Air Force coach says he's not job-hunting

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — With Air Force well on its way to its first winning season in 26 years, coach Joe Scott could be one of the hottest candidates for a job elsewhere.

Scott, who signed a three-year contract extension in 2002 that runs through 2008, doesn't want to hear about it.

"Nobody ever says never," Scott said Tuesday. But he said he is firmly committed to rebuilding Air Force basketball.

"I've got one concern now, and that's A.J. Kuhle, Joel Gerlach, my guys at Air Force, and beating San Diego State," Scott said. "That's all I care about. All that other stuff is nice stuff because that means we are doing good."

The Falcons (14-2, 4-0 Mountain West Conference) received a school-record 32 votes in The Associated Press poll this week and have won a record 12 straight games.

Air Force last qualified for a postseason tournament in 1962.

Scott said he believes his team must reach the 20-win level to be considered for the NCAA Tournament — and it will likely take more than that.

Colorado State won the conference tournament last season to snag the conference's guaranteed NCAA Tournament berth despite a 19-13 record, and BYU and Utah were picked as at-large teams. BYU was 23-8 at the time; Utah was 24-7.

"I don't know if 22 is better than 20 wins depending on how you play and all that, but at this pace, they are making one h--- of a case for postseason consideration," conference commissioner Craig Thompson said.