Downtown hoops: Boise State takes on new-look, 3-point-loving Washington State team
Boise State men’s basketball takes on Washington State on Saturday afternoon, marking the fourth straight year the teams have met in nonconference play. The Broncos were victorious in two of those, but the Cougars won 66-61 last season playing in Spokane, Washington.
But if you’re thinking this game will bear any resemblance to years past, think again.
The Cougars returned just one player from their 2023-24 roster: sophomore guard Isaiah Watts.
The aggressive turnaround was partly due to a coaching change: David Riley arrived in Pullman after three winning seasons with Eastern Washington. Numerous players followed Riley, including the Cougars’ top rebounder, LeJuan Watts (7.9), and their top scorer, Cedric Coward (17.7).
“It’s a completely different program, completely different team,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said Thursday. “They’ve done a terrific job of ... getting that culture in place in a hurry because of all the guys he was able to bring with him.”
Washington State is off to a 7-2 start that includes a pair of wins over Mountain West teams: 84-73 over Fresno State in late November and 68-57 over Nevada four nights ago.
The Cougars rank 69th in the NET rankings, compared to Boise State’s ranking of 37th. Saturday’s game tips off at 2 p.m. at Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise, which technically counts as a neutral venue. The game will be televised nationally on CBS.
What can fans expect from Washington State?
The Cougars likely will be one of the more competent 3-point teams the Broncos face this season. Boise State has held opponents to 29.8% shooting from three, and Washington State comes in hitting at a 35.2% clip from beyond the arc.
The Cougars’ main threat is Watts, the one returnee. He’s shooting 38.9% from distance and averaging 12.1 points per game. He scored 17 in the win over Nevada this week, a game that saw Washington State go 12-for-29 on 3-pointers.
Riley’s team does not hesitate to shoot from deep — they launched 33 against SMU, 30 vs. Eastern Washington and 31 in a win over Bradley.
“They’ve got a lot of dynamic guys that can pull up in a game, and Isaiah is certainly one of those,” Rice said. “He can make tough shots, and he can make contested shots.”
The Broncos (6-2) will also have to keep an eye on Watts, a redshirt sophomore forward who is 6-foot-6, 233 pounds and loves to be physical.
Rice said earlier this year that he expects the Broncos to control the paint by committee, with a group of strong inside players. The top rebounder this season is sophomore forward Andrew Meadow, who is averaging 6.5 per game.
