Air Force Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

Has it really been just a few short years since Air Force was one of the best teams in the Mountain West Conference?

The Falcons bottomed out worse than envisioned with an 0-16 conference mark last season, and not much is expected of Air Force this season.

Air Force lost its top three scorers—Andrew Henke, Anwar Johnson and Matt Holland—and replacements are in short supply.

Complimentary players Evan Washington (6.8 points per game) and Grant Parker (6.0) will be asked to become double-digit scoring options and players such as Sammy Schafer (2.8 ppg, 1.7 rebounds) and Taylor Stewart (2.9 ppg) will need to step up their play.

It figures to be another long season for Air Force even though the Mountain West features several teams in rebuilding mode.

But count on the Falcons being one of those teams found finishing near the bottom of the league, no matter how hard and smart they play.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Air Force’s home mastery over Mountain West foes dissipated last season. The Falcons were 0-8 in home conference games; they had been 35-5 over the previous five seasons.

—G Evan Washington is the first Air Force player since Tom Bellairs (1999-2000 and 2000-01) to score 200 or more points in each of his first two seasons.

—F Grant Parker was a surprisingly good 3-point shooter last season, knocking down 48 percent of his 3-point attempts, the third best single-season percentage in school history.

Last Year:   10-21 overall, 0-16 in the Mountain West.

Head Coach:   Jeff Reynolds (career 108-69); third year at Air Force (26-35).

Quote To Note:   “I feel really good about the group. I feel the best about this group, totally, with their work ethic of the other years I’ve been here.”—Coach Jeff Reynolds to the Colorado Springs Gazette on his optimism about his team.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   Air Force needs contributions from several newcomers and the hope is that either Taylor Broekhuis or David Burns can provide production in the frontcourt and someone from the trio of Todd Fletcher, Kyle Green and Mike Lyons can provide guard depth. Forward Zach Bohannon might push for immediate playing time.

Key Early-season Games:   The Falcons have a light schedule in which they hope to load up on some wins to build confidence. The toughest game on the schedule is a visit to Pac-10 Washington State on Dec. 12. How Air Force fares in the Sun Bowl Invitational on Dec. 28-29 just before conference play begins might be an indicator of improvement or not. The Falcons open with Niagara and play either host Texas-El Paso or Norfolk State the second day.

Program Direction:   The only way to go is up but it might be a while before the Falcons go in that direction. There is major rebuilding needed at a program where it is tough to attract players because of the stringent entrance requirements.

Probable Starting Lineup:   PG Shawn Hempsey, SG Evan Washington, SF Taylor Stewart, PF Grant Parker, C Sammy Schafer.

Roster Report  

• F Trevor Noonan, who was expected to compete for a starting spot, left the program and transferred to the University of Denver.

• G Brandon Provost, who played sparingly last season, departed the academy and transferred to Texas-Pan American.

• F Zach Bohannon, a first-team all-state selection in Iowa as a high school senior, is the younger brother of Jason Bohannon, who plays for Wisconsin.

• Tom Bellairs, the third-leading career rebounder in Air Force history, joined the program as an assistant coach.