The Air Force Falcons and South Dakota Coyotes meet Thursday in college basketball action at the Sanford Pentagon. The Air Force Falcons won five games last year and enter the second season under coach Joe Scott. The South Dakota Coyotes won 14 games last year and enter the fourth season under coach Todd Lee.
The Air Force Falcons return their top player from last season and two of their top-three scorers overall. It wasn’t a good season for Air Force last year, and the Falcons expect to play at least seven freshmen in key roles. The Air Force Falcons could experience early growing pains with such a young roster. A.J. Walker returns after averaging 15.3 points and 3 rebounds, while Nikc Jackson averaged 8.2 points and 1.8 assists. Carter Murphy averaged 21.5 minutes per game last season and Abe Kinrade averaged 1.5 rebounds.
The South Dakota Coyotes say goodbye to their best player from last season in Stanley Umude, but they bring back four of their top-five scorers. South Dakota finished last season with a 13-5 record and with so much returning production, the Coyotes have to feel like they can make a run for a Summit title. The South Dakota Coyotes will be a team worth watching this season. A.J. Plitzuweit returns after averaging 19 points and 4.2 rebounds, while Xavier Fuller averaged 8.9 points and 0.9 assists. Kruz Perrott-Hunt dished 2.2 assists per game last season, and Tasos Kamateros averaged 4.4 rebounds.
The Falcons are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 Thursday games and 11-27-1 ATS in their last 39 games overall. The Coyotes are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games and 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The over is 13-5 in Falcons last 18 games as an underdog. The over is 42-19-1 in Coyotes last 62 overall.
The Air Force Falcons weren’t good last season, and they’re going to rely on a ton of young players this year. It could be a sluggish start for Air Force. The South Dakota Coyotes return the bulk of last year’s roster that finished the season strong, and they have to be thinking about a deep run this season. Expectations should be high for South Dakota. Early start, but I’m laying the chalk with the Coyotes.