Boise State men’s basketball vs. Washington State: How to watch, prediction and odds

It wasn’t the stat line Chibuzo Agbo wanted for his first game in a Boise State uniform.

Ten minutes. Zero points. Fouled out.

But don’t expect a repeat performance from the Texas Tech transfer when the Boise State men’s basketball team welcomes Washington State to town for the Capital City Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday at Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise.

“When you’ve waited for it for so long, it’s hard to manage your emotions,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said. “He was excited to play. He’s a great player. No one got to see it (Wednesday night) because of the foul trouble and the minutes, and he couldn’t get into a rhythm.

“But he’s gonna be a great player here. I know it. I told him that already. He just has to relax and let it come to him.”

Agbo originally signed with Texas Tech as a four-star prospect, according to Rivals and 247Sports, ranking in the top 100 in both Rivals (70th) and 247sports (87th).

He played in 45 games for the Red Raiders over two seasons, but averaged just 1.5 points and 1.0 rebounds last season as Texas Tech reached the Sweet 16. The 6-foot-7, 223-pound junior from San Diego, California, scored a career-high eight points in the Red Raiders’ first-round win over Montana State.

“He’s a microwave. He can change the game in an instant,” Boise State fifth-year senior Naje Smith said of Agbo. “I’m just excited for people to come see the talent and skill level that he brings.”

At Boise State, Agbo is expected to play a much bigger role. He started Wednesday’s season opener but got into foul trouble quickly. He missed his first two shots and went to the bench with two fouls with 12:48 to play. He picked up his third foul with 5:45 left before halftime, and finally fouled out with 7:42 left in the Broncos’ 68-66 loss to South Dakota State.

“This will eat him up,” Rice said after Wednesday’s game. “He’s probably in the gym shooting right now. That’s the way he is.”

Saturday’s game against the Cougars is the Broncos’ first of three nonconference matchups that could pay dividends down the road.

Although the first NET (NCAA evaluation tool) rankings aren’t likely to be released until the start of the new year, Washington State sits just outside the top 50 in the KenPom rankings at No. 62. Home games against teams ranked 1-30, neutral games against 1-50 and away games against 1-75 count as Quadrant 1 victories, which boost a team’s NCAA Tournament resume.

“Last year we kind of had a rough start that set us back a little bit,” Smith said. “This year we definitely want to hit the ground running with a lot of experienced, older guys. I think it would be good to get these wins in early to help us down the road.”

Depending on how Washington State performs throughout the season, the Cougars’ ranking could easily reach the top 50, giving the Broncos a potential shot at a Quadrant 1 win on Saturday. Boise State also plays No. 41 Texas A&M (Dec. 3) and No. 34 Saint Louis (Dec. 10) before the start of Mountain West action in late December.

“That’s why we scheduled these games, because there’s gonna be a lot of dividends,” Rice said. “No. 1, they’re good resume opportunities. No. 2, they get you better. We’re trying to win the league. That’s our goal.”

BOISE STATE VS. WASHINGTON STATE

When: 5 p.m. Saturday

Where: Idaho Central Arena, Boise

TV: Mountain West Network (Broncosports.com/mwn)

Radio: KBOI 670 AM (Bob Behler, Abe Jackson)

Records: Boise State 0-1, Washington State 1-0

Series: Washington State leads the all-time series 4-3, but the Broncos have the most recent win, knocking off the Cougars 58-52 at Spokane Arena last season in Spokane, Washington.

Vegas line: Washington State by 2.5

KenPom rating: Boise State 90, Washington State 62

KenPom & ESPN predictions

Ken Pomeroy, who created the popular college basketball statistical website KenPom.com, ranks every Division I team using an adjusted efficiency margin, which Pomeroy defines as the difference between a team’s offensive and defensive efficiency.

According to Pomeroy’s detailed statistical analysis, Boise State has a 50% chance of beating Washington State. His score prediction is a 68-67 BSU victory.

ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index: Washington State has a 51.2% chance of winning with a predicted point differential of 0.3.