Boise State Basketball: Best mid-major nobody is talking about in 2022

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 06: Buster Bronco pumps up the crowd as the Boise State Broncos play the San Diego State Aztecs during a semifinal game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 6, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) /

2 of 5

BOISE, ID – DECEMBER 3: Head Coach Leon Rice of the Boise State Broncos explodes after a controversial call during the second half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at ExtraMile Arena on December 3, 2021 in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 63-58. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /

Defense Wins Championships

As we stand, Boise State ranks 9th in defensive efficiency nationwide and 7th best at limiting opponents’ second chances according to Ken Pom. Over the span of their 13 game win streak, the Broncos have surrendered 70 points just once.

A variety of things stand out defensively over the course of the past month for the team who is yet to lose in 2022, including holding San Diego State to just 37 points, their lowest since February 2005, forcing turnovers on nearly one third of Air Force offensive possessions, and allowing less than 10 made threes through the first three games of the win streak.

We have seen the Broncos struggle to score it themselves, namely a 46-39 loss to Cal State Bakersfield on November 26th and a 58-50 loss to UC Irvine on November 13th, but those losses are in the past, and establishing a true identity on the defensive end has helped the Broncos stay blemish-less since December, now owning the nations second-longest winning streak only behind the #1 ranked Auburn Tigers (16 straight W’s).

I do not think that Bronco Nation fans mind being mentioned in the same conversation as the leader atop the polls.