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#55 Air Force Falcons
Mountain West
2004-05: 18-12, 9-5, 3rd
2004-05 postseason:
none
By
Joel Welser
With the top five
scorers returning, Air Force has a squad that could win the
Mountain West. The big question is the style of play new coach
Jeff Bzdelik will bring into Colorado Springs. Bzdelik is an
experienced coach at the college and NBA levels, but isn’t
practiced in the Princeton offense.
Who’s Out:
Guard Tim Keller started all 30 games a year ago, averaging 7.2
points and 2.8 assists per outing. Center Caleb Buchanan was a
nice big body off the bench and saw action in all 30 contests.
David Peterson only saw action in six games during his last
season suiting up for Air Force.
Who’s In:
Andrew Henke is an excellent
outside shooter. The 6-5 guard averaged 13.1 points per game at
Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota and should see some
playing time off the bench this year. Ben Walker is the other
newcomer who could make an impact as a freshman. Walker, a lean
6-8, 180 pound center, has solid skills and is mobile under the
basket. Matt Holland, a 6-6 forward from Dallas, has a decent
outside shot and averaged 18 points per game at Pearce High
School. Guard Anwar Johnson played at USAFA Prep School last
year and hopes to see his first action for the Falcons in
2005-2006.
Who to Watch:
Antoine Hood and Nick Welch will
take over the senior leadership role. Both are proven winners
contributing to the Falcons recent success of the last two
years. Hood, a 6-4 guard, averaged a team high 13.0 points per
game during the 2004-2005 campaign. He has a decent shot from
long range and is a tough rebounder for a guard. Welch has once
again undergone off-season surgery, this time due to an ankle
problem. Welch is expected to be out until at least the middle
of December, but if he’s back before the conference season heats
up, the Falcons will manage. Last season the Fort Worth, Texas
native averaged 12.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Projected
Conference Rank:
The starting five is experienced,
but the bench needs to be more productive. That will fall on
Adam Hood, Jared Dillinger, Marc Holum and Tim Anderson. Matt
McCraw and Antoine Hood will take over the point guard duties
from the departing Tim Keller. McCraw and Antoine Hood are more
productive scorers, but lack the experience running the point.
If they can’t handle the duties, it may be a tough season for
Coach Bzedelik. The MWC is down this year and a trip to the
NCAAs may come down to the conference tournament. The Falcons
have more returning talent than anybody in the conference and if
the new coaching staff can bring everything together, Air Force
could end up 1st in the Mountain West.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected Starting
Five:
Matt McCraw, Junior,
Guard, 9.0 points per game
Antoine Hood, Senior,
Guard, 13.0 points per game
Dan Nwaelele, Junior,
Guard, 7.6 points per game
Jacob Burtschi,
Junior, Forward, 8.0 points per game
Nick Welch, Senior,
Center, 12.0 points per game
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