Boise State's Derrick Marks Named Honorable Mention All-America

Boise State senior guard Derrick Marks was named to the Associated Press All-America team today, the first Bronco All-American in school history.

Marks averaged 19.4 points per game this season, #22 in the nation.  Marks was named the Mountain West Player of the Year, and earned All-District VIII and NABC All-District 17 as well.

Bill Otey was an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American in 1969, but Marks is the first Division I All-American ever at Boise State.

Ryan Lundgren Hired at Vallivue High School

Ryan Lundgren, Director of Player Development for the past three seasons, has been hired as the head basketball coach at Vallivue High School.  Lundgren has helped Boise State to 20-win seasons each of those three years.

Don Hutt Has Passed Away...

Don Hutt, who held career records for catches and touchdown catches for over 30 years, has passed away in Boise at age 62.

Hutt owned the marks for career receptions (189) and receiving touchdowns (30) until 2010. 

Rest in peace, Don--many of us became Bronco fans during your heyday.

Bronco Gymnasts Will Compete in Berkeley Regional

The Boise State gymnastics team found out today it will compete in Berkeley, California April 4 in the NCAA Regional Championships.

The Broncos will take on #3 Utah and #10 Georgia, along with host California (#20) and fellow Mountain Rim Conference schools Utah State and BYU.

Only the top two teams from each Regional advance to the national championship, which this year will be held in Fort Worth, Texas April 17-19. 

Bronco Gymnasts Buck The Odds and Win Mountain Rim Championship

Boise State was in the home gym of rival Denver, and going into the final rotation, things could not be tighter:  Denver led with 147.275 points to 147.225 for both Boise State and Southern Utah, as three of the nation's Top 25 teams battled it out in the Mountain Rim Conference Gymnastics Championship.

Every Bronco gymnast scored 9.80 or better on the floor as Boise State recorded a team score of 49.175 to capture the conference title with a score of 196.625.  It is Boise State's fourth conference championship of the 2014-15 school year. 

Southern Utah finished second (196.275), while Denver slid to third with a mark of 196.075, Utah State finished fourth (195.125) and BYU was last (194.225).

 

Video of Boise State Team Watching NCAA Selection Show

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/03/15/3699272_ncaa-and-bsu-mens-basketball.html

Boise State Will Be Dancing!

Boise State has just been announced as making the NCAA Tournament.  The Broncos will play Dayton in a play-in game on Dayton's home floor March 18 at 7:10 p.m. Mountain Time.

Both Joe Lunardi and Jerry Palm have Boise State as an 11 Seed

Following the loss to Wyoming, and after all the games played today, both Joe Lunardi of ESPN and Jerry Palm of CBS have Boise State in their brackets.  In fact, both have four Mountain West teams (Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State, and Wyoming).

However, Lunardi has Boise State as one of the "Last Four In", and Palm has Colorado State in his "Last Four In".  Lunardi also points out that Boise State better hope SMU wins today, or they could be out.

Nick Duncan Named to All-Mountain West Tournament Team

Boise State's Nick Duncan was named to the All-Tournament Team today following the final between San Diego State and Wyoming.

Josh Adams (MVP, Larry Nance, Jr., Winston Shepard, J.J. O'Brien, and Duncan were honored in a ceremony following the game.

Bronco Women Win Mountain West Championship

Boise State broke open a close game in the second half, then hung on to preserve a 66-60 win over New Mexico and the 2015 Mountain West Conference Basketball Championship this afternoon in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Point guard Yaiza Rodriguez sparked the victory with 18 points, including 7-8 from the free-throw line, and 4 assists as the Lady Broncos captured their first conference title since 2007, when Boise State played in the Western Athletic Conference.  Brooke Pahukoa poured in 16 points and had 5 rebounds.  Both were named to the All-Mountain West Tournament Team, and Pahukoa was named Most Valuable Player.

Miquelle Askew battled the strong Lobo inside presence and also hit 4-5 from the field and 4-5 from the free-throw line for 12 points.  The jubilant ladies were honored by the crowd and presented with the Mountain West trophy, then took part in a festive net-cutting ceremony.

Boise State awaits word on their seed and first-round opponent in next week's NCAA Tournament.

6-53, Boise State

1:32 remaining.  Boise State has been playing very tense, and their 12-point lead has shrunk to 7.

Bronco Women Lead New Mexico, 45-31

11:34 left to being Mountain West champs.

Boise State Coasts Past Air Force, 80-68 to Advance to Mountain West Semifinal

The overall depth of Boise State propelled the Broncos to an 80-68 win over Air Force this afternoon in Las Vegas, Nevada as the Broncos advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference tournament for the second consecutive year.

