AFA men's basketball: 3 things to watch

Three things to watch for as Air Force men's basketball hosts TCU at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Clune Arena.

1. WILL AIR FORCE SHOOT LIKE IT DID ON FEB. 2?

Air Force had its second-best shooting performance of the season in its 56-46 victory over TCU on Feb. 2, making 21 of 38 shots (55.3 percent) and 9 of 19 3-pointers (47.4 percent). That helped make up for the Falcons’ 17 turnovers (which TCU turned into 17 points) and the 18 offensive rebounds they allowed the Horned Frogs to grab. If Air Force doesn’t shoot well tonight, it will need to secure defensive rebounds and better handle the Horned Frogs’ pressing, trapping defense, which Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said is “a style that causes everybody in the league problems.” TCU leads the Mountain West Conference in turnovers forced (17.6 per game) and steals (9.41 per game).

2. WILL TCU SHOOT LIKE IT DID ON FEB. 2?

Thanks in large part to an 18-5 advantage on the offensive glass, TCU took 16 more shots than Air Force in the teams’ first meeting. But TCU made just 17 of its 54 attempts (31.5 percent), including 7 of 29 3-pointers (24.1 percent). “We have to shoot the ball better, but in order to do that we also have to run a little bit better offense to get a little higher quality of shot,” TCU coach Neil Dougherty said.

3. WILL STARS SHINE?

In the first half of the conference season, Air Force senior guard Tim Anderson scored in double figures in six of eight games. He had 18 points against TCU on Feb. 2. But when facing teams for the second time, Anderson has scored in double figures just once in six games. Meanwhile, TCU junior guard Henry Salter, the team’s second-leading scorer and one of the league’s top perimeter shooters, might not play against the Falcons again. He missed the teams’ first meeting with an injury. He has missed TCU’s past two games while serving an indefinite suspension, and his status for tonight is uncertain.