Mountain West releases league schedules for Boise State basketball with some new wrinkles
The Boise State men’s and women’s basketball teams will each play an 18-game Mountain West Conference schedule beginning in late December.
But there are some distinct changes from years past.
The Broncos will not be playing a mirrored conference schedule in 2020-21 with both teams facing the same opponent at opposite locations on the same day. The men are playing a Tuesday-Saturday schedule instead of the traditional Wednesday-Saturday rotation. The women’s weekday games are slated for Wednesdays or Thursdays, plus a Saturday game.
With fans currently unable to attend Boise State football games because of health safety protocols in place due to the coronavirus, Boise State said it will continue to monitor the situation in the Treasure Valley in regards to fans at ExtraMile Arena this season for basketball.
The women’s Mountain West Tournament is scheduled for March 7-10 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas followed by the men’s tournament March 10-13 at the same location.
All games are subject to approval from state, county and local officials, and tipoff times have not yet been set.
The men’s schedule is subject to change as Mountain West television partners CBS Sports and FOX Sports can now begin a selection procedure, which will include the shifting of several games from their current Saturday and Tuesday dates. Additional announcements on TV selections will be made in the coming weeks.
Each of the 11 Mountain West schools plays eight home-and-home series, along with one additional home game and one additional road game. The Boise State men will not host New Mexico and will not travel to Air Force, while the women will not host UNLV and will not travel to San Diego State.
The Boise State men open the conference season with three of their first four games at ExtraMile Arena, beginning with San Jose State on Tuesday, Dec. 29. The four-time defending Mountain West Tournament champion BSU women are on the road for their first three games, starting with a tournament title rematch against Fresno State on Thursday, Dec. 31.
The men have byes on Jan. 19 and Feb. 20, and the women have byes on Jan. 21 and Feb. 11.
The Broncos are expected to release their respective nonconference schedules in the coming weeks. Play can begin as early as Nov. 25.
Boise State men’s Mountain West schedule
Tues., Dec. 29 — vs. San Jose State
Sat., Jan. 2 — vs. Air Force
Tues., Jan. 5 — at San Diego State
Sat., Jan. 9 — vs. Colorado State
Tues., Jan. 12 — at UNLV
Sat., Jan. 16 — at Fresno State
Sat., Jan. 23 — vs. Utah State
Tues., Jan. 26 — vs. Wyoming
Sat., Jan. 30 — at San Jose State
Tues., Feb. 2 — vs. UNLV
Sat., Feb. 6 — at Nevada
Tues., Feb. 9 — at New Mexico
Sat., Feb. 13 — vs. Fresno State
Tues., Feb. 16 — at Wyoming
Tues., Feb. 23 — vs. San Diego State
Sat., Feb. 27 — vs. Nevada
Tues., March 2 — at Utah State
Sat., March 6 — at Colorado State
Boise State women’s Mountain West schedule
Thurs., Dec. 31 — at Fresno State
Sat., Jan. 2 — at San Jose State
Wed., Jan. 6 — at Wyoming
Sat., Jan. 9 — vs. New Mexico
Wed., Jan. 13 — at Air Force
Sat., Jan. 16 — vs. Fresno State
Mon., Jan. 18 — vs. San Jose State
Sat., Jan. 23 — at Nevada
Wed., Jan. 27 — vs. Air Force
Sat., Jan. 30 — vs. Colorado State
Wed., Feb. 3 — at Utah State
Sat., Feb. 6 — at UNLV
Sat., Feb. 13 — vs. Nevada
Wed., Feb. 17 — vs. Wyoming
Sat., Feb. 20 — at New Mexico
Wed., Feb. 24 — vs. San Diego State
Sat., Feb. 27 — at Colorado State
Tues., March 2 — vs. Utah State
ECHL announces start dates
The ECHL announced Friday that the 2020-21 season will begin Dec. 11 under a split-season format.
Under the split-season guidelines, the following teams will begin a 72-game season on Dec. 11: Allen, Florida, Greenville, Indy, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Orlando, Rapid City, South Carolina, Tulsa, Utah, Wheeling and Wichita.
The remaining ECHL teams, including the Idaho Steelheads, will begin a 62-game season starting Jan. 15 upon jurisdictional approval.
This story was originally published October 9, 2020 at 2:31 PM.
