January 24th, 2006
First Impressions:
Jeff Bzdelik
This
is #1 in a six part series on the college basketball
coaches making the best impression with their new team.
Fans
of Air Force Academy basketball have had quite a ride the past few seasons.
In 2004, they surprisingly won the Mountain West title and earned their
first NCAA berth in 44 years. Then their coach left for another program.
The
following year, the Falcons went 18-12, good enough for third place in the
MWC, and the second best season in Academy history (2004 was the best,
obviously). Then their new coach left for another program.
Now
this season they are 16-3, and 4-2 in conference play – the best start in
Academy history. Will Coach Bzdelik stick around?
Keep
in mind that the Air Force Academy (as do all the military academies) have
some of the strictest academic requirements in the nation, and actually
require a nomination from a Member of Congress for admittance. There is
also a military obligation after graduation, as well as military assignments
during the summer – when most other college players are hitting the gym and
weight-room. With the pressure to recruit top players and win so great in
Division I college basketball, it is little wonder why Air Force has trouble
holding onto good coaches.
But
the former Denver Nuggets coach should stick around a while longer. He has
so far largely stuck to the Princeton offense that has propelled the Falcons
the past three seasons, mainly because his four starting seniors took three
years to learn it. But he has made Air Force into the second-best scoring
defense in the nation, as well as the eighth-best free throw shooting team,
one of the best shooting teams (ranked 18th in field goal %), and
the fourth-best 3-point shooting team in America. They also average the
fourth-fewest turnovers in the country.
In
other words, the guy can coach. He should ensure Air Force is a factor in
the MWC for the foreseeable future.
This
is #1 in a six part series on the college basketball
coaches making the best impression with their new team. Tomorrow
is Matt Doherty of Florida Atlantic.
