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Air Force men's basketball sputtering in rematches
Today 4:30 p.m., Clune Arena
Colorado State (18-9, 8-5 MWC), last game: loss at BYU
About the Rams: If Colorado State wants to make an NCAA Tournament push, it has to start now. The Rams appear to be on the outside of the field after missing chances to pad their resume against UNLV and BYU, and can’t afford a loss to Air Force. If the Rams beat the Falcons, they still have one huge chance for a marquee win to impress the committee – they finish the regular season at San Diego State.
Air Force (13-13, 4-9 MWC), last game: loss at Wyoming
About the Falcons: Air Force shot well in the first matchup against Colorado State, including 11 3-pointers, but the biggest reason the Falcons lost 69-66 was 17 turnovers. Coming off a game at Wyoming in which the Falcons turned the ball over 19 times, ball security has to improve if they want to win today. Air Force also gave up too many inside baskets at Colorado State. The Rams scored 34 points in the paint.
Not that Air Force’s offensive plan took anyone by surprise the first time through the Mountain West this season, but it does seem opponents have adjusted the second time through.
Air Force has played five Mountain West teams twice and four times scored fewer points in the second meeting. The Falcons’ only improvement in the rematch was against San Diego State. Air Force scored 55 points on the road in the first meeting, and 58 points at home when it played the Aztecs again.
In rematches, Air Force scored 23 fewer points against Utah, 14 fewer points against BYU, 11 fewer points against Wyoming and 10 fewer points against UNLV. That’s a pretty disturbing trend going into today’s second meeting against Colorado State.
“That’s how it is in the conference,” guard Evan Washington said. “Teams are scouting, as well as we do.”
There hasn’t been one common wrinkle that has slowed Air Force’s offense down, but intense on-ball pressure has bothered the Falcons. UNLV pressures the ball, and it allowed Air Force just 42 points. Wyoming changed coaches between meetings, and pressured a lot more the second time against the Falcons. Air Force had 13 first-half turnovers, more than its season average per game, and lost 65-63.
“With more experience, they understand our offense a little better, they’re not surprised when we do our regular stuff,” guard/forward Mike Fitzgerald said. “We’re trying to work around that, try to take them off guard on a few plays. But we’re still trying to do our usual stuff because if we keep working it, it’s going to work for us.”
Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds hasn’t panicked, and after the Wyoming game he offered a reason he has given a few times for the Falcons’ recent offensive struggles.
“We missed some open shots,” Reynolds said. “Particularly down the stretch, I thought we got good open shots.”
The second half at Wyoming did offer some optimism. Air Force scored 43 points after halftime, following an 18-point first half, and made 51.5 percent of its shots.
“We were being more patient and sharing the ball more,” Fitzgerald said. “When we play as a team, we work a lot better.”
