2024 Mountain West Basketball Tournament, Bracket, Schedule

2024 Mountain West Basketball Tournament, Bracket, Schedule Epic conference tournament is starting. Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Mountain West men’s basketball bracket, schedule The Moutnain West tournament tips off in Las Vegas this week and it …

2024 Mountain West Basketball Tournament, Bracket, Schedule


Epic conference tournament is starting. 


Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Mountain West men’s basketball bracket, schedule

The Moutnain West tournament tips off in Las Vegas this week and it should be amazing.

The conference is trying to earn six NCAA Tournament bids. If that is the case, there will be a team in the opening round games which by seeding is New Mexico.

This season the Mountain West has been possibly the best ever and this tournament, hopefully, follow suit this week.

The tournament start this Wednesday with the opening round games with late morning to early evening games.

These opening round games could have NCAA Tournament implications, but the quarterfinals and beyond definitely will.

FIRST ROUND, MARCH 13

All first round games streamed on Mountain West Network

  • (9) Fresno State vs. (8) Wyoming, 11 a.m. PT/noon MT
  • (10) San Jose State vs. (7) Colorado State, 1:30 p.m. PT/2:30 p.m. MT
  • (11) Air Force vs. (6) New Mexico, 4 p.m. PT/5 p.m. MT

QUARTERFINALS, MARCH 14

All quarterfinal games are all on CBS Sports Network or stream on FuboTV with a free trial.

  • (1) Utah State vs. Wyoming/Fresno State winner, noon PT/1 p.m. MT
  • (5) San Diego State vs. (4) UNLV, 2:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. MT
  • (2) Nevada vs. Colorado State/San Jose State winner, 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT
  • (3) Boise State vs. New Mexico/Air Force winner, 8:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. MT

SEMIFINALS, MARCH 15

All semifinal games are all on CBS Sports Network or stream on FuboTV with a free trial


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Wyoming Holds Off Late Air Force Surge on Senior Night

Game Recap: Wyoming 74, Air Force 63 Wyoming Holds Off Late Air Force Surge on Senior Night Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire The Cowboys leaned heavily on their seniors to secure their final home win of the season. As the college basketball …

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 Game Recap: Wyoming 74, Air Force 63


Wyoming Holds Off Late Air Force Surge on Senior Night


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

The Cowboys leaned heavily on their seniors to secure their final home win of the season.

As the college basketball season is nearing it’s end in most conferences around the country. Fans around the Mountain West still have one more week of the regular season to go before they find their way to Sin City next week to end things the proper way, via net cutting.

Kicking Tuesday night’s action off was senior night in Laramie. With five players celebrating their Cowboy careers, looking for one last win against the visiting Air Force Falcons.

Wyoming came into this one also hoping to end a four game losing streak, which included two losses at home & two more on the road against teams from the top-half of the conference standings. Nothing to bat an eye at given how fierce Mountain West play has really been this season.

Just ask Air Force, who are riding a two game losing streak themselves. Falling by double-digits to league leaders Boise State & Utah State last week. Although the Falcons are likely also grateful they were able to end a seven game losing streak the week before with an upset win at New Mexico.

So to say the conference title would be up for grabs for grabs or a postseason appearance being on the line in Laramie on Tuesday night is far fetched. It didn’t stop either team from giving it everything they had inside the Arena-Auditorium.

Air Force has been known to start things very quickly this season, taking quick leads right out of the gate all season. Their only problem is letting the other team take control & beat them, usually in the second-half. Tuesday night was no different, as the Falcons scored the first six points of the night, thanks to back-to-back three pointers from Beau Becker & Byron Brown.

On the other side of the court, their hosts struggled as well. With Sam Griffin getting things started for the Cowboys with a three pointer of his own after four straight misses for Wyoming after tip-off.

It wouldn’t be that way for long. As senior Kenny Foster started what would become a 7-0 run with a layup in the paint.

A Luke Kearney three-pointer at the top of the arc ended that scoring drought to bring Air Force to within one just under the ten minute mark. After, a Wenzel layup on the other end extended their deficit by three.

Jeffrey Mills would tie things up at 15 a piece with his own three-pointer & not let the play end there by securing a steal off the Wyoming inbound while the rest of his team was already jogging back to play defense. Kearney utilized a turnaround jumper at the top of the key to give the Falcons back the lead at 17-15.

Ethan Taylor was able to put some points on the board with yet another Falcon three-pointer out of the timeout. As the first-half clock continued to wind down without much scoring on either side. Griffin netted his second three-point field goal of the night to put Wyoming back on top before a mass substitution by Jeff Linder. As fans yearned for scoring in the last closing minutes of the first-half, each squad finally answered.

After scoring runs on both sides of the ball, both teams went to their locker rooms after the half-time buzzer with Wyoming up 27-22.

Air Force was able to stay in competitive in the first twenty of minutes of play via their shooting from behind the arc. Which should be a no brainer at this point of the season. Entering half-time with a 5-14 (35.7%) shooting performance, which at times made them look dangerous. While their 8-24 (33.3%) shooting from the floor made them look vulnerable.

Luke Kearney led the Falcons with 7 first-half points off of 3-8 shooting in just eight minutes on the floor.

On the other side it was a cool & calm 14 points from Sam Griffin that led the way for the Cowboys. Including an impressive 3-5 shooting performance from beyond the arc, while the rest of his team shot a bleak 1-7 combined.

Neither team heard much of the whistle blown in the first-half & only made a combined five trips to the charity stripe. Air Force has built a bit of a reputation for hanging around and even leading teams in the first-half before fizzling out in the second.

