Boise State men’s basketball vs. Utah Valley: How to watch, prediction and odds
After finishing second on the team in scoring last season, it’s no surprise to see Marcus Shaver Jr. is among the top scorers for the Boise State men’s basketball team in 2022-23.
What’s less expected is the impact the fifth-year senior is having on the boards.
At 6-foot-2, Shaver is one of the smallest players on the Broncos’ roster, but he’s averaging a team-leading 9.0 rebounds per game from his point guard position.
Shaver has posted double-digit rebounds in three of five games this season, recording a career-high 10 on three occasions. His 45 total rebounds rank second in the Mountain West this season and are tied for 41st in the nation.
“You don’t win this league if you’re not a great rebounding team,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said. “I think we’re scratching the surface on being good.”
After playing shooting guard most of his career, Shaver is just scratching the surface on his potential at shooting guard, Rice says.
The Phoenix, Arizona, product is learning to meld his attributes as a shooter with his ability to facilitate for others. Rice doesn’t want Shaver to lose his shoot-first mindset in the process.
“The versatility of Marcus is what we have to get a little bit more of,” Rice said. “... It’s not only a point guard or only a scorer. We’ve got to have those two things come together so he can be still an elite scorer but an elite point guard, too. There’s a lot for him to learn with that, because that’s a challenge. He’s gotta change mindsets a little bit throughout the game and know when to hunt the shots and when to get other guys shots.
“It’s a fine line, but I always want him to err on the side of aggressiveness, because when he’s aggressive, great things happen.”
Shaver is one of the best on the team at creating his own shot, whether it’s a step-back 3-pointer or a scoop-and-score drive. His 14.2 points per game rank second on the team, while he leads the Broncos in assists (19) and steals (13).
“Marcus is tough,” Boise State junior Chibuzo Agbo said. “He was giving out buckets this weekend. And I think he’s going to show a lot more. When he drives to the hoop, it just opens it up for me to shoot the ball, so I think it all works out well.”
BOISE STATE VS. UTAH VALLEY
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: ExtraMile Arena, Boise
TV: Mountain West Network (broncosports.com/mwn)
Radio: KBOI 93.1 FM (Bob Behler, Abe Jackson)
Records: Boise State 3-2, Utah Valley 3-3
Series: Boise State leads the all-time series 5-1, including four straight victories.
Vegas line: Boise State by 9.5
KenPom rating: Boise State 72, Utah Valley 142
KenPom & ESPN predictions
Ken Pomeroy, who created the popular college basketball statistical website KenPom.com, ranks every Division I team using an adjusted efficiency margin, which Pomeroy defines as the difference between a team’s offensive and defensive efficiency.
According to Pomeroy’s detailed statistical analysis, Boise State has a 78% chance of beating Utah Valley. His score prediction is a 67-58 BSU victory.
ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index: Boise State has a 82.3% chance of winning with a predicted point differential of 9.5.
Women’s basketball: Broncos head to Nugget Classic
The Boise State women’s basketball team will spend Thanksgiving weekend in Reno, Nevada, for the Nugget Classic.
The Broncos open play against North Dakota State (3-0) on Friday at 5:30 p.m. MT, followed by a game against Milwaukee (1-3) at 11 a.m. MT Sunday.
This story was originally published November 25, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
