Air Force at Northern Colorado preview

3 THINGS TO WATCH

1. WILL HOLLAND STAY HOT?

Air Force senior forward Matt Holland has been dialed in from the perimeter of late. In the past five games he's hit 30 of 43 shots from the field (69.8 percent), including 16 of 25 3-pointers (64 percent). "He's not rushing or forcing anything," Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said. "And he's just playing with a lot of confidence."

2. UNC F JABRIL BANKS

The 6-foot-7, 230-pound Banks is leading the Bears in scoring for the second straight year with 13.4 points per game on 62.2 percent shooting from the field and 75 percent shooting from the foul line. Banks also is averaging 5 rebounds. Banks, who earned honorable mention all-Big Sky honors last season, "can score over either shoulder," Reynolds said.

3. AIR FORCE'S BENCH

The Falcons' reserves contributed just six points in the 67-55 victory over Northern Illinois, as Henke, Holland, senior guard Anwar Johnson and sophomore guard Evan Washington combined for 61. Air Force likely will need contributions from more players against a deep Northern Colorado team that has 10 players who play 10.8 or more minutes per game.

Quote to Note: "I think (Northern Colorado coach) Tad (Boyle) has done an unbelievable job of building their program. ... I've had several coaches tell me that they're probably as good as any team in the state this year." - Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds

Note to Quote: Northern Colorado won 13 games last season - its first as an official Division I squad after making the transition from Division II. That marked a nine-game improvement from its 2006-07 campaign. The Bears' three losses this year have come to Oregon (by two), Colorado State and San Diego State.