Air Force Academy – The rankings in the national polls weren’t the only excitement Monday for Air Force coach Jeff Bzdelik as the Falcons (10-1) ended practice in preparation for tonight’s encounter with Norfolk (Va.) State at Clune Arena.
For the first time in three games, Bzdelik will have all of his players available for game duty, including starting guard Matt McCraw. McCraw (sprained ankle) and backup center John Frye (cold) missed two games, but both have practiced this week.
Bzdelik also was ready to upgrade the caliber of competition tonight for Air Force’s last game until Dec. 23, when the Falcons play at Northern Colorado. Saturday, the Falcons defeated Colorado College 82-31 after scoring the first 30 points of the game and leading 50-6 at halftime.
After the win over the Tigers, Air Force moved up to No. 20 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll and entered the AP rankings at No. 24. Both rankings are the highest for the Falcons.
But Bzdelik has been more interested in talking about some areas in which the team has to improve.
“If we want to move up to the next level, our defense has to be right every time down the floor,” Bzdelik said. “Our defense has to be a little better throughout. We need to be better at everything.”
Bzdelik pointed to IPFW’s and Texas-Pan American’s good shooting percentages from the floor in the Falcons’ games before playing Colorado College. The Falcons won both, defeating IPFW 78-66 and Texas-Pan American 70-58.
The Falcons have several high rankings in NCAA statistics to go with their mention in the polls. Air Force ranks second nationally in field-goal percentage at 54.3 and fifth in 3-point shooting percentage at 44.2, and their 10.8 turnovers per game is the fifth-lowest.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
