Boise State Basketball Season Preview 2024-25: Biggest games, key players to watch and more

Boise State finished the 2023-24 college basketball season with a 22-11 record, making the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year. The Broncos were paired with Colorado in a First Four clash for the No. 10 seed and lost by seven points, abruptly ending their campaign.

Boise State coach Leon Rice approaches his 15th season and he hopes to lead the team to its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament. Two of the Broncos top three scorers last season — Tyson Degenhart and O'Mar Stanley — are back for another year, aiming to make it past either the First Four or the First Round of March Madness.

Here's an inside look into Boise State's 2024-25 men's basketball campaign, from its biggest games to its key players to watch out for.

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Boise State's biggest games of the 2024-25 season

Boise State's non-conference slate features five teams that qualified for the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Broncos open the season against Oakland on Nov. 4. The Golden Grizzlies upset Kentucky in the first round and forced overtime against Final Four entrants NC State before losing in the second round of the South Regional.

Leon Rice and his men will face Clemson on Nov. 17. The Tigers made the Elite Eight, upsetting No. 3 seed Baylor and No. 2 seed Arizona in the West regionals before losing to No. 4 Alabama in the West regional final.

They head to the Cayman Islands Classic and after their game against Hampton on Nov. 24, they will face either South Dakota State or Duquesne on Nov. 25.

South Dakota State made it to the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament but were ousted by Iowa State in the first round. Duquesne, on the other hand, made the second round, winning over BYU before ending their campaign with a loss to Illinois.

Boise State will host Washington State on December 7 before facing Saint Mary's the following week. Washington State advanced to the second round of the East Regional, while Saint Mary's was upset by Grand Canyon in the first round of the West Regional.

The Broncos' regular season schedule against Mountain West Conference foes will be announced on a later date.

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Top Boise State players to watch out for in the 2024-25 season

#1. Tyson Degenhart

Tyson Degenhart (Image Source: IMAGN)

Tyson Degenhart led Boise State's offense last season, averaging 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The six-foot-eight incoming senior shot 50.3% from the field and made 79.1% of his free throws.

Degenhart is expected to form a 1-2 punch with fellow forward O'Mar Stanley in offense.

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#2. O'Mar Stanley

O'Mar Stanley is coming off a career season with Boise State, tallying 12.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.2 bpg. The six-foot-eight forward played 33 games and shot 53.7% from the field and 75.9% from the free throw line.

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#3. Javan Buchanan

Javan Buchanan played brilliant basketball with Indiana Wesleyan last season, averaging 20.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.1 spg and 1.1 bpg. The six-foot-seven forward made 51.9% of his shots from the field and had an 84.5% clip from the free-throw line.

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Predictions for Boise State's 2024-25 season

With Tyson Degenhart and O'Mar Stanley leading the charge, the Broncos seek to dominate the Mountain West Conference to claim one of the bids in March Madness.

However, Boise State needs to get past the first round if they make it to the 68-team field. The Broncos are projected to win 20-22 in the regular season and hope the victories will be enough to put them through next year's knockout tournament.

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Will Boise State make the 2025 NCAA Tournament? Let us know your views in the comments section.