Sometimes patterns & reputation are to be trusted for what they are. As the Falcons came out swinging, they just didn’t manage to hit anything fresh out of half-time. Wyoming wasn’t really dialed in either. Finding their first four points via the free throw line before they went on an unanswered 14-0 run in the first six minutes out of the break.

Jeffrey Mills finally ended that horrid shooting streak with another Falcon three-pointer. Air Force would proceed to put every previously mentioned notion about their second-half play to bed for the next seven minutes. Outscoring their hosts 21-12 during that time to bring their deficit to single-digits (53-44).

Wyoming grew their lead to double figures once again, capitalizing off of four straight made free throws. Air Force wasn’t out of steam just yet, with back-to-back three-point jumpers from Mills & Kearney in consecutive possessions.

Wenzel attempted to extend the home squad’s lead with an and-one opportunity down low. Which worked, before a couple of Air Force attempts on the other end lead to another Jeffrey Mills three-pointer shrank the deficit to it’s smallest all half to just 60-56.

It didn’t stop there as each side exchanged shots from inside the paint & beyond the arc as they approached the final two minutes of the game. Scoring leaders Brendan Wenzel & Jeffrey Mills continued to exchange buckets before Joe Scott called timeout to end the firefight.

After the timeout freshman Cam Manyawu found himself with the ball in the paint but couldn’t capitalize.

Air Force took possession & ran down to the other end, but made a fatal mistake. After staying in this one thanks to their three-point shooting, they held on to the ball too long & settled for a mid-range jumper. It didn’t go in & Akuel Kot went on to make four straight free throw attempts.

Air Force missed two straight three-pointers during that same time & the night was over. Wyoming escaped with their last home win of the season, holding strong to secure the 74-63 win over Air Force.

The Falcons went home with another loss in conference play, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Finding more offensive success in the second-half, shooting 48.1% (13-27) from the floor, 85.7% (6-7) from the free throw line & 40.9% (9-22) from three-point range. It was a great performance, but the home team played just a tad bit better.

The Cowboys were on absolute fire in the second-half; shooting 14-26 (53.8%) from the floor, 4-8 (50%) from deep & a surgical 15-16 (93.8%) from the charity stripe. Mostly thanks to a whopping 19 points from Akuel Kot & 15 points from Brendan Wenzel, two Cowboys playing their last games inside Arena-Auditorium.

Yes, the Cowboys were the favorites heading into this one, but as we’ve seen all season, no one is immune to the upset this year. Jeff Linder’s group stood tall & matched the Falcons’ energy all game & kept the last possible home win of the season at home on senior night.

Player Spotlights

Air Force GJeffrey Mills & Byron Brown

Stat line: Mills-17 points & 3 assists on 6-8 shooting (75%) from the floor & 5-7 (71.4%) from deep in just 24 minutes of action Brown-16 points on 6-13 (46.1%) shooting & 33.3% from deep in just 23 minutes of action

It was time for a co-player spotlight for Air Force. Jeffrey Mills had a very clutch 24 minutes on the floor. Scoring 14 of his team-high 17 points in the second-half & keeping the Cowboys on their toes in the process.

While Brown enjoyed a career high 16 points in just 23 minutes of play time. And in my opinion, helped Mills bring the Falcons to within striking distance with 11 of his points coming after half-time.

Wyoming G-Akuel Kot

Stat line: 19 points, 2 rebounds, & 2 assists on 6-13 shooting (46.1%) from the floor & 6-6 (100%) from the line in 35 minutes of action

The D-II transfer who celebrated his lone season in Laramie on senior night was huge for the Cowboys. Kot was one of three players to score 19+ points against the Falcons. But he scored all 19 of his points in the second-half. Keeping Air Force at bay as their guests brought the lead to within a few possessions late in the game, but Kot was there to get the job done.

Next Up:

Wyoming finishes out their regular season in Fresno on Saturday. The Bulldogs will be fighting for their last win of the regular season with no tangible stakes on the line aside from winning momentum heading to Las Vegas.

Fresno State is looking to end a five game losing streak tomorrow night against New Mexico before they host the Cowboys on Saturday. That game tips off at 5:00 PM MT and can be streamed on the Mountain West Network.

Air Force heads home to finish out their regular season against in-state conference foe Colorado State. The Rams will travel to Colorado Springs for their last game of the regular season after winning the second-leg of their basketball version of the boarder war last Saturday.

That matchup tips off at 2:00 PM MT and can be streamed on the Mountain West Network Saturday March 9th.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule

2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule The schedule is out! Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Get ready for some football! The Mountain West released its football schedule for this fall, without TV schedules so there could be changes. The league …

2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule


The schedule is out!


Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Get ready for some football!

The Mountain West released its football schedule for this fall, without TV schedules so there could be changes.

The league includes Washington State and Oregon State which are quasi-members of the Mountain West.

Those two schools will play seven games against the Mountain West but they are not eligible to win the conference title.

Television assignments for Fox and CBS will be released at a later date.

Saturday, Aug. 24

Delaware State at Hawai‘i
SMU at Nevada
Montana State at New Mexico

Thursday, Aug. 29

Sacramento State at San José State

Saturday, Aug. 31

Merrimack at Air Force
Boise State at Georgia Southern
Colorado State at Texas
Fresno State at Michigan
UCLA at Hawai‘i
Nevada at Troy
New Mexico at Arizona
Texas A&M Commerce at San Diego State
UNLV at Houston
Robert Morris at Utah State
Wyoming at Arizona State
Idaho State at Oregon State
Portland State at Washington State

Saturday, September 7

San José State at Air Force
Boise State at Oregon
Northern Colorado at Colorado State
Sacramento State at Fresno State
Georgia Southern at Nevada
Oregon State at San Diego State
Utah Tech at UNLV
Utah State at USC
Idaho at Wyoming
Texas Tech at Washington State

