Colorado not on 2009-10 AFA basketball slate

Air Force men's basketball coach Jeff Reynolds said Tuesday his team's 2009-10 nonconference schedule is close to completion. Reynolds declined to reveal any opponents because "we don't have any contracts back."

But he confirmed one team that won't be on the schedule - Colorado.

"I've had some dialogue with (Colorado) coach (Jeff) Bzdelik about it," Reynolds said. "Nothing's really changed from our standpoint, and that's pretty much where it is."

Reynolds was an assistant during Bzdelik's two seasons at the academy (2005-06 and 2006-07). And after the teams clashed in 2007 during Bzdelik's first season at Colorado (and Reynolds' first as head coach at Air Force), Reynolds said he didn't want to face a Bzdelik-coached team again because they were best friends.

Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh told The Gazette in late April that he wanted to see the Falcons play Colorado and Denver.

Reynolds said Tuesday he hasn't spoken with Mueh about it but "I'd be open to talking to him - he's my boss."

Reynolds said last year's 10-21 season has not made it any easier to schedule home games. "It's impossible," he said.

"It's location, it's altitude, it's even though we didn't dominate our home court like we've done in the past, it's still that, ‘Well, it's a hard place to play.' That perception's out there."

One known nonconference contest is the Falcons' game at Missouri State as part of the inaugural Mountain West Conference/Missouri Valley Conference Challenge (tentatively scheduled for Dec. 5). Air Force also will participate in one tournament away from the academy and host the Reggie Minton Classic.

Fow progressing

Junior-to-be guard/forward Tom Fow, who missed most of last season while recovering from a knee injury, performed well in individual workouts in the spring, Reynolds said.

"We're starting to see him get back to where he was before he hurt his knee," Reynolds said.

In addition, Reynolds said guards Evan Washington and Avery Merriex, forward Grant Parker and center Sammy Schafer performed well in the spring.

Etc.

Reynolds said junior-to-be center Phillip Brown's status still is up in the air. "He's taking it day-to-day academically, and I don't think that we can really make any comments until he decides and the school decides what direction to go with him," Reynolds said. ... Air Force will begin individual workouts in mid-August, and its first official practice will be Oct. 16.