Falcons open practice for 2015-16 season
10/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Air Force men's basketball team has started practice in preparation for the 2015-16 season. The Falcons are coming off a 14-17 overall record last year. The Falcons lost six seniors and two others last season and welcome nine freshman to the program.
THE FACTS
- Air Force finished the season with a 14-17 overall record. The Falcons finished ninth in the Mountain West with a 6-12 mark.
- Air Force's 14 wins tied as the 12th most in school history while the six conference wins tied for seventh all-time. The season marked the third straight year the Falcons have won six or more conference games which is the longest streak of six or more wins in school history.
- Air Force, seeded ninth, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Tournament for just the third time in school history. Air Force defeated eighth-seeded New Mexico, 68-61, in the opening round.
- Air Force lost to top-seeded and 25th-ranked Boise State, 80-68, in the quarterfinals to end the season.
- Air Force's 23-point win over Wyoming Feb. 7 is the biggest since beating Utah, 69-43, on Feb. 14, 2007. The 23-point win is the largest over Wyoming since beating the Cowboys, 88-43, on Feb. 3, 2007.
- Air Force's 73 points vs. Wyoming are the most in a conference game since scoring 87 vs. Colorado State on Jan. 10.
PILIPOVICH AMONG THE BEST ALREADY
Air Force head coach Dave Pilipovich is already setting records as head coach at Air Force. In just his third season, Pilipovich has led the Air Force to two of its seven conference home winning records. The coach led the Falcons to a 5-4 mark this season and a 7-1 mark in 2013. Jeff Bzdelik is the only other Air Force head coach to post two home winning records in conference play.
Pilipovich has led the Falcons to six or more conference wins in each of his three seasons. He is the only coach to do three times. Jeff Bzdelik is the only other Air Force coach do it more than once (2006, 2007).
The coach has guided the Falcons to 14 wins this season which ties as the 12th most in the 57 years of Air Force basketball.
AIR FORCE IN THE MW STATS
- Air Force led the conference in field goal percentage at 47.1. The Falcons were third in 3-point field goal percentage (37.2).
- Air Force was sixth in scoring (65.6) and seventh in scoring defense (64.7).
- The Falcons led the conference in assists (15.6).
- Air Force is second in the conference in three-pointers made per game (7.6) and third in steals (6.2).
HELPING HANDS
Air Force led the Mountain West in assists with a 15.6 per-game average. Air Force set a school record by assisting on 96.8 percent (30 assists on 31 field goals) of its field goals against Western State Nov. 22. The Falcons assisted on 96 percent (24 assists on 25 field goals) of its field goals against UNLV which is the best mark in school history against a conference opponent.
AIR FORCE SHOOTING
- The Falcons shot 47.4 percent from the field this season which led the conference.
- Air Force was 8-3 when shooting 50 percent of better in a game.
- Air Force has hit 60 percent or better three times, including a season-high 67.4 percent vs. Western State. The 67.4 mark is the seventh best in school history and best since shooting 68.4 percent vs. Utah on Jan. 19, 2006.
- Air Force out-shot 16 opponents and were 12-5 when doing so. The Falcons were 2-12 when being out-shot by opponents.
TURNOVERS
Air Force had just five turnovers against UNLV Feb. 14 in the team's 76-75 win. The five turnovers tied a season low. Air Force also had just five vs. Colorado State Jan. 10. The five turnovers are just two off the school record for fewest turnovers in a game of three set vs. Colorado College (12-6-04) and Wyoming (3-8-07). The Falcons had single digits in turnovers nine times, including five of the last 10 games.
AIR FORCE 3-POINTERS
Air Force ranked second in the Mountain West in 3-pointers made per game with an average of 7.5 per game. Air Force hit a season-high 16 vs. Colorado State Jan. 10. The Falcons hit 10 or more in a game seven times.
LINEUPS
Air Force used 11 different starting lineups this season. Senior Marek Olesinski is the only player to start every game. The Falcons have started at least one freshman in every game and have started two freshmen five times. The Falcons did not used the same lineup more than nine times while the most consecutive games for any lineup used is three.
