Mountain West basketball polls are out. Here’s where Boise State men, women are picked
Expectations are high inside and outside the program for Boise State as the 2023-24 men’s college basketball season approaches.
The Broncos were picked to finish second in the Mountain West behind 2023 national runner-up San Diego State in a preseason poll of select media members released Thursday.
Boise State received 299 points and four first-place votes a season after finishing 24-10 and advancing to a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. San Diego State garnered the first-place nod with 333 points and 25 first-place votes.
“There’s an incredible buzz in Boise about basketball,” Boise State junior Tyson Degenhart said during Mountain West Media Days. “Our football team gets a lot of buzz just because they’ve been to three Fiesta Bowls, and they’ve won all of them. But this new buzz around basketball is really, really cool, and just to be a part of it is awesome. We go around the city and people are like, ‘Oh, we’re super excited for your season this year.’ It’s just really cool to be around.”
The Broncos also received individual accolades as Degenhart was voted to the preseason all-conference team. The Spokane, Washington, native averaged 15.1 points and 5.2 rebounds last season in conference action while shooting 59.3% from the field.
Joining Degenhart on the preseason team were Colorado State’s Isaiah Stevens — who was also selected as the preseason player of the year — New Mexico’s Jaelen House and Jamal Masburn Jr., and San Diego State’s Lamont Butler. San Diego State junior Reese Waters was named the preseason newcomer of the year, and UNLV rookie Dedan Thomas Jr. was voted the preseason freshman of the year.
“It’s definitely an honor to be mentioned as one of the better players in the Mountain West. There’s a lot of great players in this league,” Degenhart said. “This summer, I just really worked on the fundamentals, getting back to playing more of the 4 position, just getting ready for that and really honing in on my shot, making sure that’s ready to go for the year.”
Boise State opens the season Nov. 7 against Vanguard, followed by a Nov. 12 game against San Francisco. Both games will be at ExtraMile Arena.
2023-24 Men’s Mountain West Preseason Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
1. San Diego State (25) 333
2. Boise State (4) 299
3. New Mexico (1) 278
4. Nevada (1) 240
5. Colorado State 218
6. UNLV 199
7. San José State 124
8. Fresno State 115
9. Utah State 105
10. Wyoming 74
11. Air Force 61
Women: Broncos picked to finish fourth
With 14 returners, including all five starters, the Boise State women landed fourth in the Mountain West in a preseason poll of the league’s coaches and select media members.
The Broncos received 201 points. UNLV was chosen as the preseason favorite for the second year in a row, collecting 24 of the 27 first-place votes and 284 points.
Boise State senior forward Abby Muse — the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year — was voted to the preseason team. Muse started all 33 games for the Broncos during the 2022-23 campaign, averaging 9.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and a league-high 2.8 blocks per game. She became the program’s all-time leader in career blocks (171) and single-season blocks (93) last season, and was one of six players nationally to have blocked eight or more shots in a single game after blocking eight against New Mexico on Jan. 21.
Colorado State graduate student McKenna Hofschild was tabbed the preseason player of the year and joined Muse, UNLV’s Desi-Rae Young and Kiara Jackson, and Wyoming’s Allyson Fertig on the preseason team.
Colorado State’s Jackie Carman was named the preseason newcomer of the year, and rookies Trinity Zamora of San Diego State and Amarachi Kimpson of UNLV shared preseason freshman of the year honors.
Boise State opens its exhibition slate with a home matchup against The Master’s at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 3. The 2023-24 season officially begins Nov. 6 against College of Idaho at ExtraMile Arena.
2023-24 Women’s Mountain West Preseason Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
1. UNLV (24) 284
2. Colorado State (1) 245
3. Wyoming (2) 237
4. Boise State 201
5. San Diego State 183
6. New Mexico 168
7. Air Force 128
8. Nevada 111
9. San José State 93
10. Fresno State 89
11. Utah State 43
