There is a common saying that all you need to have a good basketball program is a couple of good players. The Boise State Broncos have proven this to be untrue in the current basketball season. Boise State came out of nowhere to garner national attention after a 13 -2 start, which surprised many. The Broncos lost by four to 13th ranked Michigan State, then knocked off 10 ranked Creighton on the road. The broncos also dominated Louisiana State of the SEC, a team which upended 17th ranked Missouri last weekend.
The Broncos have now lost four of their last five games, the reason, not enough players. Injuries to starters, Derrick Marks and Jeff Elorriaga and key reserves Mikey Thompson and Thomas Broplah have forced the Broncos to go deep into a very shallow bench. Suspensions to Starter Marks, sometime starter Kenny Buckner, and two reserves left the Broncos with only seven players at Wyoming. Oddly enough they won that game, thanks in part to Wyoming's slow down offense.
With Marks and Elorriaga sidelined last week another demon cropped up, foul trouble. Both Buckner and much improved center Ryan Watkins got in foul trouble the last two games forcing BSU to play walk ons Jake Ness and Darrious Hamilton. Joe Hanstad, a former walk on, is also logging ineffective minutes. The luster of a month ago has dimmed somewhat for the Broncos as the season nears the halfway mark. A clean bill of health could set the Broncos up for a run in the second half, but many are waiting for the next injury. Watching the Broncos is like watching an episode of "House", you know someone is going to get hurt or sick in the next hour, you just don't know who.