Saturday, September 14

Air Force at Baylor
Colorado at Colorado State
New Mexico State at Fresno State
Hawai‘i at Sam Houston
Nevada at Minnesota
New Mexico at Auburn
San Diego State at California
Kennesaw State at San José State
UNLV vs. KansasUtah at Utah State
BYU at Wyoming
Oregon at Oregon State
Washington State vs. Washington

Saturday, September 21

Portland State at Boise State
UTEP at Colorado State
Fresno State at New Mexico
Northern Iowa at Hawai‘i
Eastern Washington at Nevada
San José State at Washington State
Utah State at Temple
Wyoming at North Texas
Purdue at Oregon State

Saturday, September 28

Air Force at Wyoming
Washington State at Boise State
Fresno State at UNLV
New Mexico at New Mexico State
San Diego State at Central Michigan

Saturday, October 5

Navy at Air Force
Utah State at Boise State
Colorado State at Oregon State
Hawai‘i at San Diego State
Nevada at San José State
Syracuse at UNLV

Saturday, October 12

Air Force at New Mexico
Boise State at Hawai‘i
San José State at Colorado State
Washington State at Fresno State
Oregon State at Nevada
San Diego State at Wyoming
UNLV at Utah State

Saturday, October 19

Colorado State at Air Force
Fresno State at Nevada
Hawai‘i at Washington State
New Mexico at Utah State
Wyoming at San José State
UNLV at Oregon State

Saturday, October 26

Boise State at UNLV
New Mexico at Colorado State
San José State at Fresno State
Nevada at Hawai‘i
Washington State at San Diego State
Utah State at Wyoming
Oregon State at California

Saturday, November 2

Air Force at Army
San Diego State at Boise State
Colorado State at Nevada
Hawai‘i at Fresno State
Wyoming at New Mexico

Saturday, November 9

Fresno State at Air Force
Nevada at Boise State
UNLV at Hawai‘i
New Mexico at San Diego State
San José State at Oregon State
Utah State at Washington State

Saturday, November 16

Oregon State at Air Force
Boise State at San José State
Wyoming at Colorado State
Hawai‘i at Utah State
Washington State at New Mexico
San Diego State at UNLV

Saturday, November 23

Air Force at Nevada
Boise State at Wyoming
Colorado State at Fresno State
San Diego State at Utah State
UNLV at San José State
Washington State at Oregon State

Saturday, November 30

Air Force at San Diego State
Oregon State at Boise State
Utah State at Colorado State
Fresno State at UCLA
New Mexico at Hawai‘i
Nevada at UNLV
Stanford at San José State
Wyoming at Washington State

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Air Force vs. Fresno State: Both squads looking for conference win two

The Bulldogs host Air Force at home WHO: Air Force ( 8-10, 1-5 in the MW) Vs Fresno State (8-11, 1-5 in the MW) WHEN: Saturday, January 27th, 4:30 PM PT WHERE: Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA TV: Mountain West Network STREAM: FuboTV – Get a free trial …

The Bulldogs host Air Force at home

WHO:  Air Force ( 8-10, 1-5 in the MW) Vs Fresno State (8-11, 1-5 in the MW)

WHEN: Saturday, January 27th, 4:30 PM PT

WHERE:  Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA

TV: Mountain West Network

STREAM: FuboTV — Get a free trial

Line: The Bulldogs are favored by – 4.5

Both teams enter this matchup with identical records, both situated at the bottom of the Mountain West standings. The Air Falcons recently broke an eight-game losing streak with a road victory over the UNLV Rebels. On the other side, the Fresno State Bulldogs are coming off a close loss to Boise State (72-68). The previous two games at the Save Mart Center were decided by four points, suggesting another closely contested battle tonight.

Keys to the Game:

Second Chance Opportunities:

In what is expected to be a slow-paced, physical, and scrappy game between two inconsistent teams, the battle for rebounds becomes crucial. The teams’ occasional struggles in rebounding make second-chance opportunities a key factor for victory. The performances of Junior Enoch Boakye and Senior Eduardo Andre will likely play a significant role for the Bulldogs. Keep an eye on Senior Leo Colimerio, a wing with great size, who could make an impact, especially against smaller lineups.

Guard Play:

The success of the Bulldogs heavily relies on the performance of their three Senior guards – Isaiah Hill, Isaiah Pope, and Donavan Yap Jr. The offense operates at a different level when these guards are aggressive and actively looking to score. The pivotal factor will be the version of Isaiah Hill that shows up today – whether he’s the guard capable of driving to the rim and creating his own shot, as seen against San Jose State, or the play-making guard looking to set up teammates. Donavan Yap Jr. has been a consistent scorer, especially in late-game situations, and if he gets going early, it could give the Bulldogs an early advantage. Additionally, Pope’s contributions in creating plays and crashing the glass have been crucial, scoring nine or more points in each of the last five games as well. 

Predictions:

Both teams, with eight wins, have had their struggles this season. Air Force comes off a notable win, while the Bulldogs are recovering from a hard-fought loss. The Bulldogs have played solid basketball at home recently, a trend expected to continue tonight. The Bulldogs’ guards, with their dynamic play, are predicted to be the difference-makers in this closely contested game.

 

Final Prediction:

Air Force 63 – 72 Fresno Stat

 

New Mexico vs. Air Force: Game Preview, Odds, How To Watch

New Mexico vs. Air Force: Game Preview, Odds, How To Watch Lobos take to the road to face the Falcons Follow @MWCwire Can New Mexico get a road win? Game: New Mexico Lobos vs Air Force Falcons Date: Saturday, January 20, 2024 Location: Clune Arena …

New Mexico vs. Air Force: Game Preview, Odds, How To Watch


Lobos take to the road to face the Falcons


Follow @MWCwire

Can New Mexico get a road win?

