Maybe the biggest repercussion from Utah’s 85-79 victory over Air Force last Tuesday that handed the Falcons their first loss in Mountain West Conference play was felt outside the visiting locker room at the Huntsman Center.
The floor was shaking when AFA coach Jeff Bzdelik critiqued the game and praised Utah coach Ray Giacoletti, who was under heavy fire from fans and media after the Utes started conference play 0-4.
“The stuff that I’ve read about Coach Ray (Giacoletti), people need to wake up around here and understand they have themselves a heck of a basketball coach and a really good young team,” Bzdelik said. “They need to support the team and support the coaching staff and let him do his thing. It’s ridiculous.”
Giacoletti said he appreciated Bzdelik’s comments, but he “can’t concern myself with what fans and people think.”
The Utes not only made believers of Bzdelik and Air Force, but made it two in a row four days later, beating Wyoming 62-60.
Falcons drop in polls
Air Force’s 1-1 week, with the loss to Utah and a 56-51 win Saturday over San Diego State, dropped the Falcons three places to 16th in the AP poll and two spots to 13th in the coaches’ poll. Air Force (18-2, 5-1 MWC) moved from ninth to eighth in the RPI, which takes into account record, difficulty of schedule and difficulty of opponents’ schedules.
Wishful thinking
There’s still grumbling about the difficulty of seeing MWC games on television. It doesn’t help matters with Wednesday night’s Colorado State at Wyoming game not included on the television schedule.
Couldn’t an interested outside network negotiate with the conference and the rights holder to carry the game? Not a chance, but some officials in the league believe that some day individual schools might be able to negotiate an opportunity for special media coverage in special situations.
Comcast officials, who spoke for The Mtn., said anything such as that would be up to the conference commissioner.
“They’re just not going to be able to cherry-pick games and put them on the local market,” MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said. “Our rights holders have paid a high premium to carry our games. Only a handful of our games aren’t going to be televised.”
Snow removal
TCU coach Neil Dougherty has his way of keeping the weather in perspective. When the Horned Frogs arrive this afternoon at Clune Arena to play Air Force, it might look as if they are playing at the North Pole.
The important thing to Dougherty, however, is the inside of Clune Arena.
“It’s a gorgeous area,” Dougherty said. “I grew up in Colorado Springs so I’m used to that. I’m not concerned about the weather.”
Real twin towers
CSU coach Dale Layer calls 7-foot center Stuart Creason the most improved player in the league. Creason has become a true twin tower alongside Jason Smith.
Creason leads the Rams in blocked shots with 43, is second in rebounding with 112 and is scoring 10.9 points a game.
Random thought
UNLV coach Lon Kruger won’t count out defending champion San Diego State, even if the Rebels hand the Aztecs a fourth loss tonight.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if four losses still would earn a team consideration for the championship,” Kruger said.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
