Busting Brackets
Fansided

Boise State Basketball: Boise State Broncos 2015-16 Season Preview

By Mitch Krmpotich

facebooktwitterreddit

Boise State Broncos

2014-2015 Record: 25-9 (14-4, Mountain West)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament – First Four

Boise State had a great season last year.  They were co-leaders of the Mountain West along with San Diego State.

This season was historical for the Broncos because they were ranked in the Top 25 in the AP poll for the first time in the history of the program.

After losing to Wyoming in the Mountain West Tournament Boise State was on the bubble. They ended up getting into the tournament, but lost to Dayton in the First Four.

The 56-55 loss was they took at the hands of the Flyers was devastating.

This season was still a success as the Boise State Broncos were able to make it to the big dance after missing it the previous season.

Newcomers

G – Paris Austin (ESPN grade 80)
G – Malek Harwell (ESPN grade 75)
G – Lonnie Jackson (transfer from Boston College)
G – James Reid (transfer from Arkansas-Little Rock)
F – Robin Jorch

Key Non-Conference Games

Nov. 19 at Arizona – This is a great early test for the Boise State Broncos.  It will show what the team is really made of this year. If the Broncos can hang with Arizona then they could set a strong tone right out of the gates.

If they get crushed, then they could have a long road ahead of them. I would compare this game to a student having to take a final two weeks into class. It’s a tough test with not much time to prepare.

If Boise State gets destroyed, they will have plenty of time to improve. If they win, it could be a really fun season for Boise State fans.

More from Mountain West

Nov. 26 vs UC Irvine – The Broncos are pretty undersized this season.  It will be interesting to see how they handle UC Irvine’s 7′ 6″ center Mamadou Ndiaye. This is another great early test for the Broncos against a good team.

Dec. 12 vs Oregon – Both of these teams are trying to build on what they did in the previous season. Last season Boise State only lost three non-conference games.

If they can beat Oregon this year they could afford to lose to Arizona and UC Irvine and still show improvement from last year. This game will be big because it could help define the identity of this year’s Boise State squad before conference play starts.

Key Players

James Webb III – James Webb III is coming off a great season. Last year he was the Mountain West “Newcomer of the Year”.  He averaged 11.2 points per game and led the team in rebounding with 8.0 boards per game. His athleticism and explosiveness is impressive.

Webb III is projected to be drafted to the NBA at the end of this season. He will look to improve upon his numbers from last season. He could emerge as the leader of the Boise State team.

Nick Duncan – Duncan can make it rain from beyond the three-point line. When he heats up he can be tough to stop. Last season Duncan averaged 9.4 points per game and shot 38.4% from behind the arc. His career three-point percentage is 39.7%. He will try to stretch the floor and open up lanes for athletic guys like Webb III.

Season Outlook

The Broncos are looking to have a breakout season. They have lost in the first four of the NCAA Tournament twice in the past three years.

Boise State has the potential to be great. Their biggest problem is that they are lacking in frontcourt depth.  If one of the forwards goes down with an injury it could be tough to find a replacement.

If everyone can stay healthy then the Boise State Broncos could find itself at the top of the Mountain West again.

I’m expecting a big year from James Webb III. He could be in the running for Mountain West “Player of the Year”. Overall I think it will come down to how the Broncos do in conference play.

Next: USC Trojans 2015-16 Season Preview

More from Busting Brackets