There was a time last year, when Dan Nwaelele came to the front as a basketball player at Air Force, that his quiet personality caused some to wonder if he was too mild-mannered to mix it up on the court.
Jeff Bzdelik, at the time in his first season coaching the Falcons, even smiled when it was suggested his 6-foot-5 forward from Bothell, Wash., seemed ready to apologize when he delivered a 3-pointer. That was hardly the case.
“I’m not feeling sorry for the other team,” Nwaelele said. “I’m just quiet, and I don’t show much emotion. My parents always told me to practice and play hard and not to show off.”
Nwaelele’s expressions have changed some for his senior season, but the only showing off he’s doing is shooting with accuracy. He leads the 17th-ranked Falcons in scoring (14.6), shooting percentage (.558) and 3-point accuracy (.491).
Even with the hardened expressions, Bzdelik still is smiling. He couldn’t have been happier than in Saturday’s 60-51 victory at New Mexico when Nwaelele broke out of a slump and scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half. It came on the heels of a two-point game (on free throws) in the Falcons’ 62-41 loss at San Diego State.
“Danny is too good a shooter to have too long a drought,” Bzdelik said after the New Mexico game. “Whenever the ball leaves his hands, I feel good about it.”
Air Force (21-4, 8-3) hosts Utah (9-14, 4-6) tonight in another key Mountain West Conference game. The Utes beat the Falcons 85-79 on Jan. 16 in Salt Lake City. It was the first of three straight road losses for the Falcons, who slid to second place in the MWC race.
“We knew we had to win at New Mexico,” Nwaelele said. “We had to win in order to achieve our goals.”
Nwaelele got himself ready for the game against the Lobos with extra work after struggling against the Aztecs. He credits his work ethic to his parents, Dan and Connie Nwaelele, who came to the U.S. from Nigeria.
“They’re the hardest working people I know,” Nwaelele said. “They’re humble people, who came over here with nothing and they made something out of it.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
AFA Men vs. Utah
When: 8 p.m., tonight
Where: Clune Arena, Air Force Academy
Records: Utah (9-14, 4-6 MWC), Air Force (21-4, 8-3)
TV/Radio: Versus/KVOR 740 AM, Colorado Springs
Notes: Utah coach Ray Giacoletti believes Air Force is 10 points better at home than on the road. The Utes won by six points, 85-79, in Salt Lake City.
“Air Force plays ext4remely well in that building,” Giacoletti said. “It’s a definite home court advantage for them. I’ve watched film and I’ve seen them shoot here (Utah) and they’re more confident and just a much better team at home.”
Air Force coach Jeff Bzdelik said the Utes outplayed the Falcons in every way in the first game.
“We embarrassed ourselves,” Bzdelik said. “We were careless with the ball, we didn’t rebound and now we have to get our pride back. Utah out coached us and out played us in every way.”
The Falcons have won 28 straight games at home and are tied with BYU for the longest home-court winning streak in the country.
Irv Moss