Game: New Mexico Lobos vs Air Force Falcons

Date: Saturday, January 20, 2024

Location: Clune Arena in Colorado Springs, CO

Time: 2:00 pm, MT

TV: CBS Sports Network

Stream: FuboTV — get a free trial

Radio:  77kob Albuquerque  96.3 FM Robert Portnoy/Hunter Greene

Overall Series: New Mexico leads 65-26

The upcoming Saturday matchup at Clune Arena between the New Mexico Lobos (15-3, 3-2 MWC) and the Air Force Falcons (7-9, 0-4 MWC) is anticipated to favor the team from Albuquerque.  

The New Mexico men’s basketball team aims for a third consecutive victory as they embark on a two-game road trip, starting Saturday at Air Force.

The game starts at 2:00 pm at Clune Arena and will air on CBS Sports Network and the Lobo Radio Network.

With a season record of 15-3 (3-2 in the Mountain West), the Lobos secured two impressive wins against ranked opponents – defeating No. 19 San Diego State and No. 16 Utah State. 

Currently holding a 7-9 overall record and a 0-4 standing in the Mountain West, Air Force is recovering from an overtime loss against Colorado State on Tuesday.

 The dynamic duo of Rytis Petraitis and Ethan Taylor leads the Falcons, each boasting an average of 17.2 points per game.

 Last season, the teams evenly split their two meetings, securing victories on their respective home courts, both in Albuquerque and Colorado Springs. 

 In the 2021-22 season series, the Lobos dominated, sweeping both encounters, including a 91-77 win at Clune Arena, where Jaelen House shone with a career-high 42 points.

Looking ahead, the Lobos will wrap up their two-game road trip with a Wednesday visit to San Jose State. The Bay Area game is scheduled for 9 pm MT (8 pm PT) and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Offensively, the Lobos boast an average of 83.6 points per game, ranking 23rd nationally, with a commendable 47.2% shooting accuracy from the field. 

Their proficiency extends to a 33.4% success rate on three-point attempts (112 of 335) and a solid 68.1% from the free-throw line.

What makes this Lobo offense impressive is that. So far this season, the Lobos are the only team in the nation to have five different players post a 25-point game. (stat courtesy of UNM’s social media team) 

All five Lobo starters — House, Mashburn, Donovan Dent, JT Toppin, and Nelly Junior Joseph — have had at least one 25-point scoring game this season (courtesy Geoff Grammer Alb Journal) 

 As a collective unit, New Mexico excels in rebounding, securing an impressive 39.7 boards per game, and showcases their teamwork with 288 assists on the season, earning them the 31st spot in college basketball for passing prowess.

 However, they face challenges in ball control, averaging 10.4 turnovers per game and grappling with 19.1 personal fouls as a team.

On the defensive end, the Lobos demonstrate an ability to disrupt opponents, forcing 15.9 turnovers per game and drawing 19.2 fouls. 

Despite their defensive prowess, they currently hold the 228th rank in Division 1 for surrendering assists, conceding 230 on the year. 

New Mexico’s defensive efforts also reveal a 41.3% opponent field goal percentage (430 of 1,042) and a rebounding allowance of 35.4 boards per game.

 They exhibit a resistance to three-point shots, allowing only a 30.5% success rate, and position themselves at 122nd nationally in opponent points per game, holding them to an average of 69.3 points.

Air Force, currently 7-9 overall and 0-4 in the Mountain West, is coming off an overtime loss at Colorado State. 

In their most recent game, the Air Force Falcons suffered a defeat with a final score of 78-69 against Colorado State. 

Analyzing their performance on the court, Air Force allowed Colorado State to secure a total of 32 rebounds (10 on the offensive end). 

The Falcons displayed a 41.7% accuracy from beyond the 3-point line, making 10 of 24 attempts, and maintained a solid free-throw shooting percentage of 78.3% by converting 18 out of 23 attempts. 

Colorado State capitalized on 43.9% of their field goal attempts (25 of 57), while the Falcons concluded the game with a 41.1% field goal rate (23 of 56).

 In terms of three-point shots, the Air Force successfully made 10 out of 22 attempts, achieving a 45.5% success rate. 

They buried 13 of their free throw attempts at the charity stripe, boasting a 76.5% accuracy.

Noteworthy contributions came from Rytis Petraitis, who demonstrated a 54.5% field goal rate by making 6 out of 11 attempts. 

He also contributed seven rebounds 22 points in 35 minutes of play, and provided 5 assists.

As for their overall season performance,  Air Force holds a 7-9 win-loss record. The team averages 17.2 personal fouls per game and maintains a 68.3% free-throw shooting accuracy. 

Their offensive play includes 14.8 assists per contest (ranking 105th nationally) and a turnover rate of 12.7 times per game. 

Accumulating 1,080 points on the season (67.5 per contest), the Falcons secure an average of 31.1 rebounds per game. 

Offensively, they connect on 45.5% of their field goal attempts, earning them the 146th rank in college basketball.

Defensively, the Falcons allow opponents to shoot 35.5% from beyond the arc (113 of 318) and convert 71.5% of their free throw attempts. 

They surrender an average of 12.3 assists and allow 32.6 rebounds per game, earning them the 137th and 66th in Division 1, respectively.

 Air Force holds the 94th rank in points allowed per game, averaging 67.7. They force an average of 12.4 turnovers per game but allow opponents to shoot 43.8% from the floor (222nd in Division 1).

Rytis Petraitis and Ethan Taylor, averaging 17.2 points per game each, lead the Falcons.

In their recent victory against Utah State (99-86), the Lobos showcased a solid offensive performance, shooting 57.4% from the field. 

