Boise State Basketball Shifts to Faster Pace Ahead of Pac-12 Debut

Boise State University men's basketball players will play at a quicker pace this season as the Broncos enter their first year in the Pac-12 Conference. The program is transitioning away from a slower, coach-directed style toward a faster, player-driven offense to replace production lost from four double-digit scorers who departed last year.

The Broncos finished the 2025-26 season with a 20-12 record and a 12-8 mark in Mountain West play. They were eliminated in the conference tournament's opening round by San Jose State. The team now aims for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2023-24 campaign, but the roster has changed significantly to support that goal.

Coaching staff changes occurred during the offseason to facilitate the new offensive approach. Longtime assistant Tim Duryea retired after eight seasons. Max Rice, a former Bronco who played professionally overseas for two seasons, returned as an assistant coach. Will Voigt joined the staff as associate head coach and offensive coordinator. Voigt previously served as an assistant head coach at BYU and as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs.

Max Rice described the new system as a professional-style offense that relies on players making their own reads rather than following complex coach calls. "Our offense is gonna look a lot different from what we did when I was here," Rice said. "It's gonna be a lot faster pace, and I think the fans really appreciate just getting up and down, watching us score more points, and it'll be a more exciting brand of basketball than what they're used to."

Head coach Eric Few stated that the team intends to be more disruptive on defense after struggling to force turnovers last season. "Last year, one of our weak points was forcing turnovers, so this year we're trying to kind of flip that and be more aggressive and pressure more," Few said. The new identity depends on integrating several transfers into a roster that lost much of its previous scoring output.

Guard Damari Wheeler-Thomas transferred from North Dakota State, where he averaged 14.5 points per game last season. He helped the Bison win Summit League regular season and tournament championships. "I'd be.. one, a leader in general. Then two, one of the primary ball handlers and scorers," Wheeler-Thomas said. Fellow transfers Dovydas Butka and Jerquarius Stanback also joined the team. Stanback earned SWAC Defensive Player of the Year honors at Alabama State last season.

Returning players are preparing for expanded roles. Carmichael, entering his third season, averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 rebounds last year. He has worked to improve his offensive game during the offseason to fill the void left by departed scorers. Few identified Julian Bowie, Spencer Ahrens, and Aginaldo Neto as potential contributors, though the team is still determining the primary scoring hierarchy.

The Broncos spent the offseason building team cohesion amid a new conference and a reconstructed roster. "You build a strong culture, so when adversity does come, you stand together," Few said. The team will face familiar Mountain West opponents alongside Pac-12 programs, including Gonzaga, Oregon State, and Washington State. "We know the bar's been raised," Few said.

Boise State opened its exhibition slate with two victories. The Broncos defeated Idaho 82-72 on Oct. 10 and Washington 109-91 on Oct. 17. Four players scored in double figures against Idaho. Newcomer Butka recorded consecutive double-doubles. Aginaldo Neto scored 29 points on seven-for-seven shooting from the field against Washington.

The regular season begins on Nov. 4 when Boise State hosts West Coast Baptist College at home. The program is still assessing how the new style will perform in regular-season games while managing injuries that limited full-roster practice time during the summer.