Air Force set a season low for points in a half tonight with 14 in the first 20 minutes.
The Falcons also set a new low for points in a game this season with 42.
So I guess you could say that the Falcons saved their worst for last.
But, unfortunately, a 19-point home loss on senior night isn’t even close to the worst that’s happened this season.
The good news, of course, is that there’s still the Mountain West Conference tournament. Air Force got a feel-good victory in the play-in game of last year’s tournament, and maybe it can do the same this year.
There’s no reason to get too in depth with this game because it was much like many of the 14 other losses in league play – poor shooting (18-of-46), especially from 3-point range (4-of-18); prolonged scoring droughts; a significant deficit on the glass (San Diego State out-rebounded Air Force, 30-21).
And since it’s senior night, there’s no reason to go through all the dismal numbers of the last two seasons. So I’ll say this instead:
Air Force’s seniors have shown a lot of class in what has been a tough situation. They started their careers in a season when the Falcons reached dizzying heights (No. 11 in the coaches’ Top 25). And they’re finishing it with a second consecutive last-place finish in the league. But, like I said, they’ve handled it with class.
“It’s the fifth-winningest class in the history of Air Force basketball,” coach Jeff Reynolds said. “They’ve had some struggles here of late, but they’ve battled, they’ve played extremely hard, they’ve been very coachable. They’re outstanding young men, and they’ll be great officers in the Air Force.”
Jake – Do you know how many years Jeff Reynolds has left on his contract? I thought you reported last year that he was given a one year extension just prior to the MWC tournament so he would still have 4 years left after this year.
Joe Scott is just up the road. I wonder if he would be interested in coming back to USAFA. It sure seemed like a great fit.
Jim. You’ve got it right.
I just got a copy of Reynolds’ contract earlier this week, and I’ll have more about it in the blog or in an article later this week. But, yes, he signed a new 5-year contract in August. So he still has four years left after this year.
Base salary this year: $347,287.50 (next January and the Januarys thereafter it increases at a rate of 5 percent per year).
Interesting incentive: He gets 10 percent of his base salary for winning 15 games, 15 percent for winning 17.
Thanks Jake. I vote for an article in the gazette vs blog (or in both).
Great – a bonus for winning 15 games. Looks like we may see CC, UCCS and maybe even Lewis Palmer on the schedule for non conference games in the future. I wonder if he can count a home/away series with the prep school in the win total.
I fear we are in for Reggie Minton II, where the best year is Second to last in conference. Where other coaches make patronizing remarks about how AF plays with lots of heart. Where every year we have a “young” team. Where this drags on for 14-16 years.
At least we won’t have to worry about running out of space for banners in Clune any time soon.
In your opinion is there any way Joe Scott and his crew could come back to USAFA? He sure did a great job here. I think his high intensity style resonates at a military academy (and maybe not so much at an Ivy league school). Heck some of his assistant coaches are from USAFA. They are all just up the road in Denver. It seems like a perfect fit to me. Maybe AF could invite DU down for a game next year – you know Joe Scott would take us up on that. I am sure it would draw many fans.
Jim,
Thanks for the comment. I will have an article later this week that will touch on Reynolds’ contract/status.
I think the bonus (and 10 percent at that) for winning 15 games is interesting. It jumped off the page.
As for a return of Scott, I wouldn’t count on it. I haven’t talked to him and don’t know him well enough to even hazard a guess as to whether he’d entertain an offer. But I think he’s got a pretty good thing going at DU.
And I think you might be right about always having a”young” team. Last year’s squad (with 3 senior starters — 2 of whom were returning starters and one who was the sixth man the previous year — and another returning starter) was “young.”
Mueh is an idiot. He needs to go as much as Reynolds. I can not believe he extended Reynolds contract after 0-16 in league. The bonus is totally bogus too.It should be based on MWC wins, and or post season appearances. I’d like to see something like 10% CBI, 20% NIT, 33% NCAA’s. I can think of only 1 good thing Mueh has done. Pushing aside DeBerry – but even that wasn’t handled too well, nor did he have Calhoun greased prior to the push.