Things I know about Boise St. (Scouting report, not really)

[NUCat320]

They’d shoot — three of their top 5 are at or near 40% from outside, but nobody in scary-good range.

Their top rebounder is a 6-2, can’t-shoot-so-well guard named Shaver.

They beat Utah State, Nevada, and SDSU in conference.

They beat TxAM on a neutral site in December.

Very, very balanced. Top 3 scorers between 13.5 and 14.4, and two more in double figures.

No real post size. But their lineup appears to be 6-2, 6-5, 6-7, 6-7, 6-7.

 

[GatoLouco]

They’d shoot — three of their top 5 are at or near 40% from outside, but nobody in scary-good range.

Their top rebounder is a 6-2, can’t-shoot-so-well guard named Shaver.

They beat Utah State, Nevada, and SDSU in conference.

They beat TxAM on a neutral site in December.

Very, very balanced. Top 3 scorers between 13.5 and 14.4, and two more in double figures.

No real post size. But their lineup appears to be 6-2, 6-5, 6-7, 6-7, 6-7.

Perfect for going small as that works so well for us

 

[TejasCat]

Mountain West hasn't won a tournament game since 2018

 

[Hungry Jack]

5 guys get all the minutes

 

[NUCat320]

Early season losses for BOISE included SDSU (South Dakota), Charlotte, and Santa Clara. I’m not wowed. They get to the line a lot. Berry might have a tough time. Beran might have an opportunity.

Shaver will check Boo, I presume.

 

[Secho99]

I covered Boise’s tournament game last year in Portland, Memphis beat them handily. They’re 0-8 all-time in tournament games. They were better last year than this year, but they are a very good defensive team. KenPom has them 14th nationally in D rating and we’re 13th. 55 points might win this game.

Shaver can shoot them out of games. I watched him when he was at U of Portland, he’s talented but sometimes tries to do too much. Rice and Agbo can really shoot it. I like Degenhart a lot, I feel like he’s the guy we have to shut down.

This is a weird matchup for Nicholson. They start nobody over 6-7 and bring a tall lanky guy off the bench for some spot minutes.

They are ahead of us in KenPom, Torvik and NET. I wouldn’t be shocked if we’re betting underdogs.

 

[benoitdenizetl]

I covered Boise’s tournament game last year in Portland, Memphis beat them handily. They’re 0-8 all-time in tournament games. They were better last year than this year, but they are a very good defensive team. KenPom has them 14th nationally in D rating and we’re 13th. 55 points might win this game.

Shaver can shoot them out of games. I watched him when he was at U of Portland, he’s talented but sometimes tries to do too much. Rice and Agbo can really shoot it. I like Degenhart a lot, I feel like he’s the guy we have to shut down.

This is a weird matchup for Nicholson. They start nobody over 6-7 and bring a tall lanky guy off the bench for some spot minutes.

They are ahead of us in KenPom, Torvik and NET. I wouldn’t be shocked if we’re betting underdogs.

We typically don’t do great against teams without a real center.

 

[No Chores]

I covered Boise’s tournament game last year in Portland, Memphis beat them handily. They’re 0-8 all-time in tournament games. They were better last year than this year, but they are a very good defensive team. KenPom has them 14th nationally in D rating and we’re 13th. 55 points might win this game.

Shaver can shoot them out of games. I watched him when he was at U of Portland, he’s talented but sometimes tries to do too much. Rice and Agbo can really shoot it. I like Degenhart a lot, I feel like he’s the guy we have to shut down.

This is a weird matchup for Nicholson. They start nobody over 6-7 and bring a tall lanky guy off the bench for some spot minutes.

They are ahead of us in KenPom, Torvik and NET. I wouldn’t be shocked if we’re betting underdogs.

Betting underdogs to a team that has NEVER won a tournament game and got blown out last year in round one with a better team?

 

[eastbaycat99]

Home record 14-1
Away 6-6
Neutral 4-2

 

[No Chores]

We typically don’t do great against teams without a real center.

