Boise State men’s basketball vs. Oakland: How to watch, prediction and odds
With five games against Quad 1 or Quad 2 opponents to start the season, Boise State men’s basketball coach Leon Rice hasn’t had many opportunities to develop his bench players.
But the Broncos’ current four-game stretch has provided precisely such an opportunity.
The Broncos host Oakland, which ranks No. 305 in Ken Pom, at 2 p.m. Sunday at ExtraMile Arena.
It should be another game of growth for players like 6-foot-11 senior center Mohamed Sylla, a Detroit Mercy transfer who has had his three best outings in the Broncos’ last three games.
Rice said Sylla’s energy off the bench has been infectious.
“We need more guys that have that energy and enthusiasm,” Rice said. “When he plays like that, he’s really good. And I saw some of that against Saint Louis. After the dunk there was great energy and emotion, and that’s what we want out of him.”
Before Boise State’s 90-54 win over Eastern Oregon on Dec. 6, Sylla had played no more than 6 minutes in a single game and had yet to score in a Boise State uniform. But against the Mountaineers — an NAIA program — Sylla played 10 minutes, going 5-for-5 from the field for 12 points.
He carried that progress over against a much stronger opponent in Saint Louis, tallying four points and four rebounds in 15 minutes of action.
“It feels good, man. I feel like I haven’t played basketball in forever,” Sylla said after the Broncos’ win over Eastern Oregon. “But it feels good to be out there and competing with my guys and having fun with my guys.”
In Boise State’s most recent game — a 91-50 victory over New Orleans — Sylla contributed 10 points and five rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench.
It was a breakout night for many of the Broncos’ backups, as 12 players logged minutes and 11 scored two points or more. Boise State’s bench players contributed 43 points.
Rarely used forward Burke Smith, who has played in just three games this season, also got on the floor against the Privateers and finished with five points and four rebounds in eight minutes.
“It was awesome to just do what I do to stretch the floor a bit and run the floor,” Smith said. “I’ve been waiting a long time for an opportunity, so when you get a chance like that you just have to make the most of it.”
Key to the Broncos’ recent bench development is an eight-game winning streak in which Boise State has held opponents to 55.6 points per game on 35.1% shooting from the field and 26.6% shooting from deep.
Boise State has limited seven of its 11 opponents to under 60 points this season, giving up an average of just 57.1 points per game, which ranks ninth nationally and is the best among Mountain West programs.
“Those guys went in and held the rope. They did their jobs,” Rice said. “We had an 11-minute stretch to start that second half where (New Orleans) had two points. Our guys take so much pride in defense, the guys that came out of the game were telling the guys going in the game: ‘Keep that going. Let’s go. We’ve got a great half going.’ ”
Bring a toy, and your ugly sweater
The Boise State men’s basketball team will be hosting a toy drive Sunday.
Fans who bring an unwrapped toy with them to the game will receive a $5 ticket.
The game is also an ugly Christmas sweater game, with a prize being awarded to the fan with the best ugly Christmas sweater.
OAKLAND AT BOISE STATE
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: ExtraMile Arena, Boise
TV: Mountain West Network (broncosports.com/mwn)
Radio: KBOI 670 AM (Bob Behler, Abe Jackson)
Records: Boise State 9-2, Oakland 2-9
Series: Boise State won the only meeting 88-80 in 2012.
Vegas line: Boise State by 18.5
KenPom rating: Boise State 51, Oakland 305
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 97% chance of beating Oakland. His score prediction is an 82-60 BSU victory.
ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index: Boise State has a 94.9% chance of winning with a predicted point differential of 18.5.
This story was originally published December 17, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
