Air Force vs. Washington State - Three things to watch
AIR FORCE vs. WASHINGTON STATE (in Spokane, Wash.)
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
1. WASHINGTON STATE G KLAY THOMPSON
The 6-foot-6 sophomore has been called one of the better pure shooters in the country, and he ranks second in the nation with 25.8 points per game on 48.8 percent shooting from the floor, including 44.4 percent from 3-point range. He also averages a team-high 2.1 steals per game and ranks second on the team in rebounds (5.6) and assists (2.8). Thompson is the son of Mychal Thompson, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 1978 NBA Draft by Portland and won three NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. Klay started all 33 games last season as a freshman and helped the U.S. team win the gold medal at the U-19 World Championships this past summer.
2. AIR FORCE’S TURNOVERS
Turning the ball over has been a problem in both of Air Force’s losses. The Falcons committed 17 against Northern Colorado and 16 at Missouri State, and they had only seven and six assists, respectively, in those two games. The Falcons made a season-low eight turnovers on Tuesday in their 75-41 victory over Prairie View A&M. But Washington State, which is forcing 15.8 turnovers per game, will provide a tougher test.
3. THE FALCONS’ FRESHMEN
How will they play on the road against Air Force’s best opponent to date? In Air Force’s first game away from Clune Arena (last week at Missouri State), four freshmen played, but Michael Lyons was the only one to score – and he had five points. Against Prairie View A&M, four freshmen scored and two (Lyons and Mike Fitzgerald) had 12 points. The Falcons will need similar contributions from their freshmen to topple the Cougars. Air Force could get help from freshman center Taylor Broekhuis, who has missed the past four games because of a strained lower-leg muscle. Broekhuis is making the trip to Spokane but will be a game-time decision. Starting center Sammy Schafer (concussion) will miss his fifth consecutive game.
Quote to note: “I heard someone say they could sum him up in three letters – NBA. … They’re not a one-dimensional team, but he can single-handedly beat you.” – Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds on Washington State guard Klay Thompson.
Note to quote: Washington State’s Abe Lodwick, a 6-foot-7 sophomore guard who averages 16.9 minutes and 4.1 points for the Cougars, is the cousin of 2009 Air Force graduate Matt Holland. Last season Holland was the Falcons’ third-leading scorer. Reynolds said he recruited Lodwick out of high school to come to the academy.
