College Basketball Preseason Top 25: #25 Boise State

By Kels Dayton
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Updated: September 15, 2013

AP Photo/Nati Hanrik

25. Boise State Broncos

It’s not all about football in Boise. For the first time since the Clinton administration, the basketball Broncos appear ready to make some national noise of their own.

Boise State returns four of its starters, including All-Mountain West guard Derrick Marks, who averaged 16.3 points per game and led the Broncos with 3.6 assists per. Marks is a versatile shooting guard and capable scorer, and could vie for conference Player of the Year honors. Boise State also returns top scorer Anthony Drmic (17.7 points per game), who like Marks is only a junior. Both players were big reasons why the Broncos earned their first at-large tournament bid in school history last season. Dmric has good size at 6-6 and is a terrific three-point shooter.

Also back is sharpshooting senior Jeff Elorriaga, who knocked down 44.7 percent of his threes last season, tops in the Mountain West. The front court isn’t bad either, with forward Ryan Watkins (10.8 ppg) and Australian import Nick Duncan (from the famous Australia Institute of Sport) adding some punch down low.

BOTTOM LINE: Boise State made big strides last season under head coach Leon Rice, who has completely turned the program around in his three years in western Idaho. This is virtually the same team that won 9 games in the rugged Mountain West last season and scored big wins over Creighton, UNLV and San Diego State and nearly upset Michigan State in East Lansing. With a now-experienced backcourt and a taste of success, there’s no reason to think Boise State can’t take the next step and capture the Mountain West title.

Click here to see our Entire Top 25.