Don’t look now, (and it’s still early in conference play) but the Air Force Men’s Basketball team has really started to come together and play the type of ball Dave Pilipovich envisioned coming into the season. Another home double digit conference victory January 22nd, beating Boise State 74-60. I asked Pilipovich what the difference has been since being overwhelmed at Colorado State 2 weeks ago. He said they have been tougher on the players during practice and the kids have responded by playing a tougher brand of basketball. And not just physically. The Falcons have been tougher between the ears. Wednesday night they trailed by 13 with about 4 minutes left in the half. Then Lavelle Scottie turned up his game and hit back to back 3’s followed by a 2 pointer. That started a 16-3 run and just like that Air force was tied at halftime. The Falcons hit big shots in the second half and pulled away for the 14 point win. After the game Scottie told me the team hasn’t had an identity but feels they are starting to develop one, and he thinks it a defensive identity. As I watch the Falcons I see Air Force doing a better job defending the 3 point shot, specifically not everybody sagging into the late to stop a 2 point try, but staying on guys on the 3 point line, making them take contested 3’s. And this team , all of a sudden is tougher to play against, and has some grit to its game. I said a couple weeks back Air Force wasn’t a tough team to play against, and they weren’t playing with a snarl. They are now, and they are a more physical team than they’ve been. Sometimes it’s not about X’s and O’s. It’s about desire and “want to” and urgency and energy. I’ve seen more of it the last 4 games than the previous 14. It’s a good trend for Air Force. And all those attributes I just mentioned are things these players can control every game. The Falcons believe, and they are getting results. It’s still just mid-season and a lot can happen, but this team is making its move and no one in the conference better take them for granted.
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