MoonSwag

Saturdays Air Force-CSU Basketball game in Fort Collins at 4pm on KVOR should be fascinating for a number of reasons. Its an in-state rivalry. Colorado State needs every win to improve its RPI rating for a possible at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament if they don't win the MWC Tournament. Air Force is playing better and hopes to be the team nobody wants to face in the Mountain West Tournament. And then there is the little skirmish back in January in Colorado Springs when the Falcons Matt Mooney punched JJ Avila after Avila put the Falcons Zach Kocur in a headlock. Mooney was properly tossed from the game. Avila was not but was suspended for his actions the next day. Mooney has played well the last 6 weeks. He is smarter and wiser on the floor, and he has a little swagger to his game. Take for example the waning moments of the Air Force-UNLV matchup when Mooney, after getting fouled late, gestured to the crowd to quiet down, ala Peyton Manning, before shooting free throws. He missed both. However he came back with 4 seconds left and calmly buried 2 free throws as the Falcons held on to win. I expect he will get hounded and booed every time he touches the ball Saturday. How will he react to that? He's a freshman, but at times has shown the calmness of a senior. I can see him hitting some shots Saturday, then running down the floor with his finger to his mouth telling the CSU crowd to be quiet. I don't think he'll do that, but if he does, that's okay. The Falcons need a little cockiness. Many times the opposition looks at Air Force as that nice team in Colorado Springs with amazing young men who are going to serve their country. That they are. But it doesn't hurt to be feisty and show some attitude and spunk. That's what Mooney did when he came to the aid of a teammate back in January when Avila was mugging Kocur. Channeled properly, that's a good thing. Mooney's nickname is Moonswag. Air Force could use some swagger Saturday in Fort Collins. It can't hurt.