Boise State Preview and Game Thread

[JCT]

Tuesday, December 23, 2014 10:30 p.m.
Orleans Arena, Las Vegas

Loyola shocked Texas Tech Monday night in the semi-finals of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic with a total dismantling of a Big 12 team. In the process, they earned a matchup with the class of the tournament, 9-2 Boise State. With a top-50 RPI entering their semifinal match against Houston, the Broncos’ only two losses have come against Wisconsin and North Carolina State. Yet still, despite their great record, there are holes in their game.

The Broncos had to go to overtime at home against Montana. They beat mediocre San Diego and Loyola Marymount by six and eight points respectively. Their OT win against a struggling Houston team couldn’t have helped. They have certainly gained confidence during the season, but so has Loyola. The Ramblers beat Southern Utah by 16 before heading to Vegas, and the Broncos beat them by 19 in Boise.

Boise State starts a forward (6’9” sophomore James Webb III), a center (6’11” junior Kevin Allen), and three guards: Mikey Thompson, Derrick Marks, and Igor Hadziomerovic. They typically go 11 players deep in their roster, and they all shoot and rebound well.

Boise State as a team causes a lot of chaos, and they happen to come out on top on most of the results. They foul and get fouled a lot, they have a slight plus on steals, rebounds, and turnovers. They are very good shooters from the field and from the line, and their top scorer Derrick Marks does a lot of the damage, averaging 17 ppg. Their second top scorer, Anthony Drmic, appears to be out with an ankle injury.

If the Ramblers play against Boise State on Tuesday the same way they did against Texas Tech on Monday, the Ramblers will win this tournament. Loyola is in a nice position with Boised State being pushed to overtime the previous night, a few extra hours rest, and most of the hard work in the Texas Tech game done by the bench players. It will take the regular starting guys to manage this game against a more experienced and slightly less physical team than Texas Tech.

Loyola game notes: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/loy ... 223aaa.pdf

Boise State game notes: Pending

Television: Fox Sports 1

Vegas line: Boise State by 5.5

[GoRamblers]

Boise State messageboard: http://boisestate.scout.com/forums/2248 ... talk?s=336

[lusuperfan]

According to their board, Marks is injured for them and might not play.

[brot4britu]

Well. we are 5.5 point dogs against BSU. The usual story once again --ALL HANDS ON DECK, as always . it seems this year.

It is said that our opponents have injuries--I doubt it. Play our game in any case. It is amazing how focused our gang seems to be.

Of concern--25's comment on Thomas. Its not like Christian. Let us hope that it was a minor slip up.

[JCT]

The point spread is down to 3.5 now.

[08rambler]

Our Vegas contingency must've taken the points and pushed it down.

[LU Rambler12]

Really excited for this game! I hope our guys slept in today.

Also, I saw a few people wearing maroon and gold scarves sitting behind the Texas Tech bench. I wish I had booked my trip to Vegas!

[brot4britu]

Good luck to our guys this night !! Win or lose, these guys are good. Watch Milton and Turk --Its their turn. BUT the deal is, we really have a lot of guns and great TEAM play especially defensively.
GO RAMBLERS !!

[Robbie Aces]

Lets go Ramblers!

[LU Rambler12]

Both teams looking a little tired. Maybe they were both out celebrating their wins!