Image Credit: TRU WolfPack Athletics/Andrew Snucins

By Adam Donnelly

TRU vs BOISE STATE

TRU Men’s Basketball prepares for the challenge of facing NCAA Div I opponent Thursday

Aug 1, 2023 | 4:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — The TRU WolfPack don’t start their CanadaWest conference schedule until the first weekend of November.

However, the toughest test of the season could take place at the Tournament Capital Centre gym on Thursday (Aug. 3), when the ‘Pack play host to NCAA Divison I Boise State Broncos.

“They play hard. Like, they play really hard,” fifth-year TRU guard Daniel Bost explains. “They get out there and guard, they extend their efforts up the court. They’re physical, crashing O-boards. They’re exactly what you think when you think of an NCAA Division I team.”

Chad Jacobson took the reins of the Men’s Basketball program at TRU in March when Scott Clark stepped down after 13 years as head coach of the WolfPack. This game will be the first opportunity for Jacobson to coach this squad in a game setting, well before the start of conference play.

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“To be able to play against some elite-level competition like Boise State this early, it’s a real positive experience for us,” Jacobson tells CFJC Today. “It’s a chance for me to coach the guys, for me to get familiar with them and vice versa. To get that opportunity in August, as opposed to September or October, I think makes a big difference.”

For fifth-year guard Daniel Bost and the rest of the WolfPack, playing under a new coach is uncharted territory as well. He believes the chemistry this group has built over the past few seasons will help make that transition easier.

“A lot of the guys, we’ve been together a few years. We know each other, we hang out outside of basketball. I think it’s going to make it a lot easier, especially on the coach’s end,” Bost suggests. “He can talk to us and we’re all going to be together. It’s not going to be some people are left on the outskirts. We’re all close, we’re all close-knit. We’re all going to get it.”

Jacobson played NCAA Division II basketball at Minot State University for three years, before returning to his hometown of Brandon and finishing his collegiate career with the Bobcats. Bost says the WolfPack players have seen that competitive streak in their new head coach.

“He’s a basketball guy,” Bost says. “He loves to hoop, he loves to come to get in the gym with us, works out with us all the time. Whenever you can get it in, he can most likely get in with you, as well. He’s a hooper.”

Under NCAA rules, teams are allowed to take one foreign road trip every four years. This year, the Broncos decided to come to BC and play a trio of games against Canada West opponents. On Monday night, Boise State beat the Trinity Western Spartans 134-70 and play the University of the Fraser Valley on Tuesday.

Jacobson says he’s looking forward to that challenge for his new team.

“You’re playing a team that’s got some NCAA Tournament experience. They’re big, they’re athletic, they’re very well coached,” Jacobson says. “For us, it’s an opportunity to come out here and compete. We want to set the tone Thursday night for how we’re going to play throughout the year — that’s going to be a hard-working, hard-nosed group of guys. Just really excited for the opportunity.”

Tickets to Thursday’s game are available through the TRU WolfPack’s website. Tip-off at the TCC is 6:00 pm.