KenPom rankings: Boise State strong on offense, needs works defensively

The Boise State men’s basketball team remains one of the better offenses in the country, checking in at No. 38 in KenPom’s latest offensive rankings.

The Broncos (13-7, 5-4) have dipped to No. 96 in defensive rating heading into Wednesday’s Mountain West Conference game against Nevada (11-9, 3-6). Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Mountain time at ExtraMile Arena.

KenPom has Boise State at No. 55 in overall rating, the fourth-best MWC team behind No. 37 San Diego State (13-5, 6-3), No. 40 Utah State (18-2, 8-1) and No. 51 New Mexico (17-4, 9-1). No other MWC teams are inside the top 75 of KenPom.

Boise State has surrendered 75 or more points in all four of its MWC defeats, including a 75-72 loss at Colorado State last week. In their five MWC victories, the Broncos are allowing 60.4 points per game.

In the latest bracket projection from ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, the MWC received three NCAA Tournament bids: Utah State (eight seed), San Diego State (10 seed) and New Mexico (11 seed).

Here is a look at each MWC team’s KenPom resume:

San Diego State

Overall rating: 37

Overall record: 13-5

Net rating: +17.93

Offensive rating: 112

Defensive rating: 9

Strength of schedule: 29

Utah State

Overall rating: 40

Overall record: 18-2

Net rating: +17.34

Offensive rating: 25

Defensive rating: 79

Strength of schedule: 101

New Mexico

Overall rating: 51

Overall record: 17-4

Net rating: +14.70

Offensive rating: 81

Defensive rating: 38

Strength of schedule: 77

Boise State

Overall rating: 55

Overall record: 13-7

Net rating: +14.36

Offensive rating: 38

Defensive rating: 96

Strength of schedule: 85

Colorado State

Overall rating: 79

Overall record: 13-7

Net rating: +10.56

Offensive rating: 103

Defensive rating: 69

Strength of schedule: 94

Nevada

Overall rating: 85

Overall record: 11-9

Net rating: +9.95

Offensive rating: 68

Defensive rating: 112

Strength of schedule: 81

UNLV

Overall rating: 102

Overall record: 11-9

Net rating: +6.41

Offensive rating: 95

Defensive rating: 135

Strength of schedule: 73

San Jose State

Overall rating: 178

Overall record: 10-11

Net rating: -0.80

Offensive rating: 139

Defensive rating: 221

Strength of schedule: 117

Wyoming

Overall rating: 190

Overall record: 10-10

Net rating: -1.56

Offensive rating: 228

Defensive rating: 139

Strength of schedule: 92

Fresno State

Overall rating: 249

Overall record: 5-15

Net rating: -7.55

Offensive rating: 293

Defensive rating: 199

Strength of schedule: 71

Air Force

Overall rating: 292

Overall record: 3-17

Net rating: -10.73

Offensive rating: 286

Defensive rating: 266

Strength of schedule: 148