2017–18 Air Force Falcons men's basketball team

The 2017–18 Air Force Falcons men's basketball team represented the United States Air Force Academy during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Falcons, led by sixth-year head coach Dave Pilipovich, played their home games at the Clune Arena on the Air Force Academy's main campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado as members of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 12–19, 6–12 in Mountain West play to finish in ninth place. They lost in the first round of the Mountain West tournament to UNLV.^[1]

2017–18 Air Force Falcons men's basketball
Conference	Mountain West Conference
Record	12–19 (6–12 MW)
Head coach	Dave Pilipovich (6th season)
Assistant coaches	Kurt Kanaskie Andrew Moore Nate Zandt Evan Washington
Home arena	Clune Arena
Seasons ← 2016–17 2018–19 →

2017–18 Mountain West Conference
men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 24 Nevada	15	–	3		.833			29	–	8		.784
Boise State	13	–	5		.722			23	–	9		.719
New Mexico	12	–	6		.667			19	–	15		.559
Fresno State	11	–	7		.611			21	–	11		.656
San Diego State †	11	–	7		.611			22	–	11		.667
Wyoming	10	–	8		.556			20	–	13		.606
UNLV	8	–	10		.444			20	–	13		.606
Utah State	8	–	10		.444			17	–	17		.500
Air Force	6	–	12		.333			12	–	19		.387
Colorado State	4	–	14		.222			11	–	21		.344
San Jose State	1	–	17		.056			4	–	26		.133
† Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP poll

Previous season

The Falcons finished the season 12–21, 4–14 in Mountain West play to finish in a tie for tenth place. They defeated Wyoming in the first round of the Mountain West tournament to advance to the quarterfinals where they lost to Colorado State.

Offseason

Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Notes
Daniel Hummer	4	G	6'0"	175	Sophomore	Upper Arlington, OH	Transferred to Ohio State
Zach Kocur	5	G	6'3"	200	Senior	Denver, CO	Graduated
Nicholas Wells	10	G	6'5"	194	Freshman	Marietta, GA	No longer on team roster
Kyle Broekhuis	25	F	6'7"	200	Senior	Colorado Springs, CO	Graduated
Garrett Scheer	31	F	6'6"	185	Freshman	Las Vegas, NV	No longer on team roster
Hayden Graham	35	F	6'5"	195	Senior	Austin, TX	Graduated
Brendan Leonard	40	C	6'8"	235	Junior	Olympia, WA	No longer on team roster
Keegan Culp	41	F	6'4"	186	Freshman	Carmel, IN	Left the team for personal reasons
Ryan Swan	43	F	6'6"	227	Freshman	Aurora, CO	No longer on team roster

2017 recruiting class

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Jeff Fesperman SG	San Antonio, TX	Churchill High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	190 lb (86 kg)
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Abraham Kinrade SF	Maquoketa, IA	Maquoketa High School	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Sep 13, 2016
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: N/A
A.J. Walker SG	San Angelo, TX	St. Mary's Hall	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	N/A	Sep 27, 2016
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Charlie O'Briant PF	Atlanta, GA	Greater Atlanta Christian School	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Oct 3, 2016
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Zach Couper SG	Rockford, IL	Boylan Central Catholic High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Oct 24, 2016
	Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: –   Rivals: –
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 6, 2017.

Preseason

In a vote by conference media at the Mountain West media day, the Falcons were picked to finish in last place in the Mountain West.^[2]

Roster

2017–18 Air Force Falcons men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 0 Caleb Morris 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Army and Navy Academy Vista, CA F 1 Dane Norman 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Foothills Christian High School San Diego, CA G 2 C. J. Siples 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sr USAFA Prep School Cibolo, TX G 3 Sid Tomes 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So East Ridge Woodbury, MN G 5 Christopher Joyce 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 196 lb (89 kg) Fr Bishop Kenny Jacksonville, FL F 11 Ameka Akaya 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr St. Maria Goretti Hagerstown, MD F 12 Lavelle Scottie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Arlington Heights Fort Worth, TX G 13 LeSean Brown 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So TMI Episcopal San Antonio, TX G 15 Jacob Van 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sr Mansfield Lake Ridge Mansfield, TX G 20 Trevor Lyons 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr USAFA Prep School Newport News, VA F 21 Javen Gumber 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Fruita Monument Craig, CO G 22 Pervis Louder 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 187 lb (85 kg) Jr Village Christian Academy Raleigh, NC G 23 Kobi Betts 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Central Pueblo, CO G 24 Charles O'Briant 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Greater Atlanta Christian Johns Creek, GA G 25 Bryce Hughes 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Lady Bird Johnson San Antonio, TX F 30 Jonathan DeWane 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Bolles Jacksonville, FL F 32 Ryan Manning 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr USAFA Prep School Sacramento, CA C 33 Frank Toohey 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr York Community Elmhurst, IL F 35 James Edwards 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Plum Allison Park, PA C 40 Kole Cerjan 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Rampart Colorado Springs, CO F 41 Peyton Spires 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr St. Paul's Episcopal Mobile, AL G 44 Keaton Van Soelen 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Des Moines Christian Waukee, IA	Head coach Dave Pilipovich (Thiel) Assistant coach(es) Kurt Kanaskie (La Salle) Andy Moore (Muskingum) Nate Zandt (Michigan) Evan Washington (Air Force) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: 10/2/2017