With Derrick Marks in foul trouble in the first half that limited him to only six minutes, Boise State turned to their long-range game, namely the three-point shot.  Four Broncos nailed a collective five treys (2 from Nick Duncan and one each from James Webb III, Mikey Thompson and Rob Heyer) as Boise State took a 32-28 lead into the locker room.

Marks took charge in the paint in the second half, and, as the Falcons turned all their attention to him, it opened up a barrage of threes from Duncan.  The 6-8 Aussie drilled five more howitzers in the second half to finish with seven.

Boise State quickly extended the lead to 45-30, taking the patient Falcons out of their game plan.  Five different Broncos accounted for those 13 points during that run.  Each time Air Force thought they had a run going, #13 discounted those thoughts with another three.

Duncan exploded for 23 points, while Marks rebounded for 13 second-half points.  Igor Hadziomerovic had 11 points, and Rob Heyer used perfect shooting (2-2 three-pointers, 3-3 from the field, and 3-3 from the free throw line) to also contribute 11.  Marks dished out five assists to tie L'Shard Anderson for fifth on the Boise State career assists list, and a steal allowed him to move into third place by himself with 186 career picks.  The senior from Chicago, Illinois also scored five field goals to pass Steve Connor for sixth place for field goals in a season.

Duncan's amazing afternoon vaulted him from 12-8 in the single-season three-point list.  He is 19 three-pointers away from Abe Jackson's school record of 92.

Marek Olesinski led four Falcons in double figures with 14 points, while Zach Kocur had 13 points and six rebounds, Hayden Graham chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds, and Trevor Lyons had 10 points.

Boise State will play the winner of today's Utah State-Wyoming game tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Mountain Time.


Career Assists:
1.    502 Steve Connor (1974-1978)
2.    463 Anthony Thomas (2006-2010)
3.    408 Coby Karl (2003-2007)
4.    392 Chris Childs (1985-1989)
5.    367 L'Shard Anderson (2008-2011)
5.    367 Derrick Marks (2011-current)
7.    347 Gerry Washington (1995-1999)
7.    343 Joe Skiffer (1999-2004)
8.    298 Bryan Defares 2000-2004)
10.  275 Doug Usitalo (1986-1988)
11.  249 C.J. Williams (1998-2003)
11.  249 Booker Nabors (2000-2004)
13.  246 Eric Lane (2003-2007)
14.  243 Terry Miller (1974-1976)
15.  241 Frank Jackson (1983-1985)



Career Steals:
1.    215 Chris Childs (1985-1989)
2.    196 L'Shard Anderson (2008-2011)
3.    186 Derrick Marks (2011-current)
4.    185 Doug Usitalo (1986-1988)
5.    179 Gerry Washington (1995-1999)
5.    179 Anthony Thomas (2006-2010)
7.    151 Bruce Bolden (1981-1985)
8.    145 Mike Tolman (1992-1993/1995-1998)
9.    138 Roberto Bergersen (1996-1999)
10.  132 Rawn Hayes (1981-1984)
11.  129 Damon Archibald (1992-1995)
12.  125 Kejuan Woods (1998-2001)
13.  107 Lance Vaughn (1989-1993)


Games Started:
1.    118 Chris Childs (1985-1989)
2.    111 Coby Karl (2003-2007)
2.    111 Jason Ellis (2003-2007)
4.    108 Steve Connor (1974-1978)
4.    108 Trent Johnson (1974-1978)
5.    107 Derrick Marks (2011-current)
6.    106 Tanoka Beard (1989-1993)
8.    105 Joe Skiffer (1999-2004)
9.    104 Ryan Watkins (2010-2014)
10.  101 Gerry Washington (1995-1999)


Field Goals, Season:
1.    244 Reggie Larry (2007-2008)
2.    231 John Coker (1993-1994)
3.    224 Roberto Bergersen (1998-1999)
4.    221 Ron Austin (1970-1971)
5.    217 Roberto Bergersen (1997-1998)
6.    215 Derrick Marks (2014-2015)
7.    211 Steve Connor (1977-1978)
8.    202 Matt Nelson (2007-2008)
9.    199 Tanoka Beard (1992-1993)
10.  197 Jermaine Blackburn (2004-2005)
11.  192 Bill Otey (1968-1969)
12.  188 Eric Bailey (1980-1981)
13.  187 Arnell Jones (1987-1988)
13.  187 Steve Connor (1975-1976)


