Boise State completes nonconference slate with opponents from WCC, SWAC
With the complicated task of scheduling out of the way, the Boise State men’s basketball team can get down to business.
Coach Leon Rice announced the completion of the Broncos’ 2018-19 13-game nonconference slate on Monday, adding home games against Idaho State, Jackson State, Central Washington, Alabama State and Pacific.
“Last year nobody listened to me when I was trying to tell everybody how good Loyola Chicago was. ... That was our smallest (home) crowd of the year, and for a Final Four team,” Rice said. “Sometimes I think some teams that are really good, you might not know that they’re good at the time.”
Earlier this summer, Boise State and Oregon agreed to a home-and-home series for the upcoming season. The Broncos travel to Matthew Knight Arena on Saturday, Dec. 15, and the Ducks visit Taco Bell Arena on Saturday, Dec. 29. The two teams will also play a third game in 2019-20 at Oregon.
The Ducks are expected to be one of the top teams in the Pac-12 this season.
“I want to play them and our guys want to play them,” Rice said. “Whether we’re good enough or not good enough, that remains to be seen. It does give you a sense of urgency to become better.”
Boise State’s additional nonconference road games will be at Drake (Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge), Grand Canyon and Loyola Marymount.
The Broncos play in the Cayman Islands Classic Nov. 19-21, opening against Creighton and facing either St. Bonaventure or Georgia State the following day. Akron, Clemson, Georgia and Illinois State are also in the tournament.
The Broncos have nine returners from a team that went 23-9 and lost in the first round of the NIT to Washington. Boise State went 15-1 at home last season and is 102-21 all-time under Rice in games played at Taco Bell Arena.
Season tickets for the 2018-19 season start at $164 and can be purchased by visiting BroncoSports.com/tickets.
Boise State’s 2018-19 schedule
Nov. 5: vs. Vanguard (exhibition)
Nov. 10: vs. Idaho State
Nov. 16: vs. Jackson State (Cayman Islands Classic but game at Taco Bell Arena)
Nov. 19: Creighton, 5:30 p.m. MT (Cayman Islands Classic)
Nov. 20: St. Bonaventure or Georgia State (Cayman Islands Classic)
Nov. 21: TBD (Cayman Islands Classic)
Nov. 27: at Drake (Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge)
Dec. 1: at Grand Canyon
Dec. 8: vs. Central Washington
Dec. 12: vs. Alabama State
Dec. 15: at Oregon
Dec. 19: at Loyola Marymount
Dec. 22: vs. Pacific
Dec. 29: vs. Oregon
Jan. 2: at Wyoming
Jan. 5: vs. San Diego State
Jan. 12: at San Jose State
Jan. 16: vs. Nevada
Jan. 19: vs. Fresno State
Jan. 23: at Air Force
Jan. 26: vs. Wyoming
Jan. 30: at Colorado State
Feb. 2: at Nevada
Feb. 6: vs. UNLV
Feb. 9: vs. San Jose State
Feb. 13: at Fresno State
Feb. 16: at San Diego State
Feb. 23: vs. Utah State
Feb. 27: vs. Colorado State
March 2: at UNLV
March 6: at New Mexico
March 9: vs. Air Force
Note: The Mountain West has not yet announced tip times or broadcast information.
This story was originally published August 20, 2018 at 11:53 AM.