Just overplay their shooters and force them to get it inside to their not-so-bigs!

 

[Secho99]

Betting underdogs to a team that has NEVER won a tournament game and got blown out last year in round one with a better team?

Not saying those aren't factors in some way, but neither of those things would affect the betting line.

 

[NUCat320]

Degenhart is a sophomore, 6-7, 235. Leading scorer, 7 2PA per game, 3.5 3PA.

Naje Smith is the #5 scorer and has the least impact, 6-7, 205. He shoots 2 3Pa and 5 2PA.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Beran/Barney get Degenhart, while Nicholson drifts a little less.

Smith is 38% from 3, Degenhart 33%. Probably similarly proficient, bet Degenhart is relied upon more.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

5 guys get all the minutes

That feels like a good matchup for us, throw depth at them in a defensive battle and have the energy edge to grind it out late.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I think this is a good matchup for us. I am sure we will run offensive schemes that switch Degenhart onto Boo or Chase. Make him work. Get him into foul trouble. BSU has no bench.

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

As someone who follows the San Diego State Aztecs and watches their Mountain West conference games, I really like our chances but our offense has to show up. The Aztecs have a strong team this year but MW teams have been historically weak in the Big Dance. The Wildcats have performed well against tough BT opponents and I hope these rest days will pay off for us.

 

[Titanium999]

They’d shoot — three of their top 5 are at or near 40% from outside, but nobody in scary-good range.

Their top rebounder is a 6-2, can’t-shoot-so-well guard named Shaver.

They beat Utah State, Nevada, and SDSU in conference.

They beat TxAM on a neutral site in December.

Very, very balanced. Top 3 scorers between 13.5 and 14.4, and two more in double figures.

No real post size. But their lineup appears to be 6-2, 6-5, 6-7, 6-7, 6-7.

Gotta love ❤️ our leg 🦵 speed advantage

 

[NUCat320]

Gotta love ❤️ our leg 🦵 speed advantage

Size and 💪 up front is a Cats edge, too.

 

[NJcatsfan]

As someone who follows the San Diego State Aztecs and watches their Mountain West conference games, I really like our chances but our offense has to show up. The Aztecs have a strong team this year but MW teams have been historically weak in the Big Dance. The Wildcats have performed well against tough BT opponents and I hope these rest days will pay off for us.

“Our offense has to show up” is scary stuff

 

[AdamOnFirst]

“Our offense has to show up” is scary stuff

I agree, all our potential opponents should be very scared about the possibility of facing NU on a good shooting night

 

[The Purple Knight]

They’d shoot — three of their top 5 are at or near 40% from outside, but nobody in scary-good range.

Their top rebounder is a 6-2, can’t-shoot-so-well guard named Shaver.

They beat Utah State, Nevada, and SDSU in conference.

They beat TxAM on a neutral site in December.

Very, very balanced. Top 3 scorers between 13.5 and 14.4, and two more in double figures.

No real post size. But their lineup appears to be 6-2, 6-5, 6-7, 6-7, 6-7.

I got the game plan, go inside to big Matt!

 

[CatManTrue]

Size and 💪 up front is a Cats edge, too.

Also our big 🧠 and bigger 💜

 

[Katatonic]

2 different expectations for the Cats (from the same pub, no less)...

The sleeper: Northwestern​

The Wildcats got a No. 7 seed but seemed to be trending down after losing four of their last five games. Dismiss the Wildcats at your own peril. In its last game, Northwestern fell in overtime to Penn State, which nearly beat Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament final. The Wildcats have six Quad 1 victories and are 13th in defensive efficiency. Northwestern’s Chris Collins was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year for a reason. It’ll be no shock to see the Wildcats, making only their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament, reach the Sweet 16.

