71 | Leon Rice |
| 2018 | First Round | Washington | L 74–77 | |
| 2021 | First Round Quarterfinals | SMU Memphis | W 85–84 L 56–59 |
CBI results
The Broncos have appeared in two College Basketball Invitationals (CBI), with a combined record of 2–2.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result | BSU head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | First Round | Stanford | L 76–96 | Greg Graham |
| 2011 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Austin Peay Evansville Oregon | W 83–80 W 75–69 L 71–79 | Leon Rice |
Notable alumni
- Gus Johnson – F/C, 1961–1962, Baltimore Bullets, Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers. Five time NBA All-Star. Two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team. ABA Champion. #25 retired by the Washington Wizards. Inducted posthumously into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.[8] Played sophomore season at Boise Junior College and junior season at the University of Idaho, then was selected tenth overall in the 1963 NBA draft.
- Clyde Dickey – G, 1970–1973. Drafted by the Phoenix Suns. Played for the Utah Stars of the ABA.
- Trent Johnson – F, 1974–1978. Johnson is the former head coach of Stanford, Nevada, LSU, and TCU.
- Fred Williams – G, 1977–1979. Head coach for the Tulsa Shock of the WNBA. Former head coach of the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA. Williams was an assistant coach for the USC women's basketball team when they won national championships in 1983 and 1984
- Bruce Bolden – F, 1981–1985, NBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player in 1992
- Terry Lee – G, 1982–1983, Won a World Series Championship with the Cincinnati Reds in 1990
- Chris Childs – G, 1985–1989, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors
- Frank Robinson – G, 1989–1990, played for the Denver Broncos of the NFL
- Vince Hizon - G/F, 1990–1991, multiple champion in the professional basketball league in the Philippines. Currently the commissioner of the Filsports Basketball Association in the Philippines.
- Tanoka Beard – F/C, 1989–1993, 2-time Spanish League MVP (Real Madrid) (all-time Boise State leading scorer 1944 points)
- John Coker – C, 1993–1996, Phoenix Suns
- Roberto Bergersen – G/F, 1996–1999, drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, won the NBA Development League Championship with the Idaho Stampede in 2008. Number retired by The Idaho Stampede
- Jeb Putzier - F, 1999, played on the Bronco basketball team in his sophomore year. Played in NFL for the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and Seattle Seahawks.
- Bryan Defares – G, 2000–2004, won the California state basketball championship in 2000, helped lead the Broncos the 2004 NIT Sweet Sixteen, played professionally in Europe, and represented the Netherlands national basketball team for 10 years
- Jermaine Blackburn – G/F, 2003–2005, One of the few people in the history of professional basketball to record a Quadruple-double when he tallied 20 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists, and 10 steals in a CBA game. He followed this performance with a triple-double in his very next game, recording 22 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists against the same team [9]
- Tyler Tiedeman - F, 2005–2008, Dutch Basketball League All-Star.
- Coby Karl – G/F, 2004–2007, Karl is the head coach of the NBA G League's Delaware Blue Coats. He played for Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Golden State Warriors in the NBA.
- Matt Bauscher - G, 2005–2008, Dutch Basketball League Champion, All-Star, and MVP.
- La'Shard Anderson - G, 2008-2011, Anderson has played in the Belgian, Tunisian, Austrian, and Dutch pro leagues.
- Robert Arnold - G/F, 2009–2011, played in France's LBN Pro A League.
- Mark Sanchez - F, 2007–2009, 2008 Western Athletic Conference Tournament Champion. Leading scorer and rebounder for the Broncos his senior year. The 2014 Austrian League MVP. Austrian Cup and Dutch Cup Champion.
- Bryan Gates – Although he did not play basketball for the Broncos, Gates is an alumnus of Boise State University. Former head coach of the Idaho Stampede and protégé of former Boise State University head basketball coach Bobby Dye. Two time Dennis Johnson NBA G League Coach of the Year Award (2006–07, 2007–08). Coached the Idaho Stampede to the NBA D-League Championship in the 2007–08 season (this championship team featured two starters that used to play for the Broncos: Roberto Bergersen and Jason Ellis). Former assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans. Assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns.
- Robert Heyer - G/F, 2014–2015, Currently plays for the NBA G League's South Bay Lakers.
- Anthony Drmic – G/F, 2011–2016, Won the 2016–17 NBL Rookie of the Year Award in Australia's National Basketball League for the Adelaide 36ers. Second place in Boise State University's all-time scoring list after Tanoka Beard.
- James Webb III – F, 2014–2016, First Bronco basketball player to declare early for the NBA draft. Brooklyn Nets signed him to a two-way deal on January 15, 2018. Webb was selected to the USA Basketball team in order to represent the country in the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup qualification tournament.[10]
- Lexus Williams - G, 2017–2018, Selected in the 2018 G League Draft by the Texas Legends[11]
- Chandler Hutchison - G/F, 2014–2018, Selected as the No. 22 pick in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. He is Boise State's first ever first round pick.[12]
- Justinian Jessup - G/F, 2016–2020, Selected as the No. 51 pick in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. Before he got drafted Jessup was signed by the Illawarra Hawks of Australia's National Basketball League via their Next Stars program to help him prepare for the NBA Draft.[13]
References
- "Boise State Athletic Brand Standard Guidelines" (PDF). August 8, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- "Boise State Names Greg Graham Men's Basketball Coach". Western Athletic Conference. March 27, 2002. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Greg Graham". Washington State Cougars. Archived from the original on March 18, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- "Greg Graham Relieved of his Duties as Head Basketball Coach". Boise State Broncos. March 12, 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- "Boise State hires Gonzaga assistant Leon Rice as new head coach". 26 March 2010.
- Mountain West Conference. "MW Men's Basketball Players & Coach of the Year 2015 – MW Videos". Mountain West Conference – Official Athletics Site. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
- "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2010" (Press release). Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. April 5, 2010. Archived from the original on April 9, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
- "Blackburn records quadruple-double, Miners tame Wild". oursportscentral.com. 21 December 2008.
- "James Webb III to Represent USA".
- "2018 NBA G League Draft Board".
- http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/mountain-west/boise-state-university/boise-state-basketball/article213560534.html#storylink=mainstage
- "NBA Draft 2020: Golden State Warriors select Justinian Jessup with 51st overall pick". 18 November 2020.
