AFA basketball: Future could be bright
When Chris Mooney left Air Force's basketball program for Richmond after the 2004-05 season, a group of sophomores faced a second coaching change in two years.
So Jacob Burtschi, Matt McCraw, Dan Nwaelele and others sat down to discuss their futures. Should they transfer? Or band together and stick it out?
"We threw that conversation out there," Burtschi recalled this week. "I had talked to my dad about other schools, and I know Danny talked to his dad about other schools because what player wants to be at a program where coaches change all the time? ... We did come together. At one point in the locker room, we were like, ‘Hey, let's do this.' We leaned on one another, and the rest of the story speaks for itself."
Indeed. After agreeing they all would stay, the players continued what was the greatest four-season run in program history. The class of 2007 went 90-35, won a Mountain West Conference title, advanced to the 2007 National Invitation Tournament semifinals and two NCAA Tournaments.
Burtschi said he sees some similarities between his class and the current freshmen. This year's class, like Burtschi's, has depth and talent. And this year's class, like Burtschi's, has endured early tribulations (a difficult losing season as opposed to coaching change).
This year's freshmen are aware of the class of 2007 and its legacy.
"We always talk about how we want to be like those guys," freshman guard Brandon Provost said. "They're the face of our entire program - still. So we always talk about how we want to be like that one day. Hopefully we can get there."
It will take a mighty climb. On Thursday, the Falcons lost to BYU in the MWC Tournament quarterfinals to end one of the most disappointing seasons in program history.
Coming off five consecutive winning seasons, the Falcons went 10-21 and endured an 0-16 MWC regular season and a program-worst 17-game losing streak.
But the freshman class gives reason for hope.
"It's a good group," coach Jeff Reynolds said. "If we can help them with another good recruiting class, maybe when this group is juniors and this incoming class is sophomores, we can be even more competitive."
The class includes a diverse collection of talent - big men Sammy Schafer (a 6-foot-10 center) and Trevor Noonan (a 6-9 forward), point guards Shawn Hempsey and Jon Atkins, shooting guard Provost and small forward Taylor Stewart. "They're all unique players - nobody's the same," Burtschi said.
All six saw playing time, with four combining to start 30 games.
"That's what you build a program on," said Noonan, who emerged as the potential star of the class. "I think all of us learned a ton about ourselves as players and what it takes."
If they stay together, they'll have to grow up fast. Graduating seniors Andrew Henke, Anwar Johnson and Matt Holland accounted for 60.5 percent of the team's scoring, and the junior and sophomore classes are thin.
Noonan said he expects the freshmen to "sit down and talk, figure out what's best for us and our futures."
"They've got to realize that this first year may be a rough drag, but look at how young we are," Burtschi said. "If they stay together, get bigger and stronger, they've got one full year under coach Reynolds. ... This freshman class definitely has the makings to be just as special if not more special than we were when everything's said and done."
