Jan. 12, 2007
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Site
Arena Auditorium (15,000), Laramie, Wyo.
Radio
The Air Force Basketball Network. Locally on NewsRadio 740 KVOR in Colorado Springs and KYOL 1510 AM in Denver. KVOR's Jim Arthur handles the play-by-play.
TV
The mtn. James Bates (play-by-play) and Blaine Fowler (analyst) call the action.
Live Stats
www.goairforcefalcons.com (Gametracker)
Recent Results
Air Force defeated New Mexico, 65-57, Tuesday at Clune Arena. Wyoming downed UNLV, 86-76 in overtime, Wednesday in Laramie.
Coaches
Air Force is coached by Jeff Bzdelik (Illinois-Chicago, 1976), who is in his second season as head coach. Bzdelik returned to the college game last year after 15 seasons as a coach and scout in the NBA, most recently as head coach of the Denver Nuggets. Bzdelik has a collegiate career record of 65-39, including a 40-8 mark at Air Force. Bzdelik was the head coach at UMBC for two years from 1986-88.
Wyoming is coached by Steve McClain (Chadron State, 1984), who is in his ninth season with the Cowboys. He is 151-105 at the school and in his career.
Series
Wyoming leads the all-time series, 67-23. Wyoming won two of three games last season, including a 57-55 victory in the first round of the MWC Tournament in Denver.
3-0 in Conference Play
Air Force improved to 3-0 in Mountain West Conference action with a 65-57 come-from-behind victory over New Mexico Tuesday at Clune Arena. The Falcons are 3-0 in conference play for just the third time in school history (2003-04 and `04-05).
16-1 Best Start Ever
Air Force's 16-1 record is the best start ever in program history after 17 games, bettering the team's record of 15-2 from last season and 2003-04.
Top Twenty in Both Polls
For the fourth straight week, the Falcons achieved their highest ranking ever in oth national polls. AFA moved up one spot into a tie at No. 15 with Nevada in this week's USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll and two spots to No. 18 in the Associated Press poll.
Nearly Unbeatable at Clune
The Falcons have been close to unbeatable at Clune Arena the last four seasons. Including the final home game of the 2002-03 season (a 68-60 victory over New Mexico), Air Force has won 49 of its last 50 home games. The team was 13-0 in `03-04, 12-1 in `04-05 (lost to Utah, 65-56, on Feb. 19), 15-0 last season and is 8-0 this year.
AFA's 47-1 home record since the beginning of the 2003-04 season is the second-best in the country for winning percentage, behind Gonzaga (47-0).
In addition, the Falcons have won 24 of their last 25 MWC games at Clune Arena.
Air Force Tops MWC Last 3+ Years
Air Force has posted the best regular season MWC record since the beginning of the 2003-04 MWC schedule. AFA's conference regular season record is 36-11, eight games better than Utah's 28-19 mark.
Home Win Streak at 25
The Falcons have a 25-game winning streak at Clune Arena. The team's current home-court winning streak is tied with BYU for the second-longest in the nation behind Gonzaga.
Up Next
The Falcons continue play in the Mountain West Conference on Tuesday, Jan. 16 when they play Utah in Salt Lake City. Tip-off is at 8 p.m.
Burtschi Sets Career Steals Mark
With his two steals against Radford on Nov. 22, senior Jacob Burtschi became the all-time steals leader at Air Force. He currently has 167, 16 more than Raymond Dudley, who played from `86-90.
McCraw Takes Over 3-Pt% Lead
Seniors Dan Nwaelele and Matt McCraw are in a heated battle for the No. 1 spot on Air Force's career list for three-point percentage. Following his 16-for-25 (64%) performance the last five games, McCraw regained the lead. He is shooting 47.4 percent (179-378) from behind the arc, while Nwaelele is at 46.8 percent ( 138-295). Third place on the list is Raymond Dudley, the school's career scoring leader, at 39.6 percent (285-720).
Winning Handily
12 of Air Force's 16 victories this season have been by 10 points or more. The only single-digit wins were the 69-68 victory over Long Beach State at the CBE Classic and the three MWC wins.
Eight of the team's wins have been by more than 20 points and six of those have been by 30+ points.
Non-Conference Home Streak at 31
With its 70-47 victory over Norfolk State on Wednesday, Dec. 13, Air Force has a 31-game winning streak at home against non-conference opponents.
The last loss at home to a non-Mountain West team at Clune Arena was against Tennessee Tech on Dec. 29, 2001 (64-44).
Second-Longest Winning Streak
Air Force's 12-game winning streak is ties the second-longest in school history. The Falcons rattled off a school-record 13 straight victories in 2003-04 and won 12 consecutive games last season.
NCAA Record vs. Colorado College
Air Force held Division III Colorado College to an NCAA-record six points in the first half in the Falcons' 82-31 victory on Dec. 9.
The previous low for a half since the shot clock was introduced for the 1985-86 season was the seven scored by Central Michigan in trailing Ohio University by 28 points on Jan. 14, 2006.
Starters Shooting Lights Out
Four of Air Force's five starters are shooting at least 50 percent from the field this season. Forward Dan Nwaelele leads the team at 60.3 (85-141). Tim Anderson is second at 54.3% (51-94), followed by Jacob Burtschi at 53.2% (84-158) and Nick Welch at 52.8% (66-125). Matt McCraw is the only starter below 50 percent, at 48.7% (55-113). The five starters as a group are shooting 54.9 percent (341-621).