Three-Point Field Goals, Season:
1.    92 Abe Jackson (2001-2002)
2.    84 Tyler Tiedeman (2007-2008)
2.    84 Jeff Elorriaga (2012-2013)
4.    83 Abe Jackson (2000-2001)
5.    80 Coby Karl (2006-2007)
5.    80 Anthony Drmic (2012-2013)
7.    77 Mike Tolman (1997-1998)
8.    73 Nick Duncan (2014-2015)
9.    72 Abe Jackson (1999-2000)
10.  71 Roberto Bergersen (1998-1999)
11.  70 Coby Karl (2005-2006)
11.  70 Jeff Elorriage (2013-2014)
13.  64 Derrick Marks (2014-2015)
14.  63 Gerry Washington (1998-1999)
15.  60 Roberto Bergersen (1997-1998)
15.  60 Joe Wyatt (1996-1997) 

Boise State Women Prevail Over 8 Seed San Jose State, 76-67

For the second straight night, Boise State played well down the stretch, and as a result, the Lady Broncos are headed to the Mountain West Conference championship game Friday night.  Boise State put away pesky San Jose State 76-67 tonight in Las Vegas, as freshman Shalen Shaw scored 10 of her career-high 20 points in the final 4:07 of the game.

San Jose State was ahead for most of the game, but Coach Gordy Presnell's team finally caught the Spartans to take a 56-54 lead with 6:14 left.  A three-pointer by Deanna Weaver followed by another trey from freshman Shaw put Boise State ahead 67-60, then Shaw came through again with baskets on Boise State's next two possessions to give the Broncos a 71-64.

San Jose State closed it to 71-67 with a three, but would get no closer than that, and Boise State iced it with free throws.

Brooke Pahukoa was another key factor in Boise State's comeback, hitting 19 points, including 7-8 from the free-throw line.  Weaver had 11 points and 6 rebounds, while Camille Redmon had 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots.  Redmon extended her school record to 74 blocked shots this season.

The Broncos will meet the winner of tonight's Fresno State-New Mexico game in the championship game Friday night.

Boise State Women Rout UNLV 64-46, Advance to Semifinals

The magic might be spreading from the men's team.

The Boise State women played an incredible second half to rip UNLV in Las Vegas, 64-46 in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

Boise State dominated the boards, 49-37, and point guard Yaiza Rodriguez played a near-perfect game with 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists and just one turnover.  Miquelle Askew and Deanna Weaver chipped in with 11 points each.  Camille Redmon led both teams with 12 rebounds.

Alana Cesarz had 14 points for UNLV while Danielle Miller added 13.

The Broncos will meet #8 seed San Jose State, which shocked #1 seed Colorado State earlier today, at 7 p.m. Mountain Time tomorrow.

Bronco Women are headed to the semifinals

Boise State putting the finishing touches on an amazing second half--they'll beat home team UNLV and face upstart San Jose State tomorrow in the semifinals.

Boise State #27 in Coaches Poll

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/poll/2/week/18/seasontype/2

Boise State Ranked #25 in AP Poll

For the first time since 1988, Boise State is ranked in the Top 25 in college basketball.  The news came this morning from the Associated Press, which placed Boise State at #25.  The school record for the highest rank is when the 1987-88 Bronco team was #23.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/poll/1/week/18/seasontype/2

Championship Week Guide

Here is a guide to the conference tournaments with associated NCAA Tournament information.  "Bubble Teams" includes teams seeded 8th or lower.

 

 

ACC:

Projected Champion:  Virginia

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame

Bubble Teams:  #9 seed North Carolina State, Miami of Florida (First Four Out)

Tournament:  Wednesday through Sunday

America East:

Projected Champion:  Albany

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--the America East will only send its champion.

Tournament:  Albany plays Stony Brook for the championship.

American:

Projected Champion:  SMU

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  Cincinnati

Bubble Teams:   #8 seed Cincinnati, #11 seed Temple (Last Four In), Tulsa (First Four Out)

Atlantic-10:

Projected Champion:  Davidson

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  Dayton, VCU

Bubble Teams:  #8 seed Dayton, Richmond (Next Four Out)

Tournament:  Wednesday through Sunday

Atlantic Sun:

Champion:  North Florida

Other Projected Tournament Teams: 

Bubble Teams: 

Tournament:  North Florida won championship

Big 12:

Projected Champion:  Kansas

Other Projected Tournament Teams: Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, West Virginia

Bubble Teams:  #11 seed Oklahoma State (Last Four Byes), #11 seed Texas (Last Four In)

Tournament:  Wednesday through Saturday

Big East:

Projected Champion:  Villanova

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  Butler, Georgetown, Providence, St. John's, Xavier 

Bubble Teams:  #8 seed St. John's, #9 seed Xavier 

Tournament:  Wednesday through Saturday

Big Sky:

Projected Champion:  Montana

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None 

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  Thursday through Saturday

Big South:

Champion:  Coastal Carolina

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None

Tournament:  Coastal Carolina won championship.

