With hoops season close, Boise State’s Rice, Kigab give fans taste of what’s to come

In both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, the Boise State men’s basketball team added an impact player at the conclusion of the first semester.

The addition of Abu Kigab in 2019 and Devonaire Doutrive in 2020 turned out to be both a boost and complication, head coach Leon Rice said Thursday during the Broncos’ appearance on Day 2 of Mountain West virtual media days.

“There’s a chemistry issue to it when you add a guy at semester and there’s a challenge to it,” Rice said. “Sometimes you think: ‘Well, you’re just gonna add another good player, it’s gonna make you better.’ Sometimes it throws you off just enough where it changes your chemistry, and I think there was a little bit of that to our team last year.”

With the Broncos’ roster locked in for the 2021-22 season, including 12 returners, Rice has a pretty clear picture of how he intends to divide up minutes.

“This year I think we’re kind of settled into probably who our seven or eight are, or close to it,” Rice said. “And then we’ve got, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 fighting for a spot to be in that rotation, so I think it’s more clearly defined right now, and hopefully that will help us in guys understanding their roles.”

Boise State opens the season Tuesday, Nov. 9, against Utah Valley at ExtraMile Arena. A tipoff time has not been announced.

On Wednesday, the Broncos were picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West in a vote of select media members who cover the league.

Rice and Kigab discussed a variety of topics during their media day appearance Thursday. Here’s what stood out.

Rehabbed and healthy, despite ‘bad genes’

The Broncos were impacted by injuries toward the end of last season, with Kigab suffering a season-ending torn labrum in his right shoulder in their final regular-season game.

Kigab had offseason surgery and is now back to full strength, he said Thursday. Although he was a senior last season, the NCAA offered players an extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic, and Kigab decided to return.

“I’m feeling very healthy. My body feels great. My mind feels great,” Kigab said. “I’m just ready to get back out there.”

In Boise State’s Mountain West Tournament quarterfinal loss to Nevada, guard Max Rice — the middle of Leon Rice’s three sons — broke a foot and missed the Broncos’ NIT appearance. Max Rice also had offseason hip surgery.

“He was gifted with bad genes, and those bad genes caused him to have some hip surgery,” said Leon Rice, who had both hips replaced. “He’s doing great, though. He’s moving better than maybe I’ve seen him move before, and I think he’s playing the best I’ve seen him play.”

Redshirt senior center Mladen Armus had “back problems” over the summer but is also on the mend, Rice said. He expects to have his full roster available by the time the season rolls around — “knock on wood.”

Who are the new faces?

Boise State returns 12 players from last year’s team, and three true freshmen joined the program this summer.

So far, Spokane product Tyson Degenhart has the best shot at earning early playing time, partly because the Broncos are less loaded at his position. Rice said Thursday that the 6-foot-7, 232-pound forward has put on 20 pounds and added 5 inches to his vertical jump since he arrived on campus.

“He can really shoot the ball. He’s super skilled and he does his job at the highest level,” Rice said. “Out of the young guys, he’d be someone that could jump in right away. The other two — Kobe (Young) and RJ (Keene) — are doing a great job, there’s just so many guards right now in our rotation, it’s gonna be hard to crack that lineup.”

Young, who is listed at 6-6 and 204 pounds, is from Chiawana High in Pasco, Washington, where he was a three-sport star in football, basketball and track.

Keene, who Rice likened to former BSU standout Justinian Jessup on signing day last November, was ranked as the No. 46 shooting guard in the 2021 class, according to ESPN. Keene attended Concordia Lutheran High in The Woodlands, Texas.

Who would take the game-winning shot?

After first asking jokingly whether he could take the shot, Rice rattled off the names of eight different players and said he expects the role likely would go to the hot hand at the time.

Here are the players Rice said he might call on for a potential go-ahead score this season:

• Redshirt senior Emmanuel Akot sank a game-winning 3-pointer with 13 seconds left to help the Broncos beat BYU last year. “He’s hit some big shots,” Rice said.

• Marcus Shaver Jr., a redshirt senior guard, “at practice, he’s hit more buzzer-beaters than anyone I’ve coached for a long, long time.”

• Max Rice “has got a clutch gene to him.”

• Kigab made a game-winning jumper in the paint to edge San Jose State, 87-86, in early January.

• Armus has “made some big shots down the stretch.”

• “I’ve seen Tyson (Degenhart) do it in high school. I’ve seen Naje (Smith) make game-winning shots,” Rice said. “We’ve got a lot of guys to choose from.”

• And Rice nearly forgot Doutrive, who made three game-winning tip-ins last season, including in the Broncos’ NIT win against SMU.

‘Little big bro’

As a graduate transfer, Lexus Williams got only one season with the Broncos. But he made quite the impression, sinking a game-winning half-court shot at the buzzer to beat Oregon in 2017.

Now the Chicago native is making an impact behind the scenes in the newly created position of assistant to the head coach.

Boise State players are excited to have Williams back in the fold, too.

“I love Lexus. I call him my little big bro. He’s older than me. I’m just bigger than him in size,” Kigab said. “He’s a great guy.”

Kigab said Williams is willing to work out with players before practice, or help them break down film.

“We’re very fortunate to have him,” Kigab said.

No limit on fans at ExtraMile Arena

Boise State announced Thursday that men’s and women’s basketball home games at ExtraMile Arena will return to full capacity this season.

Facial coverings will be required at all times, regardless of vaccination status, unless actively consuming food or beverage.

In accordance with the Fall NCAA Resocialization of Sport guidance, student-athletes actively participating on the court and the head coaches are not required to wear facial coverings. The same guidance establishes a 6-foot barrier between the team benches and all non-Tier 1 individuals. As such, ExtraMile Arena’s courtside seating capacity will be reduced by four total seats, and spectators entering through Entrances 2 and 3 and sitting in sections 3 through 10 will not be able to access their seats from the floor level.

Fans will need to use the stairwells inside the lobbies to access all seating areas. Those with mobility concerns or accessibility needs will need to use Entrance 2 for elevator access.

For those who prefer a socially distanced seating option, a limited number of sections will be reserved to accommodate requests. Season-ticket holders may contact the Boise State Athletic Ticket Office by Oct. 29 to discuss options. Fans will also have the option to request relocation assistance on site.

Adult beverages will be available for purchase at ExtraMile Arena this season.