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
Nov 7, 2017* 7:00 pm		Colorado Christian	W 97–74		Clune Arena  Colorado Springs, CO
Non-conference regular season
Nov 12, 2017* 2:00 pm, ESPN3		Texas State Men Against Breast Cancer Showcase	W 65–57	1–0	Clune Arena (1,511) Colorado Springs, CO
Nov 14, 2017* 5:00 pm		Canisius Men Against Breast Cancer Showcase	W 93–79	2–0	Clune Arena (1,002) Colorado Springs, CO
Nov 20, 2017* 7:00 pm		Arkansas–Pine Bluff Men Against Breast Cancer Showcase	W 57–47	3–0	Clune Arena (1,355) Colorado Springs, CO
Nov 21, 2017* 7:00 pm		Pacific Men Against Breast Cancer Showcase	L 71–83	3–1	Clune Arena (1,510) Colorado Springs, CO
Nov 26, 2017* 2:00 pm, P12N		at Colorado	L 69–81	3–2	Coors Events Center (7,427) Boulder, CO
Nov 29, 2017* 5:00 pm, ESPN3		at Indiana State MW–MVC Challenge	L 64–74	3–3	Hulman Center (3,797) Terre Haute, IN
Dec 2, 2017* 1:00 pm		at Denver	W 61–59	4–3	Magness Arena (1,401) Denver, CO
Dec 4, 2017* 7:00 pm		Western State (CO)	W 79–67	5–3	Clune Arena (1,535) Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 6, 2017* 7:00 pm		Abilene Christian	L 58–62	5–4	Clune Arena (1,602) Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 8, 2017* 8:00 pm		at UC Riverside	L 48–67	5–5	SRC Arena (899) Riverside, CA
Dec 17, 2017* 11:30 am		vs. Army Madison Square Garden Holiday Festival	L 54–79	5–6	Madison Square Garden (9,515) New York City, NY
Dec 22, 2017* 2:00 pm		Johnson & Wales (CO)	W 111–68	6–6	Clune Arena (1,818) Colorado Springs, CO
Mountain West regular season
Dec 27, 2017 7:00 pm, ATTSNRM		at New Mexico	L 58–87	6–7 (0–1)	The Pit (10,514) Albuquerque, NM
Dec 30, 2017 5:00 pm		at Fresno State	L 59–71	6–8 (0–2)	Save Mart Center (6,188) Fresno, CA
Jan 6, 2018 12:00 pm, ATTSNRM		Nevada	L 75–86	6–9 (0–3)	Clune Arena (2,254) Colorado Springs, CO
Jan 10, 2018 8:00 pm, ATTSNRM		UNLV	L 76–81	6–10 (0–4)	Clune Arena (1,911) Colorado Springs, CO
Jan 13, 2018 3:00 pm		at San Jose State	W 78–71	7–10 (1–4)	Event Center Arena (1,405) San Jose, CA
Jan 17, 2018 7:00 pm, ATTSNRM		at Colorado State	W 76–71	8–10 (2–4)	Moby Arena (3,216) Fort Collins, CO
Jan 20, 2018 2:00 pm, ATTSNRM		Fresno State	Postponed1		Clune Arena  Colorado Springs, CO
Jan 24, 2018 7:00 pm		at Utah State	L 49–71	8–11 (2–5)	Smith Spectrum (6,974) Logan, UT
Jan 27, 2018 8:00 pm, ESPNU		Boise State	L 64–70	8–12 (2–6)	Clune Arena (2,436) Colorado Springs, CO
Feb 3, 2018 8:00 pm, ESPN3		at San Diego State	L 51–80	8–13 (2–7)	Viejas Arena (11,482) San Diego, CA
Feb 6, 2018 8:00 pm, ATTSNRM		Colorado State	W 78–73	9–13 (3–7)	Clune Arena (2,556) Colorado Springs, CO
Feb 10, 2018 2:00 pm, ESPN3		New Mexico	W 100–92	10–13 (4–7)	Clune Arena (2,851) Colorado Springs, CO
Feb 14, 2018 8:00 pm, ATTSNRM		at UNLV	L 73–81	10–14 (4–8)	Thomas & Mack Center (9,027) Paradise, NV
Feb 17, 2018 7:00 pm, ATTSNRM		at Boise State	L 52–76	10–15 (4–9)	Taco Bell Arena (7,530) Boise, ID
Feb 21, 2018 8:30 pm, CBSSN		San Diego State	L 56–67	10–16 (4–10)	Clune Arena (1,868) Colorado Springs, CO
Feb 24, 2018 2:00 pm		Utah State	W 75–65	11–16 (5–10)	Clune Arena (3,267) Colorado Springs, CO
Feb 26, 2018 7:00 pm, ATTSNRM		Fresno State	L 48–54	11–17 (5–11)	Clune Arena (2,150) Colorado Springs, CO
Feb 28, 2018 7:00 pm		at Wyoming	L 54–66	11–18 (5–12)	Arena-Auditorium (5,731) Laramie, WY
Mar 3, 2018 2:00 pm		San Jose State	W 83–61	12–18 (6–12)	Clune Arena (3,018) Colorado Springs, CO
Mountain West tournament
Mar 7, 2018 12:00 pm, Stadium	(9)	at (8) UNLV First round	L 90–97 OT	12–19	Thomas & Mack Center (4,994) Paradise, NV
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Mountain Time.

• ¹ Game originally canceled due to the January 2018 United States federal government shutdown. Rescheduled to February 26.^[3]

References

1. Anderson, Mark (March 7, 2018). "UNLV ousts Air Force 97-90 in OT, plays UNR in quarterfinals". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
2. "Nevada Predicted to Win 2017-18 Mountain West Men's Basketball Regular-Season Title". Retrieved October 26, 2017.
3. "GoAirForceFalcons.com Government shutdown cancels all Air Force Academy athletic events - Official Site of Air Force Athletics Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.