Bronco Team of the Year

For the 10th year, BroncoCountry is awarding its Bronco of the Year Awards.  First up is the outstanding Bronco Team of the Year.  Here are the nominees:

Men's Basketball

Leon Rice's Bronco team shook off a season-ending injury to star player Anthony Drmic to win 14 of their final 15 games down the stretch and captured its first Mountain West Conference title.  After losing tough games to #4 Wisconsin and North Carolina State, Boise State finished the season 25-9.  Boise State achieved its highest-ever ranking at #25.

The Broncos defeated Air Force 80-68 in the opening game of the Mountain West Tournament before falling to Wyoming 71-66 in overtime in the semifinal.  Nick Duncan was named to the All-Tournament team.  Boise State earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament, but fell in a heartbreaking 56-55 loss to Dayton.

Derrick Marks was named Mountain West Player of the Year and was on the All-Mountain West team.  Rice was named Coach of the Year, and James Webb III was named the league's top newcomer. 

 

 

 

 

Women's Basketball

 

The Bronco women posted the sixth 20-win season in school history, and the third under coach Gordy Presnell. 

 

Boise State finished the regular season fourth in the Mountain West with an 11-7 mark.  Guard Deanna Weaver was named to the All-Mountain West team.  Boise State downed homestanding UNLV 64-46 to advance to the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament, then beat San Jose State 76-67 and upset New Mexico 66-60 to win the championship.  Brooke Pahukoa and Rodriguez Ortego were named to the All-Tournament team, with Pahukoa tabbed as the Most Valuable Player. 

 

Boise State met legendary Tennessee in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, giving the Lady Vols a scare before falling 72-61.  The Broncos finished the season 22-12.

 

 

 

 

Football

 

Boise State shook off a loss to Top 10 Mississippi, then won 12 of their next 13 games to win their first Mountain West Conference title with a 28-14 victory over Fresno State.  The Broncos were selected to play in their third Fiesta Bowl, and Boise State downed #10 Arizona 38-30 to win their third Fiesta Bowl championship.

 

Four Broncos were named to the All-Mountain West team:  running back Jay Ajayi, center Marcus Henry, defensive end Kamalei Correa, and safety Darian Thompson.  Ajayi was named as an Earl Campbell Award finalist for the nation's top running back, and was selected to the second team on both The Sporting News and USA Today All-American squads.  Thompson was named to the CBS Sports.com All-America 2nd team.

Boise State finished the year ranked #16 in the nation.



 

 

Gymnastics

 

#15 Boise State rallied from second place in the final rotation to win the Mountain Rim Championship.  Kelsey Morris (All-Around), Ciera Perkins (Vault and Floor), Maddie Krentz (Vault), Krystine Jacobson (Uneven Bars), Diana Meija (Uneven bars) and Ann Stockwell (Vault) were all named to the All-Conference team.

 

Boise State drew the third seed at the NCAA Regional Championships and finished fourth.  Morris was selected to participate at the NCAA Championships, where she finished 26th in the All-Around competition.

 

 

 

Men's Tennis

 

Boise State took a 12-15 record into the Mountain West Tournament, but came into postseason play winners of five of their last six matches.

 

The momentum continued, as Boise State defeated Fresno State 4-0, upset top seed New Mexico 4-2, then held on for a thrilling 4-3 victory over Nevada in the championship game.  Coach Greg Patton's team won its fourth straight Mountain West title, and the Broncos have never lost a match during that stretch, going 11-0.

 

Garrett Patton was named to the All-Mountain West team in singles, while Thomas Tenreiro and Lewis Roskilly were named All-Mountain West in doubles.

 

Boise State advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost 4-0 to South Florida.