10/28/2026 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
As the Air Force men's basketball team prepares to open the 2026-27 season Nov. 2, 2026, against Wright State in Dayton, Ohio, they will look to improve on a trying 2025-26 season a year ago.
While the results of last season may indicate a program gasping for air, Air Force comes into the season with continuity almost no other program has. With a new head coach at the helm, nearly the entire roster returning, and a class of incoming freshman who seek to make their names known, quiet optimism has begun to develop inside of Clune Arena.
Here's everything you need to know heading into the season.
Crispin Era Begins
On March 18, 2026, Joe Crispin was officially announced as the 10th men's basketball head coach in program history, departing from his alma mater, Penn State, in which he was an assistant to the head coach.
From the jump, Crispin's primary message has revolved around helping his guys find a love for the game.
"The number one thing is just enjoy basketball," Crispin said. "You can't spread joy to other people if you're not enjoying what you're doing, so we start there. I think that's probably been the biggest thing that I've been encouraged by, just the fact our guys are enjoying the game of basketball."
Now, seven months later, the Falcons are ready to embark on the 2026-27 season where Crispin wants to embrace the pace in which Air Force is affiliated with.
"It's not hard to enjoy what you're doing when you play fast, fearless, and free, which is what I stand for. Naturally, there's an art to what that means. It doesn't just mean running around like crazy people, though that's kind of what I want people to think. I think they've grown in that, so when the games come that's your chance to show what you've been working towards," Crispin said.
The Band is Back Together
In a college basketball era of rampant transfer portal movement and ongoing eligibility disputes, Air Force returns all five starters and 14 of 16 players from last season's roster. When asked what advantages he has found coaching at a service academy, Crispin pointed to several qualities that players may find unique to the Air Force Academy.
"Continuity and solid relationships; they're learning leadership and teamwork all the time at the academy. They're teaching all the lessons that college coaches out there want their players to learn anyway, so that's what we're building on. We're taking all the positives that come with being at the academy," Crispin said. "These guys are used to putting in work, they're diligent, they're reliable, they look out for each other, they're here for a bigger cause than themselves, it's not just about them. That's what we're capitalizing on. That's what we're about, and we're going to put it on the basketball court where people can see it."
Fountain of Youth
Crispin inherits a roster in which the seven sophomores match the combined number of juniors and seniors. The head coach explained what he focuses on when coaching a young team.
"Pretty much everything, especially after a difficult year," Crispin said. "Teaching them what it takes to win and what it takes to prepare. Even though they're young, it's unique. They've played a lot of games and we're building on that. They played against good competition, they have a feel for the Mountain West, and ultimately even the losing part can be positive. They've suffered together, they've persevered, and they're talented. So, I think we can build on all those good things to have a good season."
Senior leadership has been important in that as well.
"Thankfully we have four seniors, all of whom are great, team-oriented guys who want to finish well. That goes a long way. When you have four guys who have struggled through some long seasons and want to finish well, and are willing to do whatever it takes to finish well, they've been all in. So that's been a huge asset for us from the start," Crispin said.
Along with the returning roster, the Falcons also welcome six incoming freshmen who Crispin expect to fight for playing time this year.
"I think you'll see a couple of them, which is good, they've shown they can compete for minutes," Crispin said. "But naturally it's an uphill climb to make the jump into college basketball. Grant Best is a tough player from Indiana and Caleb Fay is just from right up the road (in Denver), so I think you'll see those two at some point and maybe some of the other guys are trying to work their way in. Naturally every college coach wants to play as many older players as they can, but in our case these guys have come in, they've competed right away, and I think they'll make some positive contributions."
The Goal is to Win
Despite the Falcons' previous struggles, Crispin wants no one to mistake his goal with the 2026-27 season.
"I want to win, I don't make any bones about it, I expect to win. That's just how I operate," Crispin said. "But at the same time, winning is a byproduct of just doing what you say you're about."
He went on to explain what exactly this team is going to be about, while revealing some ways he's going to be evaluating his team.
"Number one is identity. Is everyone clear about what we stand for and are we getting better at it?" Crispin said. "When we say fly, fight, win, we mean it. When I say fast, fearless, free, I mean it. We try to keep it simple so that we're maximally disruptive to others and maximally aggressive to ourselves. That, to me, is the preeminent thing this season, and I think if we do those things, the wins will come."
Service Academy Action
Air Force plays both Army and Navy in the same season for the first time since 1985, a span of 41 years and for the first time in the continental United States since 1977, a span of 49 years. Air Force played Navy last year, which was the first meeting in 20 years, going back to 2005. Air Force last played Army in 2021.
"We'll be excited to do that, I know our guys are," Crispin said. "Being down in San Antonio against Army is awesome and then coming home and hosting Navy here is awesome."
It is just the third time ever that Air Force will play both Army and Navy in one season.
Players to Watch
Guard Kam Sanders enters his sophomore year on the back of a freshman season where he led the Falcons in average minutes (29.9), points-per-game (12.5), and field goals made (124). He set Air Force freshman records of 400 points and 121 assists en route to being the second freshman ever to win team MVP.
Alongside him comes sophomore forward Lucas Hobin who set the program record for three pointers made by a freshman (70), while leading the team in that category.
Senior forward Caleb Walker rounds out the three leading scorers from a year ago, setting a school record in field goal percentage. Walker shot 66.9 percent from the field in 2025, surpassing the previous school record of 59.6 by Aaron Benson in 1990.
