Perhaps the presence of Andrew Bogut in the building today will inspire the inconsistent Utah basketball team when 20-5 Air Force pays a visit to the Huntsman Center.
Bogut, last year's NCAA player of the year who is starting for the Milwaukee Bucks this season, will have his number retired in a halftime ceremony.
"It's unbelievable. I think that and being the first pick in the NBA Draft are probably my two greatest accomplishments, individually, that I've had in my life," Bogut said Friday in Houston, where he played Friday night in the NBA's annual All-Star Weekend rookie-sophomore challenge game. "I mean, to have your number retired anywhere — whether it be Australia, Croatia, America, college, high school — it's very special."
Too bad he can't suit up, though, because the Utes could sure use him right now. The Utes (12-11, 5-7) lost Wednesday night to Colorado State for their fourth home defeat of the season.
In his two seasons at Utah, Bogut only lost once in 32 games at the Huntsman Center. Coincidentally, the one loss was to Air Force, a 59-57 decision on Feb. 21, 2004.
This Air Force team may not be quite as good as that one, which won the MWC title with a 14-2 record and went to the NCAA tournament, but it's close.
The Falcons, 8-4 in MWC play, have already won 20 games and have wins over ACC teams Georgia Tech and Miami, in addition to a 66-44 victory over Utah at the Air Force Academy last month.
Under first-year coach Jeff Bzdelik, the Falcons have produced an outstanding season behind a balanced starting five.
Sophomore guard Antoine Hood leads the way with 14.6 per game, followed by forwards Jacob Burtschi (12.7 ppg) and Dan Nwaelele (12.3) and guard Matt McCraw (11.1 ppg). The fifth starter, 6-foot-10 junior center John Frye, averages just 5.7 points per game, but he sank 5-of-6 shots for 12 points in the win over the Utes.
Frye averages 32 minutes a game for a Falcon team that isn't real deep. Only two other players, Tim Anderson (4.5 ppg) and Andrew Henke (2.5 ppg), average more than 10 minutes per game.
The Falcons are the best shooting team in the league at 40 percent from 3-point range and 75.5 percent from the foul line and rank second in field-goal percentage at 48.9 percent.
"We need to be extremely disciplined with our defense," said Utah coach Ray Giacoletti. "We have to try to put them in positions to take as many contested shots as possible."
The Utes should be ready for this game after a wake-up call of sorts Wednesday when the 1-9 Rams came to town, took it to the Utes early and escaped with an overtime win thanks to some late hot shooting.
Some of the Ute players admitted afterward that they might have been looking past the Rams on Wednesday night because of their poor record. Giacoletti said the Utes were "in a fog" for a couple of days earlier in the week but have practiced better since the loss.
"We got our focus back and have had solid practices," Giacoletti said. "I hope we keep that bad taste in our mouths and get back to our old selves."
Giacoletti said the Utes won't make any drastic changes tonight, but he was considering starting Jonas Langvad instead of Shaun Green at the 4 spot after Langvad scored 15 points against Colorado State while Green went scoreless.
Bogut will become the seventh Ute to have his number retired, joining Arnie Ferrin, Vern Gardner, Billy McGill, Danny Vranes, Keith Van Horn and Andre Miller. Ferrin, McGill and Vranes will be on hand tonight along with more than 30 former Utah basketball players in town for a reunion.
"It will be good to have (Andrew) back," Giacoletti said. "Hopefully it will carry over and help us to play inspired basketball."
On the air
Air Force (20-5, 8-4) at Utah (12-11, 5-7)
Today, 7 p.m.
Huntsman Center
TV: None
Radio: 700AM
E-mail: sor@desnews.com