With 26 points on 91.7% shooting, Nelly Junior Joseph was a standout player and looked to be finally acclimating to this Ritch Pitino team as he has not even been in Albuquerque long, just October 25, and has had an adjustment period. 

Looking at season statistics, New Mexico averages 83.6 points per game, shooting 47.2% from the field. Defensively, they force 15.9 turnovers per game.

“I think we’re certainly better offensively than what we’ve been (most of the season),” Pitino said. “And obviously, to put up 99 in a league game is pretty good.”

After a loss to Colorado State (78-69), Air Force holds a 7-9 record. They commit 17.2 personal fouls per game and shoot 68.3% from the free-throw line.

Last season, the teams split their two meetings, each winning at home. However, the Lobos swept the 2021-22 season series, including a 91-77 victory at Clune Arena.

The Lobos will conclude their road trip on Wednesday against San Jose State at 9 pm MT (8 pm PT), with the game airing on CBS Sports Network.

The Lobos are one of the most talented teams in the Mountain West Conference; now, they must go on the road to win games they are expected to win. 

Succeeding away from home in the Mountain West this season will truly distinguish the contenders from the pretenders. 

The conference boasts remarkable strength this year, making it a highly competitive environment where any team can face defeat on any given day unless they approach each game with caution and intelligent play to win games!

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The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force Runs Over James Madison 31-21

The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force Runs Over James Madison 31-21 The Falcons Nuke the Dukes Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire After going winless in the month of November, following an 8-0 start to the season, Air Force corrects course …


The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force Runs Over James Madison 31-21


The Falcons Nuke the Dukes


Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

After going winless in the month of November, following an 8-0 start to the season, Air Force corrects course by winning the Armed Forces Bowl in convincing fashion. The Falcons wore out the Dukes by a score of 31-21.

Entering the contest, the Dukes of JMU were favored, and for good reason. They just capped off a 12-1 campaign, and feature one of the top passing attacks in the country, and what was statistically the stoutest defense against the run nationally. Air Force said hold my beer.

JMU learned early on what many do the hard way; Air Force is built different. There aren’t any teams on the Dukes schedule that pose the kind of problems that the Falcons do, in particular in the run game. James Madison was averaging just 2 yards per carry allowed, and 62 yards per game on the ground for the season. Senior fullback, Emmanuel Michel pounded the Dukes for over 200 rush yards and two tudd’s on his own.

It was a great way to end the season, winning their 9th game of the season over a very good opponent. The Air Force seniors really showed up and impacted the game; from an unblockable Bo Richter being a menace and disrupting the Dukes offense all game long, to John Lee Eldridge III and Emmanuel Michel shredding JMU’s vaunted defense, Jonathan Youngblood’s interception and Zach Larrier’s flawless execution of the offense behind the road grading Diesel’s, the senior stars shined the brightest.

The Air Force Fightin’ Falcons have won their fifth consecutive Bowl Game, and are Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Champions!

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Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Air Force Falcons look to fly high once more in 2023 and take down the James Madison Dukes. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

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Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction


The Air Force Falcons look to fly high once more in 2023 and take down the James Madison Dukes. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.


Contact/Follow @MWCwire

The cadets hope to extend a five-game bowl winning streak.

LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL: James Madison Dukes (11-1, 7-1 Sun Belt) vs. Air Force Falcons (8-4, 5-3 Mountain West)

WHEN: Saturday, December 23 — 1:30 PM MT/12:30 PM PT

WHERE: Amon G. Carter Stadium; Fort Worth, TX

WEATHER: Cloudy with a chance of showers, high of 67 degrees

TV: ABC

STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, which includes ABC, by following this link.

RADIO: The James Madison broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Morris Insurance and Financial Services Broadcast Network, including flagship 550 AM and 92.1 FM (WSVA) in Harrisonburg. The Air Force broadcast can be found on 740 AM (KVOR) in Colorado Springs and 104.3 FM The Fan in Denver.

SERIES RECORD: This is the first meeting between James Madison and Air Force.

LAST GAME: James Madison defeated Coastal Carolina on the road, 56-14, while Air Force lost to Boise State on the road, 27-19.

WEBSITES: JMUSports.com, the official James Madison athletics website | GoAirForceFalcons.com, the official Air Force athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): James Madison | Air Force

ODDS: James Madison -1

SP+ PROJECTION: James Madison by 8.1

FEI PROJECTION: James Madison by 6.9

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: James Madison 58.99% win probability (28.29-21.61)

Darlings of the Group of Five for much of the 2023 season, James Madison, will try and earn their first Bowl win. Standing in the way of their potential 12th win and inaugural Bowl victory are the Air Force Fightin’ Falcons.

It’s truly been an impressive season for JMU, who just entered the FBS. Despite some frankly ridiculous NCAA policies which prevented them from playing for a Conference Championship in the Sun Belt (as a deemed probation year at the FBS level), which they were far and away the top team of, they still find themselves at the doorstep of a season complete with Bowl hardware and national ranking. Not too bad for a team that was competing at the FCS level just one year ago.

Air Force on the other hand was right up there with the Dukes atop the class of the Group of Five programs, right until the calendar turned to November. Even since that devastating loss to Army, which was their first of the season after starting 8-0, they have yet to win a game.

In fact, it’s fair to say the Air Force team that played the last four games of the season hardly resembled that which began the season with an eight-game surge. There are a number of reasons that wins have eluded the Falcons, many of which remain as they face off against a very formidable opponent in Fort Worth, Texas. But don’t assume JMU will just roll the Falcon’s as clear favorites in this matchup. Air Force is not going to be like any other team the Dukes have faced this year. And just ask their last four Bowl opponents what it’s like playing Air Force in December; Baylor, Louisville, Wazzu and South Alabama provide a cautionary tale.

