Air Force Academy – Losing injured Air Force center Nick Welch for the season has first-year coach Jeff Bzdelik conducting a practice within a practice.
“We’re looking for what we think will be our most efficient combinations,” Bzdelik said Saturday.
“We have a lot of different options. We could go small and make it difficult for our opponents to defend us because of our quickness. We could go big, too. I’ll be better equipped to answer what we’re going to do as practice goes along.”
If Bzdelik goes with a small lineup, 6-foot-6 forward Marc Holum could move to the post. Jacob Burtschi, a 6-6 forward, also has been mentioned. Or, 6-10 junior John Frye could become the focus if Bzdelik decides to go with a traditional center.
Welch, a prominent part of the Falcons’ rise over the past two seasons, has experienced complications recovering from knee, foot and ankle surgeries during the offseason and has left school for the semester.
Under Air Force policies, Welch can return to school in January, then complete his senior year in 2006-07.
“Throughout the course of our games, our opponents will see different combinations,” Bzdelik said. “The decision on Nick was left totally up to our medical staff. As a coach, you deal with the cards you have.”
Welch, the Mountain West Conference’s co-player of the year two seasons ago, said recovering from the surgeries left him far behind in his academic work.
“I fell so far behind in so many areas that I couldn’t see how I could catch up,” Welch said. “The doctors said I was facing a four- to six-month recovery time.”
Welch discussed the decision with the Falcons’ other seniors, Antoine Hood and Holum.
“They supported the decision, and their support was something I had to have,” Welch said. “No matter who they pick to play center, we’re going to have a solid team. I have felt like I have a dark cloud following me, but now maybe I can look forward to good things in the future.”
Welch said he hopes to remain around Colorado Springs. When he returns to school, he can work out in Air Force facilities and with the team.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
