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Gameday Preview: Air Force (15-10/6-6) vs Wyoming (18-9/4-9)

ltcpilot

Well-known member
From an Air Force Fan...here's to good game with no injuries. Big game in different ways for both teams. Any word on Washington? Save travels if anyone makes the trip, going to snow again.

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Preview: Air Force (15-10/6-6) vs Wyoming (18-9/4-9)

It does not matter what the name of the team is, Air Force is playing for their lives in each and every one of the final four games of the MEC regular season, play for not only seeding in the conference tournament but also for consideration for post season play. The Falcons are currently tied for fifth place with Boise State after their loss to the Broncos. Both teams have four games remaining: Air Force home vs Wyoming, at Fresno St, at SDSU and home vs New Mexico; Boise State home vs Nevada and CSU, at UNLV and finishes at home vs SDSU. So here come the Wyoming Cowboys to Clune Arena on a Tuesday game that is indeed a must win game for Air Force. In my estimation, the Falcons MUST win two out of these last four to have a chance for fifth and winning at least three would most likely ensure that seeding at the tourney.

Personnel for both teams have not changed since the January meeting of both team in Laramie where the Falcons won 57-48 on aggressive defense (holding UW to 33% FG), winning the rebounding battle and attacking the lane on offense. From that earlier game a look at teams and the results:

Postgame: Air Force 57 Wyoming 48 http://ricksfalconreview.blogspot.com/#!/2013/01/postgame-air-force-win-on-road-over.html
Preview: Air Force vs Wyoming first meeting http://ricksfalconreview.blogspot.com/#!/2013/01/preview-air-force-11-62-2-versus.html

Current statistics:

AF FG 48.3% FT 71.9% (MWC 80.3%) 3pt 38.8% RPG 30 APG 16 BPG 2 TPG 12

UW FG 42.7% FT 68.6% (MWC 59.9%) 3pt 31.8% RPG 29 APG 12 BPG 4 TPG 12



Most interesting for Wyoming is the health of their team and specifically their power forward and leading scorer Leonard Washington (13.8ppg/33mpg/9rpg) who has not played the last two games due to an ankle injury. He has begun to practice so it is anticipated he will play versus Air Force. Three other players were back in their last game (a loss at UNLV 65-42) after missing at least one game to include forward Nance Jr (10ppg/32mpg/7rpg/FG51%/74%FT/38%3pt), guard Gilmore (12ppg/34mpg/FG39%/FT80%/37% 3p5) and Cooke Jr. (6’9”/210# So F/12ppg but scored 15 pts versus UNLV after getting more minutes with Washington out.

For the Falcons, appears that everyone is healthy and ready to play. No comments on Lyon’s thumb, Broekhuis’s foot or Coggins’ shoulder. Except for Ethan Michael (still out) everyone is available. Air Force now has three in double figures with Lyons (18.8ppg/33mpg), Fitzgerald (10ppg/28mpg) and Fletcher (10ppg/31mpg) along with Taylor Broekhuis at 9ppg/27mpg.

Simple keys for this game for AF to win:

1) Go hard to the inside, to the rim, make Wyoming defend or foul. Wyoming is still playing a limited bench and no telling what condition Washington will be in if he does play. Be aggressive, find the rim, look to shoot and make them want to defend, just like in the first game.

2) Always, always, always (did I say always) start inside out but look for the good three with an extra pass no matter where it comes from. Do not always take the first open look when electing to shoot from the outside. Be patient. Let the ball do the work as we did versus UNLV. Tire them out. Make them defend then find not just the ‘open’ three but find the ‘best’ three.

3) Win the rebound war…period, dot. Be aggressive. WANT THE BALL.
4) Run in transition if and when it presents itself and, if no score in transition, run the Air Force Princeton offense like it is meant to be run: hard cuts, hard, screens, pass the ball, backdoor, kickout, reset without starting, cut hard, make them work, score.

5) Tired of saying it: Time for the bench and next years starters to contribute on both ends of the court. Time to play 10 deep and 10 deep with players that play with the same intensity and desire for 40 minutes. This game really is a ‘do or die’ game. We must win this game for the season to still have possibilities.
6) Section 8 and the fans: Snow is on the way, need fans to support the team.

This week has a lot of implications as we go to the end of MWC play:

Tuesday
Wyoming (7th/4-9) at Air Force (T5th/6-6)

Wednesday
Nevada (8th/3-9) at Boise State (T5th/6-6)
Fresno St (9th/3-10) at CSU (T2nd/8-4)
SDSU (T3d/8-5) at #14 New Mexico (1st/10-2)
UNLV (T2nd/8-4) Bye

Big game….BEAT WYOMING
 

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