AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Everything about Tim Anderson is serious business. He plays basketball as if he were a bird of prey with dinner in sight.
That same intensity is part of his normal day in the face of the academic challenges that go with being at a service academy.
There’s not much room for smiles on a face that reflects the intensity needed to meet the challenges in and away from basketball.
But Air Force’s senior guard isn’t all work.
“I love the mountains and a chance to take a day off and relax,” Anderson said. “We have a tough academic load, and I don’t know if people realize what we do here in a limited time each day. I love water sports. I want to get into kayaking when I’m finished with basketball.”
If there’s anyone who could have been born with a basketball in his hand, it would be Anderson. Both of his parents played college basketball.
Bob and Joy Anderson played at West Texas State (now West Texas A&M) in Canyon, Texas. His mother then coached high school basketball in El Paso.
With his parents’ early coaching and tough games against two older brothers in the backyard, basketball quickly became a family sport for Anderson. He said it was an obvious decision when he chose basketball over soccer entering high school.
“He gets his point across on the basketball floor in different ways,” Bob Anderson said. “He doesn’t believe in being a showoff. He gets more pleasure out of making his teammates better than he does out of scoring points.”
Tim Anderson gets full endorsements from his coaches.
“He has an innate knowledge of the game and is the smartest basketball player I’ve ever coached, and I’ve coached for 27 years,” said Carl Bailey, who coached Anderson at Franklin High School in El Paso. “He’s very quiet, but when it became time for him to be a leader as a senior, everybody listened.”
Jeff Bzdelik, who left Air Force after last season to become coach at Colorado, says Anderson is a “joy” to watch and coach.
“He’s willing to do whatever it takes to win,” Bzdelik said. “He could play for any college basketball team in this country.”
Anderson has been an important cog in Air Force’s success since 2003. In that span, the Falcons are 102-44, including 12-9 this season, have won a Mountain West Conference championship, been to the NCAA Tournament twice and to the NIT last season.
Anderson entered the picture in the 2004-05 season under coach Chris Mooney and played for Bzdelik for two seasons and now Jeff Reynolds. Anderson also played for Dean Christian for a season at the Air Force Prep School.
“There are a lot of pros that go with playing for four different college coaches,” Anderson said. “You learn a lot of ins and outs from each coach. Being able to pick and choose from all the information has made me a better player.”
Anderson’s style of play is reflected in Air Force’s record book. His free-throw percentage (84.8) is third on the school’s all-time list. He’s the 10th player to reach 200-100 mark — with 213 assists and 150 steals. In the Jan. 16 game at Wyoming, he took five charges.
“I’d love to have him back again next year,” Reynolds said. “He doesn’t play with a lot of flash, but I’ll take him over anybody.”
He’s averaged 19.5 points over the past four games and has scored in double-figures 15 times this season, with a season-high 30 points against Wake Forest.
“He’s the most important player on the team,” senior center Keith Maren said. “He leads by example. When he talks, we listen.”
Anderson twice has been the Mountain West Conference player of the week this season. If the Falcons make the postseason, he could set the record for games played (currently 125 by Jacob Burtschi).
“I might be the first player that our opponents mention, but I’ll also be the first to say that winning is a team thing,” Anderson said. “I set my priorities. I don’t put all my eggs into basketball.
“I put God first, my family second and then basketball. That helps me to remain calm. If I don’t have a good game, it’s not the end of the world.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
