AFA men's basketball: 3 things to watch this weekend
Three things to watch for as the Air Force men's basketball team travels to Berkeley, Calif., this weekend to play in the Golden Bear Classic. The Falcons open play against Portland at 3:30 p.m. Friday.
1. KINGDOM OF FAR, FAR AWAY
A long-range shooting contest could materialize Sunday if Air Force plays host California. (Cal plays Darmouth in the first round.) Cal leads the nation in 3-point shooting at 51.7 percent. Air Force is third at 46.9.
2. LOCAL CONNECTION
Palmer graduate Elgin Fitzgerald, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound junior at Dartmouth, has started three times. He ranks third for the Big Green in minutes (21.8), second in rebounding (4.7) and fourth in scoring (8.0) despite not playing in the last two games.
3. HISTORY AND LOGISTICS
Five years ago, Air Force, which plays Portland at 3:30 p.m. today, won this tournament by beating Cal, 49-44. To repeat that feat, the Falcons (8-2) must stop Cal's scintillating junior point guard Jerome Randle, who averages 20.2 points and 4.5 assists a game. He's fifth in the nation in 3-point shooting at 57.1 percent (28 of 49).
