The Broncos had their shot last season, and will now be doing a lot of starting over.

Boise State was 25-9 overall, tied for the WAC lead in the regular season with a 12-4 mark, and then won the WAC tournament to qualify for the team's first NCAA berth since 1994.

All that was with the best post tandem in the league -- first-team all-conference Reggie Larry and second-teamer Matt Nelson. They accounted for 35.1 points and 16.5 rebounds per game. The other lost starters are forward Tyler Tiedeman (13.9 ppg) and guard Matt Bauscher, a member of the WAC's all-defensive team. All four signed this summer to play professionally overseas.

OK, so who do the Broncos have back?

It starts with junior guard Anthony Thomas, who averaged 8.5 points and had 141 assists, the third-best total in school history.

Boise State has eight other returning letterman, but none who averaged more than 4.8 points -- that being wing Paul Noonan, a sophomore who will be asked to play a leading role this season.

The Broncos were 10th nationally in scoring last season (81.4) with the talent and experience to play the fast pace coach Greg Graham prefers. How to replace all that scoring is big concern, as Boise likely will dip back to the middle of the WAC.

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