While the results of last season may indicate a program gasping for air, Air Force comes into the season with continuity almost no other program has. With a new head coach at the helm, nearly the entire roster returning, and a class of incoming freshman who seek to make their names known, quiet optimism has begun to develop inside of Clune Arena.
Here's everything you need to know heading into the season.
Crispin Era Begins
On March 18, 2026, Joe Crispin was officially announced as the 10th men's basketball head coach in program history, departing from his alma mater, Penn State, in which he was an assistant to the head coach.
From the jump, Crispin's primary message has revolved around helping his guys find a love for the game.
"The number one thing is just enjoy basketball," Crispin said. "You can't spread joy to other people if you're not enjoying what you're doing, so we start there. I think that's probably been the biggest thing that I've been encouraged by, just the fact our guys are enjoying the game of basketball."
Now, seven months later, the Falcons are ready to embark on the 2026-27 season where Crispin wants to embrace the pace in which Air Force is affiliated with.
"It's not hard to enjoy what you're doing when you play fast, fearless, and free, which is what I stand for. Naturally, there's an art to what that means. It doesn't just mean running around like crazy people, though that's kind of what I want people to think. I think they've grown in that, so when the games come that's your chance to show what you've been working towards," Crispin said.
The Band is Back Together
In a college basketball era of rampant transfer portal movement and ongoing eligibility disputes, Air Force returns all five starters and 14 of 16 players from last season's roster. When asked what advantages he has found coaching at a service academy, Crispin pointed to several qualities that players may find unique to the Air Force Academy.
"Continuity and solid relationships; they're learning leadership and teamwork all the time at the academy. They're teaching all the lessons that college coaches out there want their players to learn anyway, so that's what we're building on. We're taking all the positives that come with being at the academy," Crispin said. "These guys are used to putting in work, they're diligent, they're reliable, they look out for each other, they're here for a bigger cause than themselves, it's not just about them. That's what we're capitalizing on. That's what we're about, and we're going to put it on the basketball court where people can see it."
Fountain of Youth
Crispin inherits a roster in which the seven sophomores match the combined number of juniors and seniors. The head coach explained what he focuses on when coaching a young team.
"Pretty much everything, especially after a difficult year," Crispin said. "Teaching them what it takes to win and what it takes to prepare. Even though they're young, it's unique. They've played a lot of games and we're building on that. They played against good competition, they have a feel for the Mountain West, and ultimately even the losing part can be positive. They've suffered together, they've persevered, and they're talented. So, I think we can build on all those good things to have a good season."
Senior leadership has been important in that as well.
"Thankfully we have four seniors, all of whom are great, team-oriented guys who want to finish well. That goes a long way. When you have four guys who have struggled through some long seasons and want to finish well, and are willing to do whatever it takes to finish well, they've been all in. So that's been a huge asset for us from the start," Crispin said.
Along with the returning roster, the Falcons also welcome six incoming freshmen who Crispin expect to fight for playing time this year.
"I think you'll see a couple of them, which is good, they've shown they can compete for minutes," Crispin said. "But naturally it's an uphill climb to make the jump into college basketball. Grant Best is a tough player from Indiana and Caleb Fay is just from right up the road (in Denver), so I think you'll see those two at some point and maybe some of the other guys are trying to work their way in. Naturally every college coach wants to play as many older players as they can, but in our case these guys have come in, they've competed right away, and I think they'll make some positive contributions."
The Goal is to Win
Despite the Falcons' previous struggles, Crispin wants no one to mistake his goal with the 2026-27 season.
"I want to win, I don't make any bones about it, I expect to win. That's just how I operate," Crispin said. "But at the same time, winning is a byproduct of just doing what you say you're about."
He went on to explain what exactly this team is going to be about, while revealing some ways he's going to be evaluating his team.
"Number one is identity. Is everyone clear about what we stand for and are we getting better at it?" Crispin said. "When we say fly, fight, win, we mean it. When I say fast, fearless, free, I mean it. We try to keep it simple so that we're maximally disruptive to others and maximally aggressive to ourselves. That, to me, is the preeminent thing this season, and I think if we do those things, the wins will come."
Service Academy Action
Air Force plays both Army and Navy in the same season for the first time since 1985, a span of 41 years and for the first time in the continental United States since 1977, a span of 49 years. Air Force played Navy last year, which was the first meeting in 20 years, going back to 2005. Air Force last played Army in 2021.
"We'll be excited to do that, I know our guys are," Crispin said. "Being down in San Antonio against Army is awesome and then coming home and hosting Navy here is awesome."
It is just the third time ever that Air Force will play both Army and Navy in one season.
Players to Watch
Guard Kam Sanders enters his sophomore year on the back of a freshman season where he led the Falcons in average minutes (29.9), points-per-game (12.5), and field goals made (124). He set Air Force freshman records of 400 points and 121 assists en route to being the second freshman ever to win team MVP.
Alongside him comes sophomore forward Lucas Hobin who set the program record for three pointers made by a freshman (70), while leading the team in that category.
Senior forward Caleb Walker rounds out the three leading scorers from a year ago, setting a school record in field goal percentage. Walker shot 66.9 percent from the field in 2025, surpassing the previous school record of 59.6 by Aaron Benson in 1990.
Players Mentioned
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