FALCONS WATCH BYU'S VULNERABILITY QUICKLY DISAPPEAR

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jan 30, 2008 | by JAKE SCHALLER

A week ago, defending Mountain West Conference champion BYU looked vulnerable.

The Cougars were blown out by UNLV and then squeaked out a pair of threepoint victories over Utah and San Diego State. BYU made just 56 of 166 shots from the floor (33.7 percent) in those three games, including 11 of 59 from 3-point range (18.6 percent).

Then came Saturday's 83-66 victory over New Mexico.

Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds shook his head when asked about watching film of that game.

"Probably as explosive an offensive performance as I've seen all year," said Reynolds, whose team plays host to the Cougars tonight at 7 at Clune Arena.

In dealing New Mexico its worst loss of the season, BYU made 50.9 percent of its shots from the field, including 81.3 percent (13 of 16) from beyond the 3-point arc. The Cougars looked every bit like the team picked to win the conference prior to the season.

Air Force has had seven days off since its last game, a 75-59 victory over Colorado State. Tonight should be a good barometer for the Falcons, who are 11-7 and 3-2 during an up-and-down first few weeks of league play.

BYU is 15-5 and tied with UNLV atop the conference at 4-1.

The Cougars' perimeter shooting is a top worry for the Falcons. Led by junior forward Lee Cummard and senior guard Sam Burgess, who both are making 41.3 percent of their 3-pointers, BYU has four players making better than 35 percent of their shots from long range. That makes the Cougars much like Utah and New Mexico, the teams responsible for Air Force's conference losses.

Both those teams have multiple perimeter scoring threats and succeeded in spreading the floor against the Falcons. BYU can do the same, Reynolds said.

"We definitely need some good ball pressure," Air Force junior guard/forward Andrew Henke said. "We need to make sure when they catch it we're on them and they don't have any open looks."

The Cougars, however, can do more than shoot. Junior 6-foot-11 center Trent Plaisted gives them one of the best post players in the league. And heading into Tuesday's games, the Cougars ranked first in the conference in rebounding margin (plus-6.5) and first in assists (17.3). In the victory over New Mexico, they had assists on 25 of 27 baskets.

BYU also has a strong transition game -- it leads the league in points per game (75.5) -- and plays tough defense. Opponents have made 38.5 percent of their shots from the field against the Cougars this season.

If that's not enough, BYU is the one conference team that has won at Clune in the past two seasons. The Cougars knocked off Air Force in its regular-season finale a year ago to end the Falcons' 30-game home winning streak.

"We'll need our A-game tomorrow night to have a chance to win the game," Reynolds said.

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