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Leon Rice didn’t sugarcoat a thing. After Boise State’s 79–78 collapse against Division II Hawaii Pacific, one of the most stunning results in school history, the longtime head coach faced reporters with a tone that mixed disbelief, frustration and accountability.
“We didn’t set a tone,” Rice said. “This team has to play with an edge. We let them get comfortable, make threes, dictate the game to us. Then we played desperate.”
For a program built on defense and toughness, the breakdowns were glaring from the start. Boise State allowed Hawaii Pacific to shoot nearly 50 percent from the field and repeatedly surrendered open looks from beyond the arc.
“They dictated everything we did,” Rice said. “They did whatever they wanted. They physicaled us, and then we just played frustrated.”
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The loss, in Rice’s words, was about more than missed shots or poor execution. He saw a team that lost its composure.
“We had guys acting like we were down 20 when we were only down one,” he said. “You can’t play frustrated. You have to respond to adversity, and we didn’t.”
Even the final play reflected the night’s larger theme. With a chance to win, guard Dylan Andrews settled for a contested long jumper that rimmed out.
“I wanted Dylan to attack right away,” Rice said. “He can go by guys and attack. I didn’t want him to wait that long.”
Rice called it a painful lesson for a team with high expectations, but he also saw value in the humbling moment.
“It’s a painful pill to swallow,” he said. “But maybe that’s what this team needed. You usually get what you need, not what you want.”
Asked about the quiet crowd that filed out of ExtraMile Arena, Rice kept perspective and even managed a touch of humor.
“Our fans are great. They understand basketball,” he said. “At least they got entertained with a good game even though the wrong team won.”
Rice said the players will have to earn their minutes going forward, and effort on the defensive end will determine who plays.
“The right combination will start with who can guard and who is the toughest guy on the floor,” he said. “That’s who is going to play.”
Despite the stunning result, Rice insisted the season is far from lost.
“We will fix it,” he said. “Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. I would rather have it happen November 3 than later. If we are playing like this December 3, then it is a different conversation.”
English (US)