Is Air Force one of the most improved teams in the nation?

February 5th, 2011, 9:23 pm · 6 Comments · posted by Frank Schwab

Should have gotten to this quote earlier in the week, but with Air Force up at the half at Utah I was reminded of it. In a rather unprompted moment, San Diego State coach Steve Fisher called Air Force one of the most improved teams in the nation – all coaches are prone to saying something like that when asked a question such as, “How much has Air Force improved?” but it’s another thing to say it after a win at Colorado State that has nothing to do with the Falcons.

Here’s the quote, via the Associated Press:

“People that don’t know our league and who have not in person watched Colorado State will say, ‘Man, that was too close, wasn’t it?’” Fisher said. “This is a big-time win. This is a good team. This team and Air Force are by far the two most improved teams in our league and two of the most improved teams in the country.”

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About this blog …

I'm Frank Schwab, Air Force beat reporter for The Gazette. I've been at the paper since 2003, and covered the Broncos for seven seasons. I covered the University of Wisconsin in the late 1990s, so I'm well versed in running football teams (Ron Dayne) and defensive basketball teams (Dick Bennett). I love to chat on www.twitter.com/GazetteAirForce, and will respond to comments and emails at frank.schwab@gazette.com.

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afafan says:

February 6, 2011 at 1:32 am

That is a great compliment…and Jeff Reynolds appears to have saved his coaching career. I thought he was a goner after the CC loss.

What the hell happened the last 2 years? Is this team really that much more talented than Henke, Anwar, Holland and Parker? Did the team give up the last 2 years? Has Reynolds changed practice or strategy? I don’t think a few injuries is adequate explanation.

rjp says:

February 6, 2011 at 10:24 am

AFAfan…agree, a few injuries cannot be blamed but….last year was not a few injuries….6 concussions, 1 broken wrist, 3 broken noses, Parker’s major pelvic injury (missed 10games)…..last night on TV coverage of Utah game said in last two years AF has had 10 concussions. In the new ‘pc’ age, you hit your head, you have to be examiined for it….especially at an Academy.

Anyways….last year resulted in major playing time for all the ‘now’ sophomores and we now have a more experience team. Goes back to starting the program with no experience when Bzz left.

Al says:

February 6, 2011 at 8:50 pm

injuries happen – no excuse one way or another. I think the difference is that JR has gotten away from the dribble the air of of the ball for 30 seconds then hoist a prayer offense that he insisted on for the last two seasons.

Now,AF actually pushes the ball up court and even scores in transition…now if they got pesky on the offensive boards, they could give some teams fits… It also helps that he has more players who believe in their shooting ability…

February 6, 2011 at 9:17 pm

One word…….EXPERIENCE…..

….the same offense was in place the last two years…not the ‘players’ with the experience together!

February 7, 2011 at 8:41 pm

I’d like to see an analysis that compares how much time we run off the shot clock per possession this season vice last season. However, I understand that you are probably the president of FOAFB so you wouldn’t want to criticize JR’s past approach to running the team.