Hello From an Air Force Fan

[ltcpilot]

Hello from Colorado Springs. Here's to a good game with no injuries and I hope my Falcons can give you guys a challenge this coming week. We're 8-2 with no signature wins with our two losses to ranked (at the time) Colorado and Wichita State. You'll see a team that will start four or five seniors, attempt to push the ball up the court in transition but then settle into our hybrid Princeton/motion offense.

Biggest matchup for us will be handling your aggessive press which I've watched and know that it can be tough to break. We are a very good three point shooting team but have a tendency to look too quickly at the outside shot and not relying on that old adage of going inside-out. That will be key to us as the game goes on. Mike Lyons is the key to our offense and, for an Academy team, is the one who can create his own offense. Your inside bigs as a group will be a major obstacle for us to overcome for us to be successful. It will be interesting to see what kind of crowd you have at the 'neutral' site (yeah, it will be packed with your fans!). We feel fortunate to have a team of your calibar on our schedule.


Here's a look at my thoughts on the game and some newslinks....I'm hoping to make the trip to watch the game, standing by for late work issues. Take care, a belated Merry Christmas to all on the board and GO FALCONS

http://ricksfalconreview.blogspot.com/

[gatordd]

Thanks - Have a feeling you guys may feel the wrath from our KSU beat down. But Merry Christmas to you as well and welcom to Nuttin' but Net!

[gatorjjh]

good post airman, welcome to NBN!

[HALLGATOR]

Welcome to Gator Country and the NBN forum. I look for AF to give us a good game and look forward to the matchup. We will have an ongoing game thread on the day of the game and you are welcome to join in with us.

[ltcpilot]

Thanks for the invite.

Yes...I know you guys are going to be pissed off and it's not going to help us from the motivation point of view...you will not 'overlook' little ol' Air Force when you prep and step on the court.

But I dp hope that your aggression and desire to 'kick out #utts" might have a factor in our favor. With our empahsis on screens and backdoor cuts if your defenders get too aggressive and overplay it actually helps us with out looks and ball movement....look for slips on our passes to the breaking man for the back door and/or then kickout for the three. It will be an interesting matchup of your superior man for man athleticability (versus our players) and the intricate Princeton offense and matchup zone on defense that we will try to use against you. I hope we can play well and make it a game (and obviously want the win for my Falcons).

Looks like I will make the game so I am excited for that. GO FALCONS

[themistocles]

Good points Pilot.

Just out of curiosity, what did you fly?

Two things Academy teams never lack are teamwork and simple guts, which is frequently underestimated as a factor in just about everything in these days of one-and-dones and it's-all-for-show thinking.

Hopefully it will be a good competitive game.

[gatorbogey]

it is sometimes tough in these 'neutral court' games here in florida. it's no o'dome w/ the rowdy reptiles. nothing intimitating for the opposition. no doubt we'll have our fans there but many are rather passive spectators.

sounds like another good style to face for the gators in prep of the sec conference slate.

[ltcpilot]

Originally Posted by themistocles

Good points Pilot.

Just out of curiosity, what did you fly?

Two things Academy teams never lack are teamwork and simple guts, which is frequently underestimated as a factor in just about everything in these days of one-and-dones and it's-all-for-show thinking.

Hopefully it will be a good competitive game.

Was blessed to fly for 19of 20 years in the Air Force. First and last tours in trainers with F-15s in Alaska, Iceland and Holland in between with one tour in AT38s as a fighter leadin training instructor.

Back to ball....YES we will leave it all on the court. Weird scheduling for us makes this kinda tough for the players. Played at home on the 8th then off for finals with no games for two weeks (every player and all cadet at the Air Force Academy took a minimum of 20 credits EACH semester to include core requirements for all cadets during their 4 years of aeronautics, astronautics, physics, electrical engineering, min two years a language and more), then played last week on 22nd at Cal-Riverside, ran home for Christmas then to Florida on the 26th. Tough, tough, tough and a lot of rust on the machine in that first and only game back from two weeks break. (At least everyone is healthy and rested )

GO FALCONS

[jareduf]

Better play well or the Gators are in for another tough one...we have not been playing that well so better be prepared to battle.

[REM08]

Colorado Springs is one of my favorite cities. May even live there one day. Thx for the info on Air Force though.

[gatorbogey]

hard to root 'against' a player taking physics and aeronautics, etc; want those to succeed! i personally won't be too bummed if we lose.

[REM08]

Originally Posted by gatorbogey

hard to root 'against' a player taking physics and aeronautics, etc; want those to succeed! i personally won't be too bummed if we lose.

I wont' go that far but have lots of respect for players and teams where you see athletics being a secondary priority in college. Its rare and commendable.

[LoyalGatorFan]

I, for one, am a little nervous about this game....Air Force is experienced and can shoot the 3...while we should have a big advantage underneath, if there is one weakness on our D that I have seen this year, its that we are slow to rotate to a shooter at times...if we leave shooters open, it could be closer than some on here may want to admit...I think Gators win but I wouldnt be shocked if its 15 pts or less....

[GatorLurker]

Who let the Zoomie in here? :^)

While never in uniform I have spent a lot of time at Eglin, Wright-Patterson, and Kirkland helping out research-wise. Somehow missed physically being at Edwards, but those are the breaks.

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by LoyalGatorFan

I, for one, am a little nervous about this game....Air Force is experienced and can shoot the 3...while we should have a big advantage underneath, if there is one weakness on our D that I have seen this year, its that we are slow to rotate to a shooter at times...if we leave shooters open, it could be closer than some on here may want to admit...I think Gators win but I wouldnt be shocked if its 15 pts or less....

No reason to think this will be a blow out. I expect a competitive game and hopefully some lessons have been learned since last weekend.

[gatordd]

Ok... I'll say it... blow out.

Not a chance Coach D doesn't have our guys ready after KSU.

[number1]

Originally Posted by gatordd

Ok... I'll say it... blow out.

Not a chance Coach D doesn't have our guys ready after KSU.

I am glad someone said it. lol. I would be disappointed if we don't blow them out.

[Brewski]

Originally Posted by gatordd

Ok... I'll say it... blow out.

Not a chance Coach D doesn't have our guys ready after KSU.

Yep. The spread may be double digits.

[go82uf]

Thanks for the info and welcome. Looking forward to a great game. Definitely enjoyed last year's game there against aTm. And thanks for your service, sir.

[DoctorGator]

Originally Posted by go82uf

Thanks for the info and welcome. Looking forward to a great game. Definitely enjoyed last year's game there against aTm. And thanks for your service, sir.

Finally, someone said it.....I, too, thank you for your service. God bless you - and all the Falcons on the court tomorrow that will serve our country.