Air Force looking to build offensive consistency

To say the least, the Air Force offense has been tough to project.

From a solid performance in the first game to a poor one in the second and a brilliant one in the third, the Falcons have been all over the place. The third game is what they are hoping becomes the norm.

The Falcons scored 58 points in the second half against Tennessee State on Saturday. That came right after Air Force scored 57 points in an overtime loss to Colorado College. The difference between the games was pretty simple – coach Jeff Reynolds said he counted 17 open shots his team missed against CC, including four layups.

“We talked to the team and said, ‘Guys, we’re not going to beat anybody if we miss 17 open shots,’” Reynolds said.

All the shots were falling in the second half against Tennessee State. The 58 points were the most in a half since the Falcons got 58 in the second half against Utah on Jan. 16, 2007. The Falcons shot 76 percent, hitting 19-of-25 shots against Tennessee State, the best percentage in a half since they shot 76.5 percent against Utah on Jan. 19, 2006.

The Falcons had five players score in double figures, something that also happened in the season opener. Before this season, the last time the Falcons had five players score 10 or more points was March 14, 2007. And for the game Air Force had 24 assists, its most since Dec. 13, 2006 against Norfolk State.

A lot of the offensive success was simply doing well against Tennessee State’s press defense and getting easy baskets. But there are certain things Air Force has to do to be successful on offense: make good cuts, pass it well and finish – and that was clicking on Saturday.

“We were moving the ball well, not turning it over, shooting good shots and making shots,” Tom Fow said.

The Falcons will go as far as their offense takes them. The defense has been consistent – Air Force’s three opponents have shot between 32.8 and 36.8 percent from the field, and the low mark was Colorado College in Air Force’s loss. Reynolds said he thinks the team just needs to keep its confidence to be more consistent on the offensive end.

“It depends how we grow as a unit and how our confidence grows as a group,” Reynolds said.