Rebels set for Air Force slowdown

Steve Addy

Friday, Feb. 16, 2001 | 11:01 a.m.

COLORADO SPRINGS -- Coach Max Good wants 40 minutes of rugged defense from his Rebels on Saturday night, preferably in 35-second increments.

Against a team as patient as Air Force, that's the only way you can approach it.

The Falcons spend so much time probing for a good shot, it's easy for a team to be lulled into monotony. Then they finally snap you awake with a backdoor layup or a wide-open 3-point attempt.

It's not a glamorous style and it has not been especially effective, but it's the best Air Force can do with slim talent. In coach Joe Scott's deliberate offense, the Falcons have taken only 354 shots in eight Mountain West games and are shooting 36 percent, last in the league in both categories.

If you're getting the idea Saturday's game won't be picturesque, you are probably right. That's the way Air Force likes it. But the Rebels want to be sure they're ready to win a defensive struggle, the sort of game the Falcons won last Saturday against visiting New Mexico 53-49.

"They make you play 30 to 35 seconds of defense on every possession," forward Chris Richardson said. "You have to be careful, because just when you think you have them stopped, they find a way to get a shot. You can't relax against them."

Guard Danny Brotherson said, "Guys are going to get beat backdoor once in a while. It's very hard to stop all of them when that's such a big part of a team's offense. It's monotonous to play that kind of team. But we have to stay down on defense and guard for all 35 seconds."

The Rebels (14-10, 5-4 MWC) have beaten Air Force (7-15, 2-6) 11 straight times, including a 65-54 victory in the teams' Jan. 8 conference opener.

"It's a game everyone expects us to win -- and I expect us to win -- but it will be like going to the dentist without Novocain," Good said. "They make you play each and every possession. It's almost like basketball before the shot clock. They push every possession to the limit."

The Falcons are 2-1 at home in the MWC, also beating Colorado State, but now must overcome the loss of freshman forward Robert Todd. He was suspended last week for the rest of the season because of an undisclosed violation of Academy rules.

Todd, who had 14 points in the first meeting with UNLV, is the Falcons' No. 2 scorer at 10.7 per game and easily their best shooter. He is leading the club at 51.9 percent from the field and 45.7 percent on 3-pointers (53-of-116). The latter percentage ranks second in the league.

Todd's absence places a bigger burden on top scorer Jarvis Croff (13.0) and sophomore center Tom Bellairs (8.8 points, 8.1 rebounds).