CBB Rank 2024: No. 59, Boise State Basketball

Leon Rice has turned Boise State basketball into a consistent winner on the basketball court. Despite no wins in the NCAA Tournament, the Broncos have rattled off three straight appearances and 20-win seasons in 11 of the 14 years that Rice has been in town.

This season, the Broncos lose a pair of elite scorers in Max Rice and Chibuzo Agbo. But last season’s offense was so great, they still return leading bucket-getter Tyson Degenhart, and O’mar Stanley, who also averaged in double-digits. The team should run through those two.

Coach Rice hit the portal, landing Lehigh big man Dominic Parolin and San Jose State point guard Alvaro Cardenas, which should help mend the losses. Parolin gives the Broncos three terrific rebounders, and Cardenas gives them a true point guard – something that was missing last year.

One thing to note however, that has been pointed out to me, is Parolin’s availability. A knee injury could force him to redshirt, which would change the lineup drastically. Nothing has been confirmed officially yet.

The Broncos have an array of other role players who could bring this team together and continue their recent success in a deep Mountain West Conference.

Click here to learn more about our preseason top 100 teams heading into the 2024-25 college basketball season.

Head coach: Leon Rice (14th season overall, all at Boise State)

2023-24 record: 22-11 (13-5)

2024 postseason finish: Lost to Colorado (60-53), in First Four of NCAA Tournament

Notable departures: 

• Max Rice (12.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 34.9 3P%)
• Chibuzo Agbo (13.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 0.8 APG, 40.9 3P%)
• Roddie Anderson III (6.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.2 SPG)
• Cam Martin (5.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.4 APG)
• Jace Whiting (3.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.1 APG)

Notable non-conference games: 

• at San Francisco (Nov. 9)
• vs. Clemson (Nov. 17)
• Cayman Islands Classic (Nov. 24-26)
• vs. Washington State (Dec. 7)
• vs. Saint Mary’s (Dec. 14)

Projected Rotation

PG: Alvaro Cardenas (6-1, 182, Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 13.2 PPG, 5.5 APG, 3.3 RPG, 38.5 3P% (San Jose State)

SG: Javan Buchanan (6-7, 230, Jr.)

2023-24 stats: 20.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 51.9 FG%, 35.0 3P% (Indiana Wesleyan – NAIA)

SF: Tyson Degenhart (6-8, 235, Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 16.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 50.3 FG%

PF: Dominic Parolin (6-9, 245, Gr.-Sr.) *(Injury)

2023-24 stats: 11.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.6 APG (Lehigh)

C: O’mar Stanley (6-8, 240, Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 12.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.2 BPG, 53.7 FG%

6: Andrew Meadow (6-7, 218, So.)

2023-24 stats: 3.2 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.2 APG)

7: RJ Keene (6-7, 202, Rs.-Jr.)

2023-24 stats: 1.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 34.1 FG%

8: Dylan Anderson (7-0, 235, Rs.-So.)

2023-24 stats: 1.4 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.1 APG (Arizona)

9: Chris Lockett Jr. (6-4, 205, Rs.-Fr.)

247Sports Composite #188 ranked recruit (2023)

10: Ethan Lathan (6-10, 220, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #216 ranked recruit

11: Moses Hipps (6-4, 170, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #246 ranked recruit

Boise State Basketball team MVP: Tyson Degenhart

Last season’s leading scorer returns and looks to be one of, if not the best player in the Mountain West. Degenhart is quick for his size and uses it to attack the basket with power. He’s a tough guard because he can play inside-out, and is efficient on offense. While he gets most of his points inside the arc, Degenhart will stretch for threes and defenders must be honest on him.

The Broncos were solid defensively, and Degenhart could lead that charge even more in 2024-25. He averaged over a steal per game last season and as a leader of this team, must take that side of the ball seriously.

Heading into his senior year, expect a new animal in Degenhart. He’s put together some tremendous stats, but with Boise State basketball fans yearning for a win in March Madness, he’s got to know what’s at stake.

Boise State Basketball make-or-break player: Javan Buchanan

Talk about stat stuffing – Buchanan did just about everything at his last stop at Indiana Wesleyan. He scored, rebounded, assisted, defended, and did everything efficiently. That’s exactly the type of player Leon Rice needs to improve the Broncos.

However, how will it translate to a high level of Division I basketball?

Buchanan seems like the perfect fit at shooting guard, as the Broncos really don’t have many traditional answers there. It’s a very big team and other than Cardenas, most of the rotation players are 6-7 or taller, or underclassmen with limited or no experience playing college basketball.

Buchanan’s stats tell the story, but it’s unknown how well he’ll keep it up at the D-I level. But with Degenhart, Stanely, Parolin, and Cardenas, he can realistically be the fifth option in the starting lineup on day one, and look to improve and fit in from there on out.

Key analytic: Assists per game

Not to throw Max Rice under the bus – because he was as fun as ANY player to watch the past few years – but the ball didn’t really move when it got to him. And while he’s just one example, Boise State’s offense – while it resulted in points – could be more fluid than it was.

Cardenas could solve some of those problems. At San Jose State, he dished out over five dimes a game and likely won’t need to be a major scorer on Boise State. If he can focus on facilitating, it can help out a team that will look to score inside with a dominant frontcourt of Degenhart, Stanley, and Parolin.

The Broncos only averaged a touch over 12 assists per game last season – outside the top 250 in college basketball. While it wasn’t a glaring issue, there’s always room for improvement, especially with the loss of a sniper in Rice and a team that may look to go inside more.

Boise State Basketball 2024-25 projections

Projected conference finish: 2nd in the Mountain West

Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Round of 32 Exit