Here’s how the Dukes and Falcons can find a path to victory to finish 2023.

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Three Keys to a James Madison Victory

1. Tackles For Loss

Nothing derails an Air Force drive quite like Tackles for Loss (TFL’s). The Falcon offense is designed for modest but consistent against, down after down. Coincidentally, the Air Force defense also thrived on this philosophy, because when their offense is sustaining long clock grinding drives, it limits possessions and opportunities for the opposition.

TFL’s happen to be the Dukes specialty though. No one has collected more tackles behind the line of scrimmage than JMU. They’ve gathered 45 sacks on the season as part of that collection. If they can carry that play behind the Air Force line of scrimmage, it will be a very long day for an offense that has had their share of struggles lately.

2. Splash Plays

It’s no secret that JMU likes to chuck the ball around, and their transfer quarterback-to-be, Jordan McLoud, is quite good at it. Stop me if you heard this one before, but Air Force is going to have their hands full with another talented transfer portal player.

McCloud threw 32 touchdowns this year, and his two favorite targets Reggie Brown and Elijah Sarratt both averaged over 80 receiving yards per game. Brown in particular averaged 19.8 yards per catch. Those are Jalen Robinette numbers for you throwback enthusiasts.

This is critical to point out because during the Falcon’s late season nose dive, they were surrendering far too many big plays. Granted, they were often times against All-American players such as Ricky White and Ashton Jeanty, but their opponent on Saturday is every bit as capable of gashing them for large chunks of yardage.

3. Early Lead

Similar to early down victories mentioned in the first key, forcing an Air Force offense that has become inconsistent to play from behind could help pave the path to victory. Even if Zac Larrier is able to go for the Falcons, the offense hasn’t shown the kind of punch their opponents have, in particular with an ability to get quick strike scores. Falling behind early would be a big problem against what’s been a very stingy defense. The fact that the Bolts have yet to win a game when entering the 3rd quarter behind is evidence this should be a concern.

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Three Keys to an Air Force Victory

1. Early Down Success 

The ability to move the ball on early down sets the tone for the entire Air Force gameplan. Not just the offense.

Early down success for this offense is a steady appetite of three or four yard gains. Three yards at a clip isn’t exactly eye popping in today’s game, but it’s exactly what this team feeds on. It has such a cumulative effect by building momentum, establishing confidence, wearing out the defense, and limiting the opposition’s offensive possessions.

I would take it a step further and say that early down success has to lead to early game points. As mentioned earlier, they are going to need touchdowns to beat James Madison. To quote the immortal John Kreese “Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy.”. Air Force is 5-0 when scoring first this season.

2. Protect the Ball

Awaiting the Falcons is a JMU team that is one of the best nationally in turnover margin, at +.75. And it’s no coincidence that the Air Force late season collapse coincides with a significant increase in turnovers.

To date, Air Force has put the ball on the ground 21 times, losing 11 of those fumbles. Even if recovered, those fumbles are usually resulting in significant damage to their drives by lost yardage. And the Dukes are well versed at helping other teams forfeit possessions, forcing 21 turnovers on the season.

3. Details

The thing Air Force prides itself on is being detail oriented. I mean how else could a team that is clearly disadvantaged when it comes to recruiting and player development be so successful if they don’t find other ways to get an edge.

The offensive scheme they run is based on timing, precision, and chemistry. That leaks into all three phases of their game. It’s in part why a team that has gone four deep at cornerback and two to three deep all over the field, including quarterback, are still able to reel off an eight-win season.

You can only play who is healthy and available, and one of the things they do better than anyone is prepare the parts so they are interchangeable (to an extent) and can be plugged in to keep the machine humming.

Blown coverage, poor mesh point on a handoff, or missed blocks can be game changers on Saturday. The details matter. Executing at an elite level will be required to win this game.

Prediction

It would be lazy to just point to the last month of Air Force football as reason to pack it in on the season. But the reality is there were a lot of warts revealed on a team that looked really good climbing up to 17th in the AP Polls at one point. That seems like a lifetime ago quite honestly.

Meanwhile, James Madison has kept piling on victories. They enter this game with the nation’s most stout run defense, giving up just 2 yards per carry, and around 60 total rush yards per game. Anything close to that kind of success against Air Force will not just guarantee victory, but likely a not-so competitive game.

What I would suggest though, look at the schedules of these two teams and the scores. As bad as losses to Army and Hawai’i looked, those two defeats at the hands of the Mountain West Championship teams, Boise State and UNLV aren’t quite so bad. I’m not sure JMU would have fared any better playing either team at the time Air Force did.

I expect both teams to have their hands full with the particular niche’ each’s opponent presents. The way the Dukes sling the ball all over the field poses a big problem in my opinion. And that is no indictment on the Air Force secondary that features the best defensive back in the country, Trey Taylor. JMU proved week in and week out, they can execute a passing scheme at an elite level.

I expect the Air Force offense to be the deciding factor in this game. There are so many unknowns with injury entering this game, it really can change the complexion of things. Whether it’s Larrier, Jensen Jones or John Busha, they need to play a clean game and rely on that veteran ‘Diesel’ offensive line.

The defense will step up and make plays through the game as they did all season, But if they expect to lean on them to keep this a single digit game to win, that is going to result in a disappointing trip home from the Lone Star State.

There are a lot of very proud players suiting up for the last time on both sidelines. For Air Force, it’s senior laden with players who elected and fulfilled their four plus year commitment to the United States Air Force Academy and see the mission through with their teammates. Combine that with the edge a veteran head coach like Troy Calhoun gives you, versus JMU who is breaking in the new head-man as Frank Cignetti heads to middle-America, and I actually expect an Air Force win.

