Falcons expect to be competitive

Editor’s note: This is the first in an 11-part series previewing UNM men’s basketball opponents for the coming season. The series is running in reverse of the preseason Mountain West media poll and concludes with a nonconference schedule preview.

For a team comprised of such steady, hard-working and regimented cadets, Air Force coach Dave Pilipovich would gladly take a season of simply knowing what he can expect from game to game out of his team.

It was hard to find a team in the Mountain West Conference last season more inconsistent than the Falcons, picked in the 2017-18 preseason media poll to finish 11th in the 11-team league. Yes, there were bright spots: Started the season 5-0, Beat teams like San Diego State, Fresno State and UNLV and were tied on the road at league champion Nevada late in the second half,

Jumped to a Mountain West Tournament record 25-0 lead on Wyoming in March after losing twice to Cowboys in the regular season. But there were also let downs:

Won only once away from the Academy,

Injuries and inconsistent minutes from players led to 11 Falcons starting games throughout the season,

Ranked dead last in the league in defensive efficiency.

“We were where we thought we’d be when we played Wyoming here (in Las Vegas in the opening round of the MWC Tournament),” Pilipovich said. “But we were up and down. We’ve got to make a stand on the defensive end and that’s what we’ve been working on, and we’ve been doing well, in practices so far.”

The Falcons return three regular starters who have averaged doubledigit scoring (guard Jacob Van and forward Frank Toohey did so last season while point guard Trevor Lyons did so in the 2015-16 season). But they also lost top 3-point shooter Zach Kocur and all-league caliber forward Hayden Graham.

So why is Pilipovich so excited about this season?

“Our attitude. Our competitiveness. Our team unity,” he said. “I really like this group. I think we can really surprise some people, I really do.”

The Falcons will try to improve their tempo (they finished 247th nationally in pace of play, 8th in the MWC). And one player who could benefit from a little faster pace could be sophomore Lavelle Scottie. The 6-foot-6 wing scored in double figures in seven of the team’s last nine games and could be among the league’s top breakthrough performers this season.

“He’s made a big jump from last year,” Pilipovich said. “We’re going to play him on the perimeter now. He can be really good.”