Big Ten:

Projected Champion:  Wisconsin

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue 

Bubble Teams:  Illinois (Next Four Out), #12 seed Indiana (Last Four In), #11 seed Purdue (Last Four Byes) 

Tournament:  Wednesday through Sunday

Big West:

Projected Champion:  UC Davis

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  Thursday through Saturday

Colonial:

Projected Champion:  William & Mary

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None 

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  William & Mary plays Northeastern Monday night for championship.

Conference USA:

Projected Champion:  Louisiana Tech

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  Old Dominion (First Four Out)

Tournament:  Wednesday through Saturday

Horizon:

Projected Champion:  Valparaiso

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  Valparaiso plays Green Bay Tuesday night in championship.

Ivy:

Champion:  Yale

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only Yale will advance.

Tournament:  None

MAAC:

Projected Champion:  Iona

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  Iona plays Manhattan in championship Monday night.

MAC:

Projected Champion:  Central Michigan

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  resumes Wednesday through Saturday with the quarterfinals

MEAC:

Projected Champion:  North Carolina Central

Other Projected Tournament Teams: 

Bubble Teams: 

Tournament:  Monday through Saturday

Missouri Valley:

Champion:  Northern Iowa

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  Wichita State 

Bubble Teams:  None

Tournament:  Northern Iowa won championship.

Mountain West:

Projected Tournament Teams:  San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State 

Bubble Teams:  #11 seed Boise State, #10 seed Colorado State

Tournament:  Wednesday through Saturday

Northeast:

Projected Champion:  St. Francis

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only champion will advance.

Tournament:  St. Francis plays Robert Morris Tuesday night in championship.

Ohio Valley:

Champion:  Belmont

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  Murray State (Next Four Out) 

Tournament:  Belmont upset #25 Murray State

Pac-12:

Projected Champion:  Arizona

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  Oregon, Utah

Bubble Teams:  UCLA (Next Four Out)

Tournament:  Wednesday through Saturday

Patriot:

Projected Champion:  Lafayette

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  Lafayette will play American in championship game Saturday.

SEC:

Projected Champion:  Kentucky

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  Arkansas, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi 

Bubble Teams:  Texas A&M (First Four Out), #10 seed LSU (Last Four Byes), #10 seed Mississippi (Last Four Byes), #9 seed Georgia

Tournament:  Wednesday through Sunday

SWAC:

Projected Champion:  Texas Southern

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  Wednesday through Saturday

Southern:

Projected Champion:  Wofford

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None 

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  Wofford plays Furman in the championship game Monday night.

Southland:

Projected Champion:  Stephen F. Austin

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  Wednesday through Saturday

Summit:

Projected Champion:  South Dakota State

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  South Dakota State plays South Dakota and Oral Roberts faces North Dakota State in Semifinals Monday night.

Sun Belt:

Projected Champion:  Georgia State

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  Thursday through Sunday

WAC:

Projected Champion:  New Mexico State

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  None

Bubble Teams:  None--only the champion will advance.

Tournament:  Thursday through Saturday

West Coast:

Projected Champion:  Gonzaga

Other Projected Tournament Teams:  BYU 

Bubble Teams:  #12 seed BYU (Last Four In)

Tournament:  Gonzaga plays Pepperdine and BYU plays Portland in the semifinals Monday night.

Northeast Conference:

Projected Champion:  Saint Francis

Other Projected Tournament Teams:   None

Bubble Teams:  None--the Northeast will only send its champion.

Tournament:  Saint Francis will play Robert Morris for the championship Tuesday night.

Postseason Awards Come Rolling in for Boise State

Derrick Marks, who had one of the best seasons in Boise State history, has been named Mountain West Conference Player of the Year.  Leon Rice, who has built the Broncos into a conference powerhouse, is the Mountain West Coach of the Year, and James Webb III is the league's Newcomer of the Year.

Boise State Clinches First Mountain West Conference Title with 71-52 Win Over Fresno State

Consider tonight's Senior Night a rousing success.

Boise State completed a remarkable run to a Mountain West Conference regular season championship with a 71-52 win at Taco Bell Arena over Fresno State.  The title enabled the Broncos to register conference championships in both football and basketball in the same school year for the first time in their history as a four-year school.  The 2015 Boise State football team captured the Mountain West championship last fall en route to its third Fiesta Bowl championship.

