It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows in Lahaina.
Turnovers were a key crux in the Broncos’ two losses, and even in its lone win.
This was the type of week where you can interpret it in a multitude of ways.
The pessimist – “Like every year, Leon Rice and Boise State couldn’t find a way to win the big one.”
The hopeful – “Hey! We played two highly-ranked KenPom teams and stayed close in both contests.”
The cheeriest of fans – “If Drew Fielder and Dylan Andrews can put up performances like these in conference play, watch out Mountain West!”
The truth always lies somewhere in the middle, but this felt more negative than positive. Not because we lost twice, but because there were two tantalizing Quad 1 win opportunities there for the taking, particularly with USC.
If Boise State had dominated its previous two games before Maui against Montana State and Wichita State, then it would be much easier to chalk this week up as a risk-free chance at some high-quality wins.
But winning by four against the Bobcats (No. 204 in KenPom) and three against the Shockers (No. 91) further emphasized that a statement victory in Hawai’i would be vital to keeping its at-large hopes on life support.
Boise State entered the tournament 60th in KenPom and exited at 57th.
Status quo for a team needing much more than that.
Against USC, the athleticism and length of the Trojans bothered Boise State – an all-too seen narrative that has played out again and again. Javan Buchanan led the way with 18 points, but went one of seven from beyond the arc.
The rest of the starting five combined for 21 points.
Pearson Carmichael and Aginaldo Neto were the only reason that the Broncos stayed in the fight and took the game to the wire. The two both shot 50% or better from the field, and accumulated 24 total points.
Against N.C. State, it was the Dylan Andrews show.
The UCLA transfer took charge with 26 points and five three-pointers.
Buchanan was the only other starter to breach double figures (10 points).
And Carmichael found a way to be a spark off the bench again with 11 points and a trio of threes to his name.
With hometown Chaminade, a Division II school, last up to the plate, it was readily apparent before tipoff that the Broncos should dominate the interior and wings with its size. That held true, but the Silverswords managed to only trail by four at halftime.
Out of the break, it was the Drew Fielder show as he finished the night with 27 points and 14 rebounds, both career highs.
Andrew Meadow had his best game of the trip with 16 points and eight boards.
Buchanan became a free throw merchant, going to the charity stripe nine times.
And par for the course, Carmichael broke double figures with 12 points despite not making a single three-pointer.
Scoring works in ebbs and flows, especially with recent Bronco teams.
Rebounding and toughness in the paint isn’t a question – the Broncos outrebounded USC and N.C. State.
But the turnovers…oy vey.
In its three games at the Maui Invitational, they lost the turnover battle by 13.
In the eight games they have played in 2025, they have ended in the black only twice, and both instances were in their best wins of the year so far – Utah Valley (+5 margin) and Wichita State (+4).
It’s not rocket science.
However, they don’t have a ton of time to right the turnover ship as two of its next three games are against fierce competition with neither being played at ExtraMile Arena – Butler next Saturday (12/6) at Hinkle Fieldhouse and Saint Mary’s on December 14th in Idaho Falls.
Both are currently inside the top 50 in KenPom.
For Boise State, all is not lost after this week.
Could it have gone substantially better?
You betcha.
But they didn’t embarrass themselves against likely March Madness qualifiers, and at the same time, the Mountain West, outside of Utah State, looks weaker than it has in recent years.
The ceiling on this team is high, but in order to touch the ceiling, you have to stop shooting yourself in the foot.
