After three consecutive tournament appearances, Boise State basketball fell short last year. They’re determined to rectify this in the upcoming season.
The tradition persists! We continue our annual countdown of the top 100 preseason college basketball teams leading up to the season’s start. Each day, we will unveil the next team until we reach the top-ranked one. Up next: Boise State basketball.
Boise State developed a reputation for tournament presence following COVID, with three straight entries, although they faced first-round exits each time. Last year, they found themselves on the tournament bubble but ultimately missed out, instead competing in the ill-fated College Basketball Crown, advancing only to the semifinals.
This season, they’re on a quest to return to form, albeit without their standout player, Tyson Degenhart, a three-time All-Mountain West selection. His absence will certainly be a loss. They also part ways with skilled point guard Alvaro Cardenas, who ranked seventh nationally in assists per game last season.
Andrew Meadow, however, is back after a significant improvement last year, escalating his scoring from 3.2 PPG as a freshman to 12.6 PPG as a sophomore; his upward trend is expected to continue. The team has also welcomed Dylan Andrews, who had a disappointing previous year but could become vital if he regains his earlier form. Additionally, several players, including Javan Buchanan, Pearson Carmichael, and RJ Keene, are looking to step into larger roles this season, supported by a tall lineup with four starters anticipated to be 6-7 or taller.
Head Coach: Leon Rice (16th season at Boise State, 16 total seasons)
2024-25 Record: 26-11 (14-6)
2025 Postseason Finish: Lost in the semifinals of the College Basketball Crown Tournament
Key Departures:
- Tyson Degenhart (18.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.6 APG)
- Alvaro Cardenas (11.5 PPG, 6.9 APG, 3.1 RPG)
- O’Mar Stanley (6.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.6 APG)
- Dylan Anderson (3.5 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.8 APG)
- Emmanuel Ugbo (3.1 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.2 APG)
Notable Non-Conference Games:
- vs. Wichita State (Nov. 18)
- vs. USC (Nov. 24) – Maui Invitational
- vs. NC State OR Seton Hall (Nov. 25) – Maui Invitational
- Maui Invitational (Nov. 26)
- at Butler (Dec 6)
- vs. Duquesne (Dec. 10)
- vs. Saint Mary’s (Dec. 20)
Projected Rotation
PG: Dylan Andrews (6-3, 180, Sr.)
2024-2025 Stats: 6.9 PPG, 3.4 APG, 1.6 RPG, 0.6 SPG (UCLA)
SG: Pearson Carmichael (6-7, 208, So.)
2024-2025 Stats: 6.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.5 SPG, 42.6 FG%, 77.3 FT%
SF: Andrew Meadow (6-7, 218, Jr.)
2024-2025 Stats: 12.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 45.8 FG%, 35.2 3P%, 83.9 FT%
PF: Javan Buchanan (6-7, 230, Sr.)
2024-2025 Stats: 9.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 53.4 FG%, 81.3 FT%
C: Drew Fielder (6-11, 225, Jr.)
2024-2025 Stats: 7.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.4 BPG, 0.4 SPG, 46.3 FG%, 71.7 FT% (Georgetown)
6: RJ Keene (6-7, 212, Rs.-Sr.)
2024-2025 Stats: 2.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.7 SPG
7: Dominic Parolin (6-9, 245, Sr.)
2023-2024 Stats: 11.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.7 BPG, 0.5 SPG, 45.5 FG%, 80.9 FT% (Lehigh)
8: Julian Bowie (6-3, 205, So.)
2024-2025 Stats: 3.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.9 APG, 91.7 FT%
9: Spencer Ahrens (6-10, 230, Fr.)
2025 247Sports #214 ranked recruit
10: Ethan Lathan (6-10, 220, Fr.)
2024 247Sports #169 ranked recruit
Team MVP: Andrew Meadow
Meadow had a breakout year, stepping up to become the team’s second leading scorer while displaying proficiency across all scoring facets. Starting 35 games, his production notably increased during the CBC, where he averaged 14.3 PPG. With Degenhart gone, he is poised to become the primary offensive option, aiming for first-team All-Mountain West honors.
Make-or-Break Player: Dylan Andrews
Andrews’ tenure at UCLA was turbulent; his freshman year saw limited play, but he thrived as a sophomore, leading the team in scoring. However, his performance plummeted during junior year with significantly fewer minutes and points. Which version of Andrews will Boise State acquire this season? If it’s the productive sophomore, he and Meadow could form a formidable partnership; otherwise, he could see reduced playing time in a crowded guard lineup.
Key Analytic: Blocks and Steals Per Game
Boise State illustrates the pitfalls of assessing defensive performance solely by block and steal averages. Despite ranking 70th in defensive efficiency, they were 296th in blocks and 305th in steals, highlighting potential weaknesses. Cardenas was the only player averaging over a steal per game, while no one averaged a block. New transfers Andrews and Fielder combine for just 1 steal and 0.5 blocks per game, emphasizing the necessity for improved turnover generation in order for the team to succeed.
2025-26 Projections
Projected Conference Finish: 3rd in the Mountain West
Projected Postseason Ceiling: NCAA Tournament Round of 64 Exit