The 8-0 Air Force team that started the year is still in that locker room and on that sideline. Even if impacted by health, it’s a team that’s better than many. That includes an 11-1 James Madison Dukes team.

Air Force 27, James Madison 24

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PODCAST: Week 2 Of Mountain West Bowl Previews

PODCAST: Week 2 Of Mountain West Bowl Previews There are four bowl games this week Contact/Follow @MWCwire Bowl season continues Jeremy and Josh get into the second wave of bowl games with four bowl games this week. A trio of games on Saturday …

PODCAST: Week 2 Of Mountain West Bowl Previews


There are four bowl games this week


Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Bowl season continues

Jeremy and Josh get into the second wave of bowl games with four bowl games this week. A trio of games on Saturday featuring San Jose State, Utah State, and Air Force. Then a post Christmas bowl game with UNLV getting a challenge with Kansas.

You can find the Mountain West Wire podcast below or subscribe to the show via TuneInSpotifyiTunes, and more. Listen in, subscribe and rate it and let us know what you think!

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Mountain West Football’s Updated 2024 Matchups Released

Mountain West Football’s Updated 2024 Matchups Released The Mountain West revised its college football schedule to include games against wayward Oregon State and Washington State. Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire What’s new? The vagaries of …

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Mountain West Football’s Updated 2024 Matchups Released


The Mountain West revised its college football schedule to include games against wayward Oregon State and Washington State.


Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

What’s new?

The vagaries of college football realignment didn’t directly impact the Mountain West Conference over the last calendar year, but the shockwaves of moves across the country resulted today in a revised slate of matchups that includes the Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars, the two Pac-12 programs left behind by their conference mates’ exodus.

When it was announced that the conference would do away with the Mountain and West divisions in 2022, the conference announced a rotation that would protect two games for each team and extend through the 2025 season. A multitude of Power 5 programs had other plans, however, and when the Big 12, Big Ten, and ACC raided the Pac-12 for ten of its teams throughout 2023, it left Oregon State and Washington State standing alone.

Here are the home and away games that the Mountain West had previously unveiled for 2024:

Air Force, Nevada, and San Diego State will host the Beavers while Boise State, Fresno State, and New Mexico will do the same for the Cougars. Conversely, Colorado State, San Jose State, and UNLV will travel to Corvallis; Hawaii, Utah State, and Wyoming will head to Pullman. None of the games will count as part of the conference standings, however, meaning that each Mountain West team will have seven conference games rather than the usual eight.

The changes, as you might expect, have differing impacts on every Mountain West team’s pre-existing schedule. Air Force, for instance, will get to face Oregon State at home instead of Hawaii, but Colorado State now travels to Oregon State and Nevada rather than Boise and San Diego. As DNVR Sports’s Justin Michael noted, it will be the first time since 2010 that the Rams and Broncos do not face each other. Similarly, Wyoming will now host San Diego State and Utah State rather than Nevada and UNLV.

One interesting twist is that the two teams who played in the Mountain West championship game this month, Boise State and UNLV, are now set to square off at Allegiant Stadium rather than Albertsons Stadium next year. Exact dates for the Mountain West schedule will be released at a later time, but next year’s title game is slated for Saturday, December 7, 2024.

Air Force

Home – Colorado State, Fresno State, San Jose State, Oregon State
Away – Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, Wyoming

Boise State

Home – Nevada, San Diego State, Utah State, Washington State
Away – Hawaii, San Jose State, UNLV, Wyoming

Colorado State

Home – New Mexico, San Jose State, Utah State, Wyoming
Away – Air Force, Fresno State, Nevada, Oregon State

Fresno State

Home – Colorado State, Hawaii, San Jose State, Washington State
Away – Air Force, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV

Hawaii

Home – Boise State, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV
Away – Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, Washington State

Nevada

Home – Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Oregon State
Away – Boise State, Hawaii, San Jose State, UNLV

New Mexico

Home – Air Force, Fresno State, Wyoming, Washington State
Away – Colorado State, Hawai‘i, San Diego State, Utah State

San Diego State

Home – Air Force, Hawaii, New Mexico, Oregon State
Away – Boise State, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming

San Jose State

Home – Boise State, Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming
Away – Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Oregon State

UNLV

Home – Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State
Away – Hawaii, San Jose State, Utah State, Oregon State

Utah State

Home – Hawaii, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV
Away – Boise State, Colorado State, Wyoming, Washington State

Wyoming

Home – Air Force, Boise State, San Diego State, Utah State
Away – Colorado State, New Mexico, San Jose State, Washington State

Oregon State

Home – Colorado State, San Jose State, UNLV
Away – Air Force, Nevada, San Diego State

Washington State

Home – Hawaii, Utah State, Wyoming
Away – Boise State, Fresno State, New Mexico

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Armed Forces Bowl: First Look At The James Madison Dukes

The Air Force Falcons will get a chance to topple one of this season’s top Group of 5 teams. How did the Dukes get here? 

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Armed Forces Bowl: First Look At The James Madison Dukes


Air Force will get a chance to topple one of this season’s top Group of 5 teams. How did the Dukes get here? 


Contact/Follow @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

Could JMU be undone in the bowl by their success?

The Air Force Falcons are making their seventh appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl, but their opponent in this year’s iteration of the game might be their toughest assignment yet.

That’s because, among the Mountain West’s seven bowl opponents, the James Madison Dukes are the only team currently ranked in the top 25 of a poll. On the other hand, Air Force’s bowl foe is currently undergoing the rapid transition that tends to befall peaking Group of 5 teams, so how much of the JMU we’ve seen all year will actually be accounted for when they take the field later in December?

