Broncos Picked as Preseason Favorites, Degenhart Named Preseason Player of the Year
10/17/2024 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Three Broncos were named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team
BOISE, Idaho – For the first time in program history, Boise State men's basketball was picked as the favorite in the Mountain West Predicted Order of Finish, the conference office announced on Thursday.
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The conference's preseason accolades also included senior forward Tyson Degenhart being selected as the 2024-25 Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year. Degenhart along with senior forward O'Mar Stanley and newcomer guard Alvaro Cardenas were named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team.
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Degenhart is the third Bronco to earn the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year honor and first since Derrick Alston, Jr. in 2020-21. Chandler Hutchison picked up the award in 2017-18.
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The Broncos received 19 first-place votes in the Predicted Order of Finish and compiled 276 points. New Mexico (233 points), Nevada (219) and San Diego State (213) rounded out the top-four. The Broncos were the only team to receive more than two first-place votes while six different teams got at least one vote.
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Before being selected atop the Predicted Order of Finish for the first time this year, Boise State had been selected as high as second five different times (last: 2023-24). The Broncos have finished at or higher than their preseason predicted order of finish in nine seasons over their 13 years so far in the Mountain West.
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Headlining the Preseason All-Mountain West selections, Degenhart enters this season 13th on Boise State's all-time scoring list with 1,361 career points. The two-time All-Mountain West First Team selection and 2023-24 Academic All-American is 583 points away from tying the all-time record held by Tanoka Beard (1989-93).
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Degenhart led the Broncos in scoring last season with 16.7 points per game and was second with 6.2 rebounds per game. He also shot 50.3% from the field, which helped him become the first Bronco since 1992-93 to have three straight seasons shooting at least 50% from the field, off at least 250 field goal attempts.
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Stanley, who is entering his second season as a Bronco, averaged 12.7 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds in 33 games last season. He earned All-Mountain West Second Team honors from the coaches and third team from the media. He ended the campaign as one of three Mountain West players with 400+ points, 200+ rebounds and 38+ blocks.
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Cardenas, a first-year transfer from San Jose State, joins the Broncos after playing three seasons for the Spartans. Last year, the guard started all 30 games as a team captain and averaged 13.1 points per game on 45.7% shooting and 38.5% from beyond the arc. He has played in 97 career games, including 88 starts, for San Jose State.
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Boise State, under the direction of head coach Leon Rice who is entering his 15th year, is coming off three-straight 20-win seasons and three-consecutive NCAA appearances.
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Season tickets are available but are limited as Bronco Nation has already set a program record for season tickets sold with more than 8,000. Fans can secure their seats at ExtraMile Arena by visiting broncosports.com/tickets or by calling the Boise State Athletics Ticket Office at (208) 426-4737.
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2024-25 Mountain West Predicted Order of Finish
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Preseason Player of the Year: Tyson Degenhart, Sr., F, Boise State
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Kobe Sanders, Sr., G, Nevada
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Pharaoh Compton, F, San Diego State
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2024-25 Preseason All-Mountain West Team
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The conference's preseason accolades also included senior forward Tyson Degenhart being selected as the 2024-25 Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year. Degenhart along with senior forward O'Mar Stanley and newcomer guard Alvaro Cardenas were named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team.
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Degenhart is the third Bronco to earn the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year honor and first since Derrick Alston, Jr. in 2020-21. Chandler Hutchison picked up the award in 2017-18.
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The Broncos received 19 first-place votes in the Predicted Order of Finish and compiled 276 points. New Mexico (233 points), Nevada (219) and San Diego State (213) rounded out the top-four. The Broncos were the only team to receive more than two first-place votes while six different teams got at least one vote.
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Before being selected atop the Predicted Order of Finish for the first time this year, Boise State had been selected as high as second five different times (last: 2023-24). The Broncos have finished at or higher than their preseason predicted order of finish in nine seasons over their 13 years so far in the Mountain West.
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Headlining the Preseason All-Mountain West selections, Degenhart enters this season 13th on Boise State's all-time scoring list with 1,361 career points. The two-time All-Mountain West First Team selection and 2023-24 Academic All-American is 583 points away from tying the all-time record held by Tanoka Beard (1989-93).
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Degenhart led the Broncos in scoring last season with 16.7 points per game and was second with 6.2 rebounds per game. He also shot 50.3% from the field, which helped him become the first Bronco since 1992-93 to have three straight seasons shooting at least 50% from the field, off at least 250 field goal attempts.
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Stanley, who is entering his second season as a Bronco, averaged 12.7 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds in 33 games last season. He earned All-Mountain West Second Team honors from the coaches and third team from the media. He ended the campaign as one of three Mountain West players with 400+ points, 200+ rebounds and 38+ blocks.
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Cardenas, a first-year transfer from San Jose State, joins the Broncos after playing three seasons for the Spartans. Last year, the guard started all 30 games as a team captain and averaged 13.1 points per game on 45.7% shooting and 38.5% from beyond the arc. He has played in 97 career games, including 88 starts, for San Jose State.
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Boise State, under the direction of head coach Leon Rice who is entering his 15th year, is coming off three-straight 20-win seasons and three-consecutive NCAA appearances.
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Season tickets are available but are limited as Bronco Nation has already set a program record for season tickets sold with more than 8,000. Fans can secure their seats at ExtraMile Arena by visiting broncosports.com/tickets or by calling the Boise State Athletics Ticket Office at (208) 426-4737.
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2024-25 Mountain West Predicted Order of Finish
| Rk | Team (First-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1 | Boise State (19) | 276 |
| 2 | New Mexico (1) | 233 |
| 3 | Nevada (1) | 219 |
| 4 | San Diego State (2) | 213 |
| 5 | UNLV (2) | 178 |
| 6 | Utah State (1) | 169 |
| 7 | Colorado State | 160 |
| 8 | San Jose State | 88 |
| 9 | Wyoming | 67 |
| 10 | Fresno State | 62 |
| 11 | Air Force | 51 |
Preseason Player of the Year: Tyson Degenhart, Sr., F, Boise State
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Kobe Sanders, Sr., G, Nevada
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Pharaoh Compton, F, San Diego State
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2024-25 Preseason All-Mountain West Team
| G | Alvaro Cardenas | Sr. | Boise State |
| F | Tyson Degenhart | Sr. | Boise State |
| F | O'Mar Stanley | Sr. | Boise State |
| G | Nique Clifford | Sr. | Colorado State |
| F | Nick Davidson | Jr. | Nevada |
| G | Donovan Dent | Jr. | New Mexico |
| C | Nelly Junior Joseph | Sr. | New Mexico |
| G | Reese Waters | Sr. | San Diego State |
| G | Dedan Thomas Jr. | So. | UNLV |
| G | Ian Martinez | Gr. | Utah State |
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Players Mentioned
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