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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 13-17;
6-12 in WAC (7th)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 1994.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Nabors 11.4
Rebs: Ellis 5.8
Assists: Nabors 2.6
FG: Ellis 48.8%
3pt: Nabors 30.2%
FT: Boise State | WAC
KEY LOSSES
Abe Jackson | 18. 6 ppg
Richard Morgan | 6.1 ppg
Trever Tillman | 4.7 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | C.J. Williams | Senior
G | Booker Nabors | Junior
G | Bryan Defares | Junior
F | Jason Ellis | Soph
C | Larry Davidson | Fresh
Player to Watch
Booker Nabors
Junior Guard
Leading scorer returning could see numbers rise in run-and-gun offense.
DATE TO REMEMBER
The Broncos go to Wyoming. They beat the Mountain West Conference regular-season champs on a final shot last year. This could get ugly in Laramie.
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BOISE STATE BRONCOS
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It shouldn't surprise anyone. Greg Graham arrives as the first-year Broncos coach having assisted Ernie Kent at Oregon. Hence, Boise State will run and run and run and try to score at the same time. Nine names on the roster are listed as guards and only two players are 6-8 or taller, facts Graham doesn't protest. His best returning player is junior Booker Nabors, who averaged 11.4 points and nearly three assists last season. Short on explosive players, Boise State will feel the loss of Abe Jackson, the program's third all-time leading scorer who went for 18.6 points and 4.8 rebounds last year. Junior college transfer Aaron Haynes (6-6, 185) will try and replace some of the scoring slack after leaving Sacramento City College with a school-record 1,188 points in two seasons. Fact: If you're going to play this many guards, you need to shoot better. Boise State ranked 263rd nationally in field-goal percentage (.414) last season and 287th from three-point range (.309). The best inside player is sophomore forward Jason Ellis (6-7, 220), who ranked 14th in rebounding among WAC players last year.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
The Broncos might have a difficult time rebounding, but at least they have guys who can lead a team. Boise State is very deep at point guard, with returning starter C.J. Williams (6-0, 175) competing with Joe Skiffer, who redshirted with a shoulder injury last season. Solomon Wyatt (6-2, 175) is a sophomore who backed up Williams last year. He's the best athlete of the bunch, but lacks a consistent shot. There will be plenty of opportunity, as Graham will start a three-guard lineup ... and perhaps more.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
This is why Graham has spent much of his time away from campus, beating down the recruiting trail in search of size. Ellis averaged 5.8 rebounds last season, but he'll need major help from junior Kenney Gainous (6-8, 205) and senior Robbie Gerichs (6-9, 200). Gainous is said to be the team's most athletic big man, but he managed averages of just 0.6 points and 0.8 rebounds last year. It's not a stretch to think freshman Larry Davidson (6-9, 230) from Australia can start immediately.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
Boise State finished seventh in its first WAC season with a 6-12 record, going 13-17 overall. It will be tough to fare much better this year. Graham's offense will excite the faithful, but he needs time to recruit the kind of post players needed to compliment all those guards. There just isn't enough depth or size for an upper-tier finish.
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