Here’s what Air Force fans need to know about the James Madison Dukes.

2023 James Madison Dukes — Team Profile

Conference: Sun Belt

2023 Record: 11-1 (7-1 Sun Belt)

SP+ ranking: 18th

FEI ranking: 33rd

Sagarin rating: 40th

Head coach: Damien Wroblewski (interim)

2023 in a nutshell: The Dukes had a wildly successful FBS debut in 2022, then raised their game this fall to become arguably the best team in the Group of 5. It wasn’t without a number of close calls — JMU’s first four wins against FBS opponents came by a combined 18 points — but it all counts the same in the win column and they ultimately took down eight different bowl-eligible teams on their way to the #24 spot in the most recent Associated Press poll.

As is the case for any peaking Group of 5 team, though, success has come with a cost since the end of the regular season. Head coach Curt Cignetti was hired away by Indiana, and he’ll be replaced by Holy Cross’s Bob Chesney at season’s end. A multitude of key on-field contributors have also hit the exits through the transfer portal, an exodus that has been the most significant of any of the Mountain West’s bowl opponents this month. In other words, for as good as the Dukes have looked in 2023, there’s a chance they could look much different when they take the field in Fort Worth.

Best wins: at Troy (11-2), at Coastal Carolina (7-5), at Marshall (6-6)

Key Players

Jordan McCloud, QB

After previous stints at USF and Arizona, McCloud hit his stride with the Dukes and might have been the Group of 5’s best quarterback this year. He finished 11th among FBS signal-callers with a 68.9% completion rate, 14th with 3,400 passing yards, tied for 16th with nine yards per attempt, and fifth with 32 passing touchdowns. McCloud was also dangerous with his legs, accounting for 311 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, so it’s little wonder that he was named the Sun Belt’s Player of the Year.

Elijah Sarratt, WR

In 2022, Sarratt stood out at FCS Saint Francis as a freshman All-American and a first-team all-NEC wide receiver. After transferring to JMU, he became one half of one of the most potent pass-catching duos anywhere in the country. He was one of six Dukes to earn a spot on the all-Sun Belt first-team offense after leading the team with 74 catches for 1,076 yards, scoring six touchdowns while also, according to Pro Football Focus, pacing the conference with a 89.1 receiving grade.

Reggie Brown, WR

As you might have surmised, Brown is the other half of James Madison’s dynamic pass-catching tandem. Like Surratt, Brown also landed on the Sun Belt’s first-team offense after catching 51 passes for 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns. In 20 career games at the FBS level, Brown has averaged 18.8 yards per catch, so he has the capacity to do real damage down the field if the Falcons are caught napping.

Jamree Kromah, DE

Though JMU landed six different players on the all-conference first team, Kromah is the fourth and last of that cohort still expected to take the field in the bowl game. The redshirt senior had a monster season with ten sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss while also tying for the team lead with 41 stops, per PFF, so there’s a strong case he could be the single-best defender that Air Force’s offensive tackles have faced all year.

D’Angelo Ponds, CB

The Dukes secondary appears to be in good hands thanks to Ponds, who became the program’s first freshman All-American ever after making nine starts in which he made 50 tackles, broke up 13 passes, and made two interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus, he also allowed a 46.5% completion rate on 71 targets, so Air Force may find it tough to stretch the field when the occasion calls for it.

Overview:

Offense

No matter how you slice it, the Dukes offense gave opponents plenty about which to worry this season, ranking 33rd in the country with an average of 2.68 points per drive and 52.1% of available yards earned per drive. The problem for the Armed Forces Bowl is that some significant contributors to an attack that averaged 6.28 yards per play are gone: McCloud will play in the bowl game before leaving through the transfer portal, but the top two running backs, Kaelon Black and Ty Son Newton, are gone, as are all-conference tight end Zach Horton, left guard Carter Miller, and three-year starting offensive lineman Tyler Stephens.

With Surratt and Brown in place, though, the passing game may be considered mostly intact, but senior Latrele Palmer is likely the next man up at running back. His time with the Dukes stretches back to 2019, and he’s averaged 4.8 yards per carry with 15 touchdowns on 425 career rushing attempts.

Others who might be in line for more snaps include wide receivers Phoenix Sproles (47 catches, 387 yards, three touchdowns) and Taji Hanson and tight end Kyi Wright. Sproles, at least, has seen the lion’s share of his playing time come from the slot (93.4% of snaps, per PFF), so chances are JMU won’t be shy about remaining a pass-first team.

Defense

The Dukes offense has taken some hits through the transfer portal, but a defense that ranked ninth nationally by percentage of available yards per drive allowed (35.4%) and points per drive allowed (1.41) and gave up an overall success rate of just 33% has been gutted. Jalen Green, the Sun Belt’s Defensive Player of the Year, was lost for the year to injury in early November. The team’s top three tacklers — Aidan Fisher, Jailin Walker, and Mikail Kamara — are gone to the transfer portal. So are veteran defensive tackle James Carpenter, a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy this season; linebacker Taurus Jones, a first-team all-conference player in 2022; and top cornerback Chauncey Logan.

Kromah remains, but other established quantities in this unit are rare. The good news is that young talents like Ponds might be prepared to pick up the slack. Redshirt freshman Tyrique Tucker made five starts this year and collected 4.5 tackles for loss, and sophomore safety Jacob Thomas held opponents to a completion rate under 50%, according to Pro Football Focus.

When matching up with Air Force, however, the major question is just how disruptive the JMU defense will remain against a Falcons offense that will run first, second, and third. CollegeFootballData.com tabs the Dukes with an 26% havoc rate and a 28% stuff rate (for comparison, Air Force had respective rates of 15.2% and 17%).

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