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Date Posted: 23:12:50 03/07/02 Thu
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Tigers take on the Matadors

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Originally Published Thursday, March 7, 2002
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Pacific begins its tourney run

Tempo key in Big West tournament

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

Perhaps the most compelling matchup of the 27th Big West Conference Tournament will be the opener at noon today between University of the Pacific and Cal State Northridge.

They finished tied for third place, split their regular-season series and were travel partners.

But what makes this game so intriguing is their stark contrast in playing style -- the fifth-seeded Matadors want Helter Skelter; the No. 4 Tigers prefer Law and Order.

Whichever controls the action should prevail and advance to the semifinals against Idaho or Utah State at 6 p.m. Friday at the Anaheim Convention Center.

''We have to be strong with the ball and have good spacing and pass-fake real well and move the ball,'' said Pacific coach Bob Thomason, whose teams have reached the final three of the last five years, including last season as the fifth seed. ''They feed off turnovers, which hurts you two ways. First, you don't score; and second, they get easy baskets.''

That's precisely what happened when the Tigers (19-9, 11-7 Big West) went to Northridge for the first time on Jan. 5. The Matadors (12-15, 11-7) forced 24 turnovers, grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and survived Pacific's comeback effort in a 70-59 victory. Cal State Northridge coach Bobby Braswell, whom Thomason said should have been considered for conference coach of the year, said the victory helped turn around his team after a 2-9 start.

''That was a critical win for us,'' said Braswell, who like Thomason is coaching his alma mater. ''We were just getting out of our preseason, and we had a tough schedule. We were at a point as a coach where you're concerned about whether the guys lost their confidence. But these guys regrouped and came out and played well. It was important for us to do that.''

The teams met again Jan. 31 at Spanos Center. The Tigers committed 10 fewer turnovers, handled their own on the boards, and guards Maurice McLemore and Demetrius Jackson combined for 39 points in a 74-58 victory.

''Our guards have to play well, but our guards are playing well,'' Thomason said. ''If our guards play well, it gives us a chance because we can break their press and get some points.''

Jackson said he knows what to expect today.

''We have to do what we're supposed to do,'' said Jackson, the Tigers' point guard and All-Big West honorable-mention selection in his first year out of Shasta College. ''We have to take care of the ball, move the ball on offense and play a sound game on defense. We just want to go out and play a solid game.''

Both teams are hot entering the tournament. The Tigers are riding a five-game winning streak, including victories over regular-season co-champs Utah State and UC Irvine. The Matadors have won four in a row, including a 62-54 win over Utah State on Saturday.

Cal State Northridge caught the Big West by surprise the first time through and was tied for first place at 7-2. The Matadors then lost five in a row before regrouping and starting their current run.

Utah State coach Stew Morrill said the Matadors are tough to prepare for because no other team in the conference plays the same way.

''It's very well designed, and Bobby's done a great job getting those kids to understand the concept of his pressure defense,'' Morrill said. ''A lot of us couldn't play that way due to our depth situation or athletic level. They have a lot of good athletes that are long and strong, and you can't simulate their quickness in practice. They're certainly one of many teams who could win this thing.''

Pacific believes it has the talent and experience to earn its first conference tournament title since 1997.

''We fear no one and respect everyone,'' said Tigers senior forward Mike Hahn, an honorable-mention All-Big West pick. ''We know they're capable of beating us, and we know we're capable of beating them.''

* To reach reporter Bob Highfill, phone 546-8299 or e-mail bhighfil@recordnet.com

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