Ramsey: CU coach knows team was fortunate against Air Force
Michael Lyons came close — achingly close — to delivering Air Force’s biggest victory in years.
Clune Arena was loud and rowdy, just like the old days. The Colorado Buffaloes, vulnerable after losing 75 percent of their scoring, were in town, and Lyons and the Falcons nearly pulled out a win.
The Buffs were lucky to escape with a thrilling yet flawed 76-73 overtime victory, which left Lyons depressed.
Yes, he had scored 31 points and nearly carried the Falcons to victory virtually by himself.
He was still depressed.
“I would have rather had two points and a win,” Lyons said, slowly and sadly. “Those 31 points don’t mean anything to me. I wanted a win.”
Air Force came close. The Falcons led by eight with 9 minutes left in regulation and had the ball with a 3-point lead in overtime. But they couldn’t quite finish.
Air Force let this victory slip away.
Notice I said the Buffs were lucky to win this one. If you’re a CU fan, please don’t get too enraged. There’s at least one important member of the CU family who agrees with me.
“I’m not sure we deserved to win,” said CU coach Tad Boyle, obviously relieved. “… I’m glad we won but there’s nothing encouraging that came out of this game for the Buffs.”
But there was reason for the Falcons to be encouraged. Air Force nearly conquered a team with superior size and quickness. The Falcons obviously need some lessons in shot selection after they grab late leads, but coach Jeff Reynolds has found a formula for a strong season.
Air Force clearly has a star. Lyons was, with apologies to CU’s Carlon Brown, the best player on the court.
Lyons offered an equal-opportunity torching of the Buffs. Boyle sent a variety of defenders at Lyons, and he burned them all.
He was, no doubt, brilliant, but there’s room for growth. Lyons needs to demand the ball in the late, tense minutes. The Falcons offense is built on balance, but there’s a time to throw away the balance and go with the star.
Yes, this was a defeat, but the Falcons have more hunger, more depth than last season, and they will often walk on the court at Clune knowing the best player in the building is on their side.
Count Boyle as an admirer.
“Oh, he’s a tough kid,” Boyle said of Lyons. “He’s athletic, and he doesn’t try to do things he can’t do.”
It was good to see the Buffaloes back at Clune. This is a natural, and needed, rivalry.
It was thundering at times in Clune with CU fans and Air Force fans competing to see who could make the most noise.
Boyle grew up in Greeley, and you get the feeling he plans to stay at CU for a long time.
He looks forward to returning to Clune in the near future.
Next time, he wants to see a full house.
“Fans have to do their part and come and watch,” he said.
And Boyle will be pleased to realize this truth about his next visit to Colorado Springs.
Lyons, a junior, will be gone by then.
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Twitter: @davidramz
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