Air Force Academy – Air Force men’s basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Just before the Falcons’ practice ended Sunday in preparation for playing Georgia tonight at Clune Arena in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament, Bzdelik learned Nevada-Las Vegas, the Mountain West Conference Tournament champion, had beaten No. 2 seed Wisconsin 74-68 in the NCAA Tournament.
“I think people have overlooked the Mountain West Conference this year,” Bzdelik said. “Our league deserved a lot more credit than everybody gave it. When we play Monday night, there will be 28 teams in the country still playing and three of the 28 are Mountain West Conference teams.”
MWC member San Diego State also remains in the NIT.
Moments later, Georgia coach Dennis Felton was at Clune Arena, and although his 19-13 team plays in the rugged Southeastern Conference, he doesn’t expect that to help his team.
“We play in the best basketball conference in the country,” Felton said. “I don’t think it’s an advantage. I don’t think they (Air Force) care where we come from or what league we play in. They’re not going to spend any time being intimidated by the fact we play in the SEC.”
Tennessee, Florida and Vanderbilt from the East Division of the Southeastern Conference made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Georgia also is in the East Division.
Although the Falcons and Bulldogs had NCAA Tournament aspirations, both teams have put aside any disappointment and are gearing for a run in the NIT.
“We want to keep playing,” Bzdelik said. “We enjoyed this season very much, and just like everyone else, we don’t want it to end.”
The Falcons are 24-8 after routing Austin Peay 75-51 at Clune Arena last week in the NIT’s first round.
“We were frustrated that we came up short because we fought hard trying to get into the NCAA Tournament,” Felton said. “But I have a tremendous amount of respect for this tournament and the field this year. In many ways, it’s even more competitive than the NCAA Tournament. There aren’t any weak teams, and most teams have to win on the road to advance.”
Georgia eliminated visiting Fresno State 88-78 in the first round of the NIT.
Felton looks at the NIT as another step in his program’s progress from the despair of NCAA sanctions caused during the regime of Jim Harrick that ended after the 2002-03 season.
“We’ve made tremendous progress as a program, and it’s great for us to be back in the postseason,” Felton said. “But I don’t think we have any advantage going into this game. You’d have to be living under a rock to not know that Air Force is one of the top teams in the country.”
Georgia’s leading scorer is Takais Brown, a 6-foot-8, 250- pound junior forward who averages 14.3 points. Levi Stukes, a 6-2 senior guard, scored 30 points against Fresno State.
Georgia (19-13) vs. AFA men (24-8)
What: NIT second round
When: Tonight, 7 p.m.
Where: Clune Arena
TV/radio: ESPNU/KVOR 740 AM (Colorado Springs)
Notes: Air Force coach Jeff Bzdelik says he hasn’t been contacted about the Colorado coaching job. “I have a job, and my focus is on my basketball team,” he said. “If there’s still interest in me at the end of the season, whenever that may be, on their part, I’ll listen.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
