The (2-9) Oakland Grizzlies and (9-2) Boise State Broncos are set to square off on Sunday at ExtraMile Arena. Oakland is 0-4 in road games this season and was defeated 95-66 by Syracuse in its last game. Boise State is 4-1 at home and beat New Orleans 91-50 in its previous outing. The Grizzlies, losers of six straight, are in the midst of a challenging stretch of games versus the Orange, Broncos, and Michigan State. The Broncos are on an eight-game win streak that features victories over Colorado and Texas A&M.
Tip-off from Boise is at 4:00 p.m. ET. The Broncos are 19-point spread favorites, and the game total is 142 points.
The Grizzlies are not fun to watch, with their only victories coming over Defiance and Eastern Michigan. Oakland has lost by double-digit points to Oklahoma State, Toledo, San Jose State, Missouri State, Cleveland State, and Syracuse. Its only D-1 win is over in-state foe Eastern Michigan, ranked 301st out of 363 teams by KenPom.
In the latest loss to the Cuse, who has dropped games to Colgate and Bryant this season, the Grizzlies trailed by 21 at halftime and never recovered. Oakland gave up 95 points as the Orange shot over 58 percent from the field. The Grizz, meanwhile, were 5-for-25 from three-point range and hit just 37.5 percent of their field goals. It was a miserable trip to upstate New York, to say the least.
is this entertaining?? pic.twitter.com/iA4ntQr2fw
— Oakland Basketball (@OaklandMBB) December 14, 2022
This season, Oakland is scoring 74.7 points per game, shooting 43.4 percent from the floor and 31.9 percent from distance. Its offensive efficiency rating, adjusted for schedule, is ranked 185th-best in the NCAA, and its assist-to-turnover ratio (1.07) is 114th. Sophomore forward Trey Townsend leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.3 points on 54.9 percent shooting.
The Grizzlies' defense surrenders 81.4 points per game, and their opponents shoot 48.3 percent from the field, including 37.0 percent from three-point range. Oakland's adjusted defensive efficiency rating is fourth-worst in the nation. OU averages 29.4 rebounds per game (326th), and its opponents average 37.5 rebounds.