Most WAC teams dread the trip to the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, to play UTEP.
Boise State isn't one of them.
Second-place UTEP is one of the few teams in the conference that will run with Boise State, and that's why the Broncos (13-16 overall, 6-11 WAC) are excited about tonight's matchup with the Miners (23-7, 13-4).
"We're able to get up and down the court and play the way we play," BSU senior Jermaine Blackburn said. "It's the way coach (Greg) Graham's system is and the way we play every day in practice."
UTEP has lost three games in the past two seasons at home. One of those losses was a 98-94 setback to Boise State last season.
Earlier this year, the teams combined for 170 points in a Miner win at Taco Bell Arena.
"Put it this way ? neither team is going to play much defense, I promise you that," UTEP coach Doc Sadler said.
The game has more meaning for the Broncos, who can improve their position in the WAC standings. The Broncos can finish anywhere from seventh to ninth place.
A seventh-place finish would give BSU a first-round WAC Tournament game
against last-place San Jose State on Tuesday and put the Broncos on the opposite side of the bracket than host Nevada.
"I just think the big thing is to play well so you go into the tournament playing well," BSU coach Greg Graham said. "I think that's what all of the coaches are trying to do with their teams."
The Broncos have won three of their past four games and four of the past six.
"They're a very, very dangerous team because they can score points," Sadler said. "And when they're clicking, they're very, very dangerous. I love the way they play. (Graham) is such a great transition offense coach and a lot of the things we look at maybe incorporating in our stuff I've gotten from him."
UTEP leads the WAC in scoring at 74.3 points per game, while the Broncos are last in defense as they allow 73.3 points per game.
"They are starting to play well and get on a roll," Graham said. "It's going to be a tough game for us. We both play fast, like to get up and down and shoot the ball. I'm sure they'll be some points scored. Hopefully we can keep pace."
Tonight's game is UTEP's final regular-season WAC game, the 2,000th game in school history and also the final home game for seniors Filiberto Rivera, Omar Thomas and Thomas Gehrke, all players who have haunted BSU in the past three years.
"It's definitely a tough place to play," Graham said. "They're a good team with a bunch of seniors, and there's going to be about 13,000 people there. It's definitely going to open some eyes to some of our guys who haven't been in that situation yet. We've just got to step up and play."
The largest announced crowd BSU has played in front of this season was 11,219 at Fresno State.
Blackburn said the Broncos won't be intimidated.
"I'm ready," he said. "We've got to get this game so we can go into the WAC tournament on a roll."
Boise State isn't one of them.
Second-place UTEP is one of the few teams in the conference that will run with Boise State, and that's why the Broncos (13-16 overall, 6-11 WAC) are excited about tonight's matchup with the Miners (23-7, 13-4).
"We're able to get up and down the court and play the way we play," BSU senior Jermaine Blackburn said. "It's the way coach (Greg) Graham's system is and the way we play every day in practice."
UTEP has lost three games in the past two seasons at home. One of those losses was a 98-94 setback to Boise State last season.
Earlier this year, the teams combined for 170 points in a Miner win at Taco Bell Arena.
"Put it this way ? neither team is going to play much defense, I promise you that," UTEP coach Doc Sadler said.
The game has more meaning for the Broncos, who can improve their position in the WAC standings. The Broncos can finish anywhere from seventh to ninth place.
A seventh-place finish would give BSU a first-round WAC Tournament game
against last-place San Jose State on Tuesday and put the Broncos on the opposite side of the bracket than host Nevada.
"I just think the big thing is to play well so you go into the tournament playing well," BSU coach Greg Graham said. "I think that's what all of the coaches are trying to do with their teams."
The Broncos have won three of their past four games and four of the past six.
"They're a very, very dangerous team because they can score points," Sadler said. "And when they're clicking, they're very, very dangerous. I love the way they play. (Graham) is such a great transition offense coach and a lot of the things we look at maybe incorporating in our stuff I've gotten from him."
UTEP leads the WAC in scoring at 74.3 points per game, while the Broncos are last in defense as they allow 73.3 points per game.
"They are starting to play well and get on a roll," Graham said. "It's going to be a tough game for us. We both play fast, like to get up and down and shoot the ball. I'm sure they'll be some points scored. Hopefully we can keep pace."
Tonight's game is UTEP's final regular-season WAC game, the 2,000th game in school history and also the final home game for seniors Filiberto Rivera, Omar Thomas and Thomas Gehrke, all players who have haunted BSU in the past three years.
"It's definitely a tough place to play," Graham said. "They're a good team with a bunch of seniors, and there's going to be about 13,000 people there. It's definitely going to open some eyes to some of our guys who haven't been in that situation yet. We've just got to step up and play."
The largest announced crowd BSU has played in front of this season was 11,219 at Fresno State.
Blackburn said the Broncos won't be intimidated.
"I'm ready," he said. "We've got to get this game so we can go into the WAC tournament on a roll."
