Some hoops notes as Air Force prepares to take on UNLV, which is tied for first place in the Mountain West Conference …
-Looks like UNLV senior guard Wink Adams is healthy. After sitting out the Rebels’ game at Louisville with an abdominal strain and then playing just 18 minutes (and not scoring) against New Mexico and scoring nine in a loss to TCU, Adams has scored 14, 20, 22 and 14 as UNLV has gone 3-1.
“I think he’s playing better,” Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said of Adams. “He’s over his abdominal injury – I think that hurt him, kept him out of his rhythm.
“Wink’s been around forever, he knows what coach (Lon) Kruger wants and he’s a big-time shot-maker. People say he’s not shooting the ball very well this year – he’s a player. He makes game shots when they need shots.”
-Check out this stat pointed out to me today: Through 19 games this season, Air Force’s starting guards (Anwar Johnson and Evan Washington) have combined to make six 3-pointers. Johnson is 3-for-9 from long range, while Washington is 3-for-21. That’s 6-for-30 for the two players who average the most minutes on the team (Johnson averages 33.4, and Washington averages 32.2)
-Johnson sat out of practice again today thanks to his injured right foot. He’ll miss tomorrow’s session and then try to give it a go on Saturday. Johnson hasn’t practiced since before the Falcons’ game against Utah on Jan. 14.
-Sophomore forward Tom Fow, who has been slow to recover from offseason knee surgery, has been cleared to play, Reynolds said. “He’s made considerable progress. I don’t think he’s 100 percent, but he’s been cleared to play.”
Why has Washington became such a crappy 3pt shooter? Last year he was 22/54 (.407) but this year he is just 3 of 20 (.150) Whats up with that?!!
I really wouldn’t have much problem with Washington or Johnson getting significantly less playing time….I have NEVER thought Washtngton has earned the minutes he is getting. I love Schaffer – but unless he can shoot a 3, he will never be more than a roll player in a motion offense. Same goes for Phillip Brown. I hope he gets that chance just to be a roll player. He was awesome in the 5 minutes he got last year vs BYU.
Does Reynolds really get what makes a motion offense work? Surely he must understand the floor has to be spread for back door cuts to open – and you need legit 3 pt threats to spread the floor.
Fow was a pretty hot shooter in high school – I hope he can deliver at the D-1 level – and play defense.
afafan –
I think with Washington it simply boils down to confidence. I just don’t see him shooting the ball with any — at the line and especially from 3-point range. I think he might be questioning himself and his shot, which hurts any basketball player’s stroke.
One thing I noticed early last year is when he shoots the ball has a side-spinning rotation — it doesn’t rotate end over end. So the ball must be coming off the side of his hand. He said he’s had that forever. Maybe it’s time to change it, but more likely, he just needs to knock down some 3s in a game and get his confidence back.
I think Fow could become a reliable 3-point shooter if he can get back on the floor, and I’d like to see more of Trevor Noonan. He looks like a guy who can knock down some shots from long range. I think Sammy Schafer is athletic enough and skilled enough to become an adequate 3-point shooter for the offense. We’ll see.