Five seniors:  Derrick Marks, Igor Hadziomerovic, Rob Heyer, Joe Hanstad and Jake Ness were honored before the game for their outstanding contributions to Boise State basketball and what they have meant this season to Bronco fans.  Then, it was time to get down to business.

Boise State rolled to a 9-0 lead over Fresno State, the last team to defeat the Broncos.  Coach Leon Rice used his entire team, and it was a complete team effort that got the victory.  Boise State's ever-improving defense was responsible for holding the usually sharpshooting Bulldogs to four points in the first ten minutes.  The Broncos used slicing and dicing from Marks and howitzers (two three-pointers by James Webb III and one by Mikey Thompson) to build a 15-4 lead to that point.

Fresno State, however, is a very talented team that few outside the Mountain West Conference might realize.  When their shots are falling and they get in a rhythm, they are tough to beat.  And tonight, the Bulldogs scratched and clawed their way back to within seven several times.

But on this night, the Broncos were not to be denied in front of a crowd exceeding 11,000.  Once again, it was the Boise State defense that stepped up, holding Fresno State to two points in the final five minutes of the half to go into intermission ahead 29-19.

Hadziomerovic penetrated the paint numerous times at the outset of the second half, finishing either with baskets, free throws, or assists to open teammates, as Boise State went on a 16-2 run.  Another trey from Webb III made it 36-19 two-and-a-half minutes in.  Every time the Bulldogs thought of making a run, Nick Duncan answered with one of three three-pointers in the half.

Despite a 20-point plus lead most of the final half, the Mountain West champions were whistled for more fouls than Fresno State.  This put a damper in the otherwise jubilant occasion.  Rice inserted first Rob Heyer, then Derrick Marks in the final minutes, with the goal being to then substitute for them to give the crowd a chance to acknowledge the seniors.  Both times, though, before Rice could substitute for them, the referees chose to whistle the seniors for their fifth foul.

In what appears to becoming a habit, Webb III finished with another double-double--18 points and 10 rebounds, while Duncan, Marks and Thompson each had 14 points.  Marks also had two steals to tie two-year player Doug Usitalo for third place in career steals with 185.  The talented senior also
vaulted from ninth to fifth on the single-season scoring list with 568 points.

Boise State, 14-4 in the Mountain West, will finish the regular season tied with San Diego State for first place, and the Broncos earned the #1 seed in next week's tournament.  The Broncos, with 24 overall wins, are one shy of tying the school record set by the 2007-08 Boise State team.

Cezar Guerrero led Fresno State with 11 points and talented Marvelle Harris added 10 for the Bulldogs, 10-8 in conference and 15-16 overall.

It has Bronco fans wondering:  what can this team do for an encore after winning the school's sixth basketball conference championship?  Boise State will begin play in the conference tournament Thursday afternoon at 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The Broncos do not know who their opponent will be Thursday, but it will be a talented team--either #8 seed New Mexico or #9 Air Force.

Career Steals:
1.    215 Chris Childs (1985-1989)
2.    196 L'Shard Anderson (2008-2011)
3.    185 Doug Usitalo (1986-1988)
4.    183 Derrick Marks (2011-current)
5.    179 Gerry Washington (1995-1999)
5.    179 Anthony Thomas (2006-2010)
7.    151 Bruce Bolden (1981-1985)
8.    145 Mike Tolman (1992-1993/1995-1998)
9.    138 Roberto Bergersen (1996-1999)
10.  132 Rawn Hayes (1981-1984)
11.  129 Damon Archibald (1992-1995)
12.  125 Kejuan Woods (1998-2001)
13.  107 Lance Vaughn (1989-1993)




Points, Season:
1.    661 Reggie Larry (2007-2008)
2.    644 Roberto Bergersen (1998-1999)
3.    636 Ron Austin (1970-1971)
4.    582 Roberto Bergersen (1997-1998)
5.    568 Derrick Marks (2014-15)
6.    566 Tanoka Beard (1992-1993)
7.    565 Anthony Drmic (2012-2013)
8.    557 Abe Jackson (2001-2002)
9.    530 Steve Connor (1977-1978)
10.  527 L'Shard Anderson (2010-2011)
10.  524 Tanoka Beard (1991-1992)
11.  523 Abe Jackson (2000-2001)
11.  523 Jermaine Blackburn (2004-2005)
14.  521 John Coker (1993-1994)
15.  517 Matt Nelson (2007-2008)
16.  514 Tanoka Beard (1990-1991)
17.  510 Anthony Drmic (2013-2014)
18.  505 Derrick Marks (2013-2014)
19.  504 Derrick Marks (2012-2013)
20.  499 Coby Karl (2005-2006)