NCAA Tournament West Region led by defending-champion Kansas with potential to be wild

Kansas will attempt to be the first team since Florida (2006-07) to win consecutive men's hoops titles. But UCLA, Gonzaga and UConn are lurking.

www.usatoday.com

LOSERS:​

Northwestern​

The Wildcats remain one of the best feel-good stories in college hoops and are making their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. A 7-seed isn’t bad by any means, especially considering the Big Ten is not that great top to bottom, but Boise State is a seasoned team that played in last year’s tournament and will be eager to pull an upset. Don’t be surprised if Northwestern’s stay is a short one.

NCAA men's bracket winners, losers: No. 1 Alabama peaking at right time, Texas A&M disrespected

Consider Alabama and Houston the big winners in the men's NCAA Tournament bracket, while Texas A&M and Pitt have reason to be confused.

www.usatoday.com

Kind of a big oversight by Forde...

7. Coach K is missing—but his proteges are not.​

Mike Krzyzewski retired after last year’s Final Four run, but the winningest coach in Division I men’s basketball history still has his influence on the bracket. Replacement Jon Scheyer leads a red-hot Duke in the East Regional as a No. 5 seed; former assistant Chris Collins led Northwestern to its highest ever seeding (No. 7); former assistant Jeff Capel squeaked Pittsburgh into the field as a First Four entrant; and former Blue Devil player Kenny Blakeney has guided Howard into the tourney for the first time since 1992.

https://www.si.com/college/2023/03/13/mens-ncaa-tournament-bracket-ten-takeaways

 

[CookyMonster]

Betting underdogs to a team that has NEVER won a tournament game and got blown out last year in round one with a better team?

Lol northwestern has won one tourney game.

 

[NUThump]

Lol northwestern has won one tourney game.

He is referring to Boise

 

[GatoLouco]

2 different expectations for the Cats (from the same pub, no less)...

The sleeper: Northwestern​

The Wildcats got a No. 7 seed but seemed to be trending down after losing four of their last five games. Dismiss the Wildcats at your own peril. In its last game, Northwestern fell in overtime to Penn State, which nearly beat Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament final. The Wildcats have six Quad 1 victories and are 13th in defensive efficiency. Northwestern’s Chris Collins was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year for a reason. It’ll be no shock to see the Wildcats, making only their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament, reach the Sweet 16.

NCAA Tournament West Region led by defending-champion Kansas with potential to be wild

Kansas will attempt to be the first team since Florida (2006-07) to win consecutive men's hoops titles. But UCLA, Gonzaga and UConn are lurking.

www.usatoday.com

LOSERS:​

Northwestern​

The Wildcats remain one of the best feel-good stories in college hoops and are making their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. A 7-seed isn’t bad by any means, especially considering the Big Ten is not that great top to bottom, but Boise State is a seasoned team that played in last year’s tournament and will be eager to pull an upset. Don’t be surprised if Northwestern’s stay is a short one.

NCAA men's bracket winners, losers: No. 1 Alabama peaking at right time, Texas A&M disrespected

Consider Alabama and Houston the big winners in the men's NCAA Tournament bracket, while Texas A&M and Pitt have reason to be confused.

www.usatoday.com

Kind of a big oversight by Forde...

7. Coach K is missing—but his proteges are not.​

Mike Krzyzewski retired after last year’s Final Four run, but the winningest coach in Division I men’s basketball history still has his influence on the bracket. Replacement Jon Scheyer leads a red-hot Duke in the East Regional as a No. 5 seed; former assistant Chris Collins led Northwestern to its highest ever seeding (No. 7); former assistant Jeff Capel squeaked Pittsburgh into the field as a First Four entrant; and former Blue Devil player Kenny Blakeney has guided Howard into the tourney for the first time since 1992.

https://www.si.com/college/2023/03/13/mens-ncaa-tournament-bracket-ten-takeaways

When I saw how close it was for Pitt, the first thing I thought was that they probably would not make the field if they did not beat NU

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

In December, I watched Boise State play against Saint Louis University (my son is a soph there). Boise did not impress me as SLU played very poorly in losing 57-52.

I suspect we will beat them by 10+.