Boise State men’s basketball vs. New Orleans: How to watch, prediction and odds
After every dead ball, Tyson Degenhart puts his hands up and calls his teammates into a huddle.
Though only a sophomore, the 6-foot-7, 242-pound forward from Spokane, Washington, is a natural leader.
It’s why Degenhart has played more minutes than any other Bronco this season, averaging 34.3 minutes per game.
“You know what you’re gonna get. Reliability,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said. “… It’s hard to take those security blankets off in stressful situations, but we’re growing more as a team, and there’s more minutes to be had for those other guys because they’re earning it.”
Boise State’s backups may get another chance to shine Tuesday when the Broncos host New Orleans at 7 p.m. at ExtraMile Arena. The Privateers of the Southland Conference sit near the bottom of the KenPom rankings at No. 339 and enter with a 2-6 record.
Degenhart, the reigning Mountain West Freshman of the Year, has earned his minutes, ranking second on the team in points (13.8), rebounds (5.3) and assists (1.8) per game.
But he may spend more time on the bench Tuesday as Rice works to fine tune the Broncos’ rotation to give more players an opportunity and keep his starters from wearing down.
True freshman Jace Whiting has established himself as a reliable option at the point off the bench, and senior center Mohamed Sylla has taken on a greater role the Broncos’ last two games.
In a 90-54 win over Eastern Oregon last week, Sylla scored his first points as a Bronco on his way to notching 12 points in 10 minutes. On Saturday against Saint Louis, Sylla played a season-high 15 minutes and finished with four points and four rebounds.
“Your minutes will follow your attitude,” Rice said. “It’s not gonna be the other way around — ever — at least not in this program, because it’s a life lesson that they have to learn. And they can control that. You can’t control the other stuff.”
NEW ORLEANS AT BOISE STATE
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: ExtraMile Arena, Boise
TV: Mountain West Network (broncosports.com/mwn)
Radio: KBOI 670 AM (Bob Behler, Abe Jackson)
Records: Boise State 8-2, New Orleans 2-6
Series: Boise State leads the all-time series 2-0.
Vegas line: Boise State by 24.5
KenPom rating: Boise State 53, New Orleans 339
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 99% chance of beating New Orleans. His score prediction is an 83-59 BSU victory.
ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index: Boise State has a 97.8% chance of winning with a predicted point differential of 26.
Women’s basketball: Broncos roll Evergreen State
Five Broncos scored in double figures and 13 notched two points or more as the Boise State women’s basketball team cruised past Evergreen State 97-31 on Monday at ExtraMile Arena.
Freshman guard Mya Hansen led all scorers with 15 points, while sophomore Allie Hueckman chipped in 11 points, and Elodie LaLotte, Abby Muse and Natalie Pasco had 10 points each. Sophomore Trista Hull as the Broncos’ top rebounder with 12.
The Broncos (4-7) had 22 assists on 36 made field goals and shot 52.9% from the floor while holding Evergreen State to just 21.2% shooting.
Boise State returns to action next week at the South Padre Island Classic in Texas, where the Broncos face UTRGV (5 p.m. Dec. 19) and Texas A&M-Commerce (2 p.m. Dec. 20). Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
This story was originally published December 12, 2022 at 3:18 PM.
