AIR FORCE FALCONS
 Coach: Jeff Bzdelik |  Record: 24-6

 
Overview: OJeff Bzdelik's first season as Air Force head coach has been an unqualified success to this point, despite the tumble the team took in the Mountain West Tournament. Despite losing center Nick Welch to a foot injury before the start of the season, the Falcons have exceeded last year's win total of 18. Nobody in the country holds the opposition to fewer points than Air Force. Coming into conference tournament week, opponents were only scoring 53.8 ppg against the Falcons.

Potential Difference Maker: Air Force isn't the tallest team in the tourney field, so players like Jacob Burtschi and John Frye are valuable commodities. They'll have to step it up on the inside in terms of doing the dirty work needed for this team to advance.

On Offense: They run the Princeton-style, but it’s deceiving in that they will attack early, as opposed to running fake motion. They will look for the back door or take a three-pointer early in the possession. They will not always run the shot clock down.

On Defense: They play a difficult matchup zone. What makes it tough is that they use different formations. They are vulnerable inside, but they are so well coached that they can offset that if you try to go to the well too often.

Strength: Their system is their strength, but it’s also a great misnomer that they don’t have good players. They are not average at all -- They are very good. In addition they shoot it well from the perimeter and they will not beat themselves.

Weakness: Size. They simply do not have the size to match up with many teams.

Key to Success: If they are making three-pointers, you are in a lot of trouble. They have more quickness on the perimeter then you might think.

How to Beat Them: You have to attack their weakness up front, but you don’t want to get so locked in to the post that you get away from what you have done all season on offense. It’s also very important to get out and defend the perimeter.