Falcons look like serious contender

AIR FORCE ACADEMY — The bottom of the pond has risen to the top.

If the Utes can come into Clune Arena and throw a setback to the Air Force, some people in some circles will debate that the Falcons are much improved, but not conference champion material.

But you couldn't argue that point here Saturday. Air Force looked like world-beaters in humiliating the MWC preseason favorite Cougars. It was decisive. It was impressive and it was complete — even over a BYU team notorious this year for folding when they pack their lunch boxes and head out for the mean old road.

The Falcons, picked to finish last, are looking like first.

So resounding was the win here, Academy brass gave every cadet in the school a non-charged overnight privilege Saturday night.

The BYU loss, the worst beating by a Cougar team in MWC regular-season play, lifted the Falcons to a 4-1 record this year against teams who'd played in the NCAA Tournament last year. Those Air Force victims are now the Cougs, Colorado State, Milwaukee-Wisconsin and Cal. The Falcons were up 35-31 with 15 minutes left against a sixth NCAA team, Auburn at Auburn, but lost by 19 when the Tigers went on a muscle blitz in the closing 10 minutes of that game.

Here's a few Falcon facts for who is up next, the Utes — arguably the more mentally tough team than the Cougs on the road.

• Air Force is 3-0 in conference play for the first time ever.

• Air Force is off to its best start ever (13-2), the most wins in one season since 19988-89.

• The Falcons continue a school record win streak, now at 11.

• Air Force is now packing Clune Arena. Not that it determined Saturday's victory, but it helps where there used to only be janitors and security people wandering around.

• The Falcons have held opponents to less than 25 points in the first half in all 14 games.

• The Falcons have won their first six home games by 20 or more points for the first time in program history.

Now, having said all this, Utah comes here with a more mobile center in Andrew Bogut. He may be able to match up better with the Cougar-killing, 6-foot-8 Nick Welch, whose 9-of-10 shooting was almost a layup drill.

Utah will probably do something — if not more so — than BYU did, and it will probably hurt.

BYU practiced two hours in Provo on Friday and then another two hours at Clune Arena after arriving in Colorado Springs.

The Cougars came out against the Falcons flat. They didn't have any energy. The game was over in the first three minutes as the Falcons tore the Cougars apart on both ends of the court. Air Force, which had been losing rebounding wars by 5.1 a game, played the Cougars even at 20 apiece.

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