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Boise State Basketball: 3 keys to beat Memphis in 2022 NCAA Tournament

By Dominic Ferrucci

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 12: The Boise State Broncos celebrates after the team's victory over the San Diego State Aztecs in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 12, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 12: The Boise State Broncos celebrates after the team's victory over the San Diego State Aztecs in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 12, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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Boise State Basketball forward Abu Kigab Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Boise State Basketball forward Abu Kigab Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /

Boise State Basketball will have their hands full with an athletic Memphis Tigers team on Thursday which might be one of the most intriguing matchups in terms of style of play in the round of 64. The two will meet in Portland for a chance to likely face the #1 overall seed; the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

The matchup will be just the second all-time meeting between the two schools but happens to be less than one year apart. The Tigers eliminated Boise State from the NIT last season, winning 59-56 in a close battle the whole way, ending their season in the quarterfinals. Memphis went on to win the NIT and when combining that with the nation’s best-recruiting class, there was significant hype surrounding the Tigers headed into 2022.

Despite the momentum in the program, however, Penny Hardaway’s team got off to a slow start. Sitting at just 9-8 after a home loss to SMU on January 20th, and culminating with the head coach showing his frustration with the media afterward, it appeared that Memphis might be on their way to being one of the biggest disappointments in college basketball. What Hardaway was quick to note in his message to the media, though, was the Tigers’ youth and lack of a full roster because of injuries.

Hardaway was dead set on a Tigers resurgence, and that is exactly what took place. Following the loss, the Tigers got hot, and have since won 12 of their last 14 games to avoid any bubble conversation and make it squarely in the field as a nine seed. Boise State found themselves in a similar situation after they fell at home to Saint Louis on November 30th dropping to 3-4 on the season.

Since then, the Broncos have lost just three times and clinched both the regular season outright championship and conference tournament championship in the Mountain West. A significant accomplishment made even more impressive when considering the season that the league had, getting four teams in this year’s NCAA Tournament field. The Broncos come in hot, aiming to avenge last year’s loss, this time on the bigger stage on the NCAA Tournament.

Both teams have some carry-over from last years’ roster and Thursday’s game will likely include three of the same starters for both sides. This time around, though, both teams feature playmakers absent in last year’s game that will impact the result of the 2022 rematch. Star freshman Jalen Duran – 12.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg will be sure to make his presence known inside for the Tigers while Boise State’s Abu Kigab – 14.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg is back for the Broncos after being sidelined with a torn labrum a year ago.

Both players were featured on their respective all-tournament teams while Kigab took home MVP honors of the Mountain West Tournament as well. Look for both to lead their squads once again in the game on Thursday.

So how will Kigab and the Broncos look to contain Duran and what else will they need to do to slow down the Tigers to advance to Saturday? But first, let’s take a quick look at the teams from afar to help break down this matchup.