In fact, of the 15 players on the roster that have attempted at least five field-goal attempts this season, only five (including McCraw) are shooting below 50 percent.
Four Starters in Double Figures
Four of Air Force's five starters are averaging in double figures this season. Dan Nwaelele leads the way at 15.2 points per game, followed by Jacob Burtschi (13.7), Matt McCraw (12.6) and Nick Welch (10.1). Tim Anderson is at 9.8 ppg.
AFA in the Computer Rankings
The Falcons posted their highest rating ever in the Sagarin ratings on Jan. 8 at No. 5 and CollegeRPI on Jan. 11 at No. 7. Air Force is currently No. 9 in the Sagarin as of Jan. 11.
Welch Joins the 200-100 Club
With his steal on Dec. 13 against Norfolk State, Nick Welch became the ninth player in school history to record 200 assists and 100 steals in his career. Welch currently has 218 assists and 104 steals in his career.
Tied for Second with 12-Game Streak
The Falcons are tied for second in the country for the longest winning streak with 11 consecutive wins. Clemson has won 17 straight games, followed by Air Force, North Carolina and Wisconsin with 12.
Tied for Second with 16 Wins
The Falcons are tied for the second in the country for most victories with 16. Clemson leads the way with 17 wins. Air Force is tied with Wisconsin at 16.
First to 16 in MWC
With their victory over New Mexico on Saturday, the Falcons became the first Mountain West Conference teams to win 16 games this season. Air Force tops the league standings with its 16-1 overall record and 3-0 mark in the MWC.
Tied For #2 for 30-Point Wins
Air Force is tied for second in the nation with six victories of 30 points or more this season. Texas A&M has seven, while the Falcons are tied with Notre Dame with six.
Seven Games in 12 Days!!
Air Force started the season playing seven games in 12 days, including four games in five days, culminating with its 83-59 victory over Radford on Nov. 22. Air Force was just one of three Division I teams (Winston-Salem College and Fairfield Univ.) to play seven games before Thanksgiving this season.
Three-Point Streak
Air Force has made a three-point shot in 432 consecutive games. The last time the Falcons failed to make a three-pointer was Dec. 4, 1991 in a 57-51 victory over Adams State College.
Nwaelele Shares MWC Award
Senior Dan Nwaelele and Colorado State junior Jason Smith were named Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Co-Players of the Week on Dec. 4.
Second Time With 30-Point Wins
Air Force's 36-point victory at Stanford and 38-point win at Colorado marked just the second time in school history that the Falcons have won consecutive games by 30 points or more.
The first time was in the program's inaugural season of 1956-57, when AFA defeated Colorado College, 104-53, and Eastern New Mexico, 102-69. Both of those games were at home.
Henke vs. Henke
Sophomore Andrew Henke faced his brother, Mitch, a junior at Santa Clara, in the championship game of the Cable Car Classic. Andrew scored a career-high 13 points in 27 minutes of action and was named the tournament's top sixth man. Mitch, meanwhile, did not score against the Falcons and played just four minutes after spraining his ankle on Dec. 23 against Utah State.
UNC Game Postponed
Due to extreme winter weather and travel complications, Air Force's game against Northern Colorado scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 23, was postponed. No make up date has been set.
Third Place at CBE Classic
Air Force finished third at the 16-team College Basketball Experience Classic with a 67-53 victory over Texas Tech on Nov. 21 in the third-place game in Kansas City, Mo. Duke defeated the Falcons, 71-56, in the semifinals.
McCraw Named to All-Tourney Team
Senior Matt McCraw was named to the CBE Classic all-tournament team after scoring a season-high 18 points and grabbing a team-high six rebounds against Texas Tech in the third-place game. McCraw scored nine points in the semis vs. Duke.
CBE Classic Regional Champs
With its 79-45 victory over Stanford on Nov. 15, Air Force captured the Stanford Region of the CBE Classic and was the only non-home team to advance to the CBE Classic semifinals in Kansas City. Duke, Texas Tech and Marquette were the other teams at the tournament.
Burtschi Named Region MVP
Senior Jacob Burtschi was named the most valuable player for the Stanford Region of the CBE Classic. Burtschi averaged 23 points and 8.5 rebounds in the two games, including a 24-point, 12-rebound performance against Stanford on Nov. 15, the third double-double of his career.
Cable Car Classic Champions
With Air Force's 78-48 victory over Santa Clara on Dec. 29, the Falcons claimed the title at the Cable Car Classic. The Falcons defeated George Washington, 66-52, in the first round on Thursday.
The tournament title was Air Force's third in program history. The Falcons captured the Evansville Invitational in 1972 and the Golden Bear Classic in 2003.
Air Force is 5-1 in tournament games this season after going 3-1 in the CBE Classic in November.
Burtschi Named Cable Car MVP
Senior Jacob Burtschi earned the most valubale player award at the Cable Car Classic after averaging 18.5 points and five rebounds in the two games. Seniors Dan Nwaelele and Matt McCraw were named to the all-tournament team and sophomore Andrew Henke was named the Classic's top sixth man.
