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When Leon Rice took over the basketball program at Boise State, he knew what he was getting into. The Broncos had success here and there, but had failed to reach their full potential. Since taking over, Rice has built a respected program that consistently wins 20 games and competes for spots in the NCAA tournament. This season has a different vibe. The Broncos are off to their worst start in 22 years and have some major issues. Can these issues be resolved? Why are they even happening? Let’s discuss.
Lack of depth:
The Broncos have only played nine guys this season. Entering the season, many people thought Alex Hobbs would be the go to guy. He has been limited by injuries thus far and has only averaged four points in limited action. Justinian Jessup has also under-performed; he is averaging 12.7 points per game, and teams are taking away his three point shot. Jessup needs to develop a more diverse game if the Broncos are going to be successful this season.
Talent not reaching full potential:
David Wacker and Alex Hobbs are two of the most highly touted recruits Boise State has ever signed. David Wacker has had a roller coaster career filled with injuries and fouls...lots of fouls. Hobbs, on the other hand, has shown signs of greatness. He has had games where you can see his scoring potential, but now, it is about finding the consistency that he and the Broncos need to win basketball games.
Not playing true freshman:
Leon Rice has made it clear that he will not be playing any true freshmen this season. I am going to be honest with you, I was shocked when I heard this. This was a highly touted class that was expected to make an immediate impact.
Relying on transfers:
The Broncos have relied heavily on transfers in recent years. Last year, they struck gold on the grad transfer market with Lexus Williams and Christian Sengfelder. This year, they have relied heavily on Roderick Williams, who leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Outside of Chandler Hutchison, the Broncos have not developed high school talent like we expected.
Boise State has a chance to right the ship this weekend as they take on Central Washington at Taco Bell Arena.