Las Vegas – Nag, nag, nag.
Air Force men’s basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik and his players know the question that comes over and over again this time of year.
“I know, win a conference tournament game,” Bzdelik said, answering the question almost before it was asked.
But no matter how many times it comes up, it’s a valid question for an AFA program that has risen from oblivion but is 0-7 in Mountain West Conference Tournament games.
The Falcons (23-7, 10-6) tied for third place in the MWC regular-season race and play Wyoming (16-14, 7-9) today at the Thomas & Mack Center in the tournament quarterfinals.
Air Force needs a victory to solidify its standing with the NCAA Tournament selection committee. A loss, combined with their sputtering finish to the regular season, could leave the Falcons sweating the selection announcements Sunday. After starting 17-1, the Falcons have gone 6-6.
“We have our energy back, but we have no more (national) rankings and all the other stuff that doesn’t matter,” said Air Force senior guard Matt McCraw, who is averaging 11 points. “We want to make a run like we did early in the season.”
The most recent time Air Force and Wyoming met, the Falcons won 88-43. But the Cowboys were missing four starters in that Feb. 3 game at the academy, three because of suspensions. Sophomore guard Brandon Ewing, the MWC’s leading scorer at 19.8 points per game, was among the missing.
“We know we didn’t play the real Wyoming team that day,” Bzdelik said. “We’ve actually played Wyoming once.”
In the teams’ first meeting this season, on Jan. 13, the Falcons won 58-56 in Laramie on a last-second basket by senior forward Jacob Burtschi.
Wyoming coach Steve McClain said the game at Air Force still is on the minds of his players.
“We had some players who had to stay home and watch the game,” McClain said. “They want to make up for that.”
Wyoming defeated Air Force 57-55 in the MWC Tournament quarterfinals last year at the Pepsi Center.
“We’ll make some changes in what we do,” McClain said. “It’s a cat and mouse game trying to get ready for a one-time game.”
Two years ago in Denver, San Diego State eliminated the Falcons in the quarterfinals 73-68.
Three years ago in Denver, Colorado State upset the Falcons 60-48 in the quarterfinals. That Air Force team won the MWC regular-season championship, gained the Falcons’ first berth in the NCAA Tournament in 42 years and finished 22-7.
Air Force men vs. Wyoming
What: Quarterfinal game in the Mountain West Conference Tournament
When: Today, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
Records: Wyoming (16-14, 7-9 MWC); Air Force (23-7, 10-6)
TV/radio:The Mtn./KVOR 740 AM (Colorado Springs)
Notes: Wyoming guards Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones provide a strong scoring punch, Ewing at 19.8 points per game and Jones at 17.6. … After losing their last six games of the regular season last year, the Cowboys made a big run in the MWC Tournament in Denver, losing 69-64 in overtime to San Diego State in the championship game. … All-MWC senior forward Dan Nwaelele leads Air Force in scoring at 14.5 points per game.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
