newspub_live
Boise State men's basketball fans will get their first look at the revamped Broncos squad on Saturday when the team takes on in-state rival Idaho in an exhibition contest. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Mountain time at Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise and will not count toward either team's record.
This matchup is the first of three exhibitions for Boise State before the regular season begins. The Broncos will also play Washington on October 17 and Bismarck State College on October 29, then open the season at home against Western Baptist on Wednesday, November 4.
Head coach Leon Rice emphasized the importance of these early games during his preseason press conference earlier this week. "This time of year as a coach, you want everything to be ready and everything to be done, but also you don't play a counting game until November," Rice said. "So there's a process that you want to go through, and you don't want to be peaking on October 10th. There's a rhythm to the season that you've got to get these guys in, but it's so valuable to get in front of fans, to get the lights on, to get the jerseys on, when you have a new team."
Boise State is coming off a 20-12 season in which the team missed the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. The Broncos lost all five starters from that team, with four of them, including star center Drew Fielder, transferring to Power Four programs. The team does return key reserves Spencer Ahrens (forward), Pearson Carmichael (wing), and Aginaldo Neto (guard), and has added six players through the transfer portal.
Rice expects the 2026-27 Broncos to exhibit a more physical style of play. "I think this team reflects who our staff is, who our best teams have been more," Rice said. "We've got, I use the term hungry dogs. We've got a bunch of outdoor dogs, not dogs like mine that just sleep on the couch and wonder when their next great bougie meal is coming. It seems like we have a bunch of guys that are scrappy, tough and out to prove something, and that's what I want."
Two of Boise State's top transfer portal additions, guards Ty Rodgers and Lamar Washington, will not play against Idaho. Washington's eligibility remains uncertain following a Georgia Court of Appeals ruling as he seeks a fifth year of eligibility. Rodgers is sidelined indefinitely after suffering a torn patellar tendon during offseason workouts.
Key Analysis
The exhibition game provides Boise State with an early opportunity to integrate new players and establish team chemistry. With a significantly reshaped roster, the Broncos are looking to develop a gritty identity that Rice hopes will translate into success in the regular season. The absence of Rodgers and Washington means other players will have a chance to step up and showcase their abilities. As the team prepares for the challenges ahead, this exhibition serves as a crucial building block for the upcoming campaign.
Originally reported by newspub_live.