Boise State Broncos men's basketball


The Boise State Broncos men's basketball team represents Boise State University in the Mountain West Conference. The Broncos are led by head coach Leon Rice, hired in March 2010, and play their home games on campus at ExtraMile Arena in Boise, Idaho. BSU's most recent appearance in the NCAA tournament was in 2024.
WWW broncosports.com

History

Greg Graham era

Athletic director Gene Bleymaier hired Greg Graham to be head coach in 2002. In eight seasons, Graham had a 142–112 record at Boise State and led Boise State to a berth in the 2004 NIT, [2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2008 NCAA tournament] and 2009 CBI. For leading Boise State to the NCAA tournament, the Western Athletic Conference named Graham "Coach of the Year" in 2008.
In 2010, after a 15–17 season, Bleymaier fired Graham and stated: "We appreciate everything that Coach Graham and his staff have contributed to Boise State the past eight years. We felt that in the best interest of the program we needed to make a change."

Leon Rice era

Leon Rice replaced Graham as head coach of the Broncos on March 26, 2010. In his first season as head coach, he led Boise State to the finals of the 2011 WAC men's basketball tournament and to the semifinals of the 2011 College Basketball Invitational. He is the first Boise State head coach to win 20 games in two of his first three seasons and has 20 or more wins in eight of his ten seasons. In 2013, he guided the Broncos to their first ever at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. In 2015, he led the Broncos to their first ever Mountain West regular season championship, and first conference title for Boise State since 2008, and was named the Mountain West coach of the year. On February 13, 2021, Rice won his 214th game to become the winningest head coach in Boise State history. In 2022, Leon Rice led Boise to arguably their best season in school history. The Broncos won a program high 27 games, 15 conference games, the Mountain West conference regular season championship, Mountain West conference tournament, an 8-seed in the NCAA tournament and the highest AP ranking in program history at 23. The following season, Leon Rice helped lead the team to 24 wins and consecutive tournament bids for the second time in school history. In 2024, Leon Rice became the first coach in program history to lead the Broncos to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

In-season tournament championships

  • 1984–85 Gem State Classic
  • 1986–87 Real Dairy Classic
  • 1986–87 Albertson's Holiday Classic
  • 1987–88 Real Dairy Classic
  • 1987–88 Albertson's Holiday Classic
  • 1988–89 Real Dairy Classic
  • 1988–89 Albertson's Holiday Classic
  • 1990–91 Real Dairy Classic
  • 1990–91 Albertson's Holiday Classic
  • 1991–92 Real Dairy Classic
  • 1991–92 Albertson's Holiday Classic
  • 1992–93 Real Dairy Classic
  • 1992–93 Albertson's Holiday Classic
  • 1993–94 Real Dairy Classic
  • 1994–95 Albertson's Holiday Classic
  • 1996–97 Albertson's Holiday Classic

Regular season conference titles

Conference tournament championships

Conference Player of the Year awards

Postseason results

NCAA Division I Tournament results

The Broncos have appeared in ten NCAA Division I Tournaments, with a combined record of 0–10. They have the most NCAA tournament games played without a win. Their first five bids came via conference tournament championships, the first four in the Big Sky. The bid to the First Four in 2013 was the first at-large bid in program history, and they received a second in 2015. BSU made their eighth appearance in 2022 and returned the following year. Boise State set a new program record with three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in 2024.
1976Round of 32#4 L 78–103
198814 WRound of 64 #10 MichiganL 58–63
199314 WRound of 64 #8 L 72–92
199414 WRound of 64 #10 LouisvilleL 58–67
200814 ERound of 64 #13 LouisvilleL 61–79
201313 WFirst Four La SalleL 71–80
201511 EFirst Four DaytonL 55–56
20228 WRound of 64 MemphisL 53–64
202310 WRound of 64 NorthwesternL 67–75
202410 SFirst Four ColoradoL 53–60

;NCAA Tournament seeding history
The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition.
Years →'88'92'94'08'13'15'22'23'24
Seeds→14141414131181010

NCAA Division II Tournament results

The Broncos appeared in one NCAA Division II tournament, with a 1–1 record.
1970Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd Place
L 81–83
W 63–61

NIT results

The Broncos have appeared in seven National Invitational Tournaments, with a combined record of 5–7.
1987First round
Second Round
Washington		W 62–61
L 68–73
1989First roundL 55–69
1991First roundL 74–75
2004Opening Round
First round
Second Round
Milwaukee
Marquette		W 84–69
W 73–70
L 53–56
2017First round
Second Round		Utah
Illinois		W 73–68
L 56–71
2018First roundWashingtonL 74–77
2021First round
Quarterfinals		SMU
Memphis		W 85–84
L 56–59

CBI results

The Broncos have appeared in two College Basketball Invitationals, with a combined record of 2–2.
2009First roundStanfordL 76–96
2011First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Evansville
Oregon		W 83–80
W 75–69
L 71–79

CBC results

The Broncos have appeared in the College Basketball Crown once. Their record is 2–1.
2025First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		George Washington
Butler
Nebraska		W 89–59
W 100–93
L 69–79

Notable alumni