Sold-out arena, seventh-ranked team await Boise State men in San Diego on Saturday
San Diego State announced on Monday that the Aztecs’ Mountain West men’s basketball game against Boise State was sold out.
So it seems the Broncos aren’t the only ones excited about Saturday’s matchup (8 p.m. MT, ESPN3) at 12,414-seat Viejas Arena in San Diego against one of only two undefeated teams remaining this season (Auburn is the other).
“College basketball at its finest, really,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said. “You get a great atmosphere, and they’re a terrific team. To have gone through the season to this point and played the teams that they’ve played in the places that they’ve played, it’s an amazing accomplishment. It’s hard to win one Division I game — you ask any coach around the country — and they’ve rattled off all these (wins).
“Man, do they look like they’re playing good. It’s going to be a hard challenge, we know that, and our guys will embrace it and come out and compete.”
Seventh-ranked San Diego State (16-0, 5-0 MW) sits at No. 3 in the NET rankings — the NCAA Evaluation Tool used in the tournament selection process — but has been as high as No. 1.
A Boise State (11-6, 3-2) win over the Aztecs could turn a good season into a great one. San Diego State is the only Mountain West team currently among the Top 75 in the NET rankings, providing Boise State with a rare chance at a Quadrant 1 victory, which is highly valued in the eyes of the NCAA Tournament selection committee.
But a Quadrant 1 victory isn’t the only prize on the line for the Broncos. There’s also a chance at history.
Boise State has beaten three ranked opponents on the road in program history, most recently defeating then-No. 24 San Diego State on Feb. 28, 2015. The Broncos’ best road win, in terms of the opponent’s ranking, came against No. 11 Creighton on Nov. 28, 2012, and the Broncos are 8-52 overall against Top 25 competition.
Rice didn’t hesitate when asked whether a win Saturday could stand as one of the biggest in school history.
“No question,” Rice said. “You’ve got the No. 7 team in the country, and you’ve got one of the best home environments in the country.”
The Broncos are 1-1 this season against teams currently among the Top 75, losing 106-75 at No. 9 Oregon (No. 15 NET) on Nov. 9 and beating BYU (No. 33 NET) in overtime 72-68 on Nov. 20.
Boise State has won six of the past 10 meetings against San Diego State, including a split of their regular-season games in 2018-19. The Aztecs lead the all-time series 12-7.
A switch of allegiances in the offseason also adds intrigue to Saturday’s game. Assistant coach Chris Acker left Boise State in June for the same position at San Diego State.
“I really, really am a believer in unanswered prayers, and things work out for the best, and I definitely, definitely feel that everything’s worked out for the best for our program and for me personally and what we have now,” Rice said. “I’m just grateful for the people in this room with me ... and it’s been a special season because of the guys that I have around me.”
Women’s basketball: Broncos host Aztecs
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Boise State women’s basketball team, with two losses in the past three Mountain West games.
That makes a home game a welcome sight. The Broncos (11-6, 3-2 MW) will host San Diego State (8-9, 3-2) at 2 p.m. Saturday at ExtraMile Arena. Boise State is 8-2 on its home court this season and has won 16 straight conference games in Boise.
The Aztecs enter Saturday’s game having won back-to-back league games against Utah State (66-62) and Wyoming (67-60).
Gymnastics: Broncos open season on road
The Boise State gymnastics team is setting the bar high in 2020, with its season opener Sunday at No. 4 UCLA.
The 18th-ranked Broncos begin competition at 4 p.m. Mountain time at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, and the meet will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
Boise State has won five straight Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference titles and qualified for 12 consecutive NCAA regional meets.
