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Date Posted: 15:36:00 02/16/02 Sat
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Tigers take on Anteaters

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Originally Published Saturday, February 16, 2002
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Thomason still has faith in slumping Tigers

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

Nothing can take the life out of a team faster than not making shots.

University of the Pacific knows it's true. The Tigers have shot so badly in their last three games, it's a wonder the players still are breathing.

The Tigers hope to shake off their recent problems and assemble a solid effort against UC Irvine at 7 p.m. today at Spanos Center. The Anteaters (18-7, 11-3 Big West) are coached by Pacific graduate Pat Douglass and are tied with Utah State atop the conference standings.

The Tigers (14-9, 6-7) are in sixth and mired in a three-game losing streak, their longest this season. Their curious inability to make shots is a big reason why.

''Hopefully, the basket will open up a little (today),'' Pacific coach Bob Thomason said. ''I believe in them, and I know they can do the job. We just haven't done it.''

Pacific went 10-for-32 from 3-point range in its 77-63 loss to Long Beach State on Thursday -- its first conference loss at home this season -- and has made 21-of-80 (26.2 percent) from behind the arc over three games. In the same period, the Tigers shot 37.6 percent from the floor, nearly 10 percent less (46.1) than their season average two weeks ago.

After watching film of those games, Thomason said he liked how his players moved the ball and worked for open shots. The vast majority of them simply didn't fall. What concerned him more was the team's defense.

''We haven't played solid defense in five of our last six halves,'' Thomason said. ''We have to upgrade our defense.''

Pacific has surrendered 77 points per game in its last three, 13 points more than its scoring defense average two weeks ago, and those three opponents averaged 51 percent shooting from the floor.

But are the Tigers' defensive problems related to their poor shooting? After all, as Thomason said after Thursday's loss, ''When the ball doesn't go in, it beats down your soul.''

Said senior forward Mike Hahn, ''When you hit your shots, it's easier to get into the flow and dive for loose balls and get your confidence high. We haven't hit a lot of shots lately, but I really think we're going to come around.''

Thursday, the Tigers played as if they've already accepted their fate, content to finish in the middle of the pack in the Big West.

Hahn disagrees.

''I don't think anybody's accepted that,'' Hahn said. ''We all know we need to fire out.''

The Tigers were outhustled and outplayed by Long Beach State, and senior guard Maurice McLemore said Cal Poly did the same to them on Feb. 9.

''They seemed to get every loose ball and rebound when they needed it,'' McLemore said after the Tigers' 84-79 loss to the Mustangs. ''They outhustled us.''

These are the dog days, when the legs and minds are tired, and in the Tigers' case, there's little more to play for than pride before the conference tournament. It's also been a long season and there are eight seniors, five of whom have heard the same thing from their coaches for nearly four, and in some cases, more than four years.

''It seems every year come February, guys get tired of hearing it from the coaches, but we're hearing it because we're not getting it right,'' Hahn said. ''It's a long season and it's a grind, but we need to suck it up.''

Thomason said he hasn't been negative toward the team. He believes there's time and incentive to finish the season strong and go into the Big West Tournament breathing fire, instead of being breathless.

''It's important we get back on track, and beating a good team, like UC Irvine, also is important,'' he said. ''When you lose, you tend to think real bad things about yourself, and we just can't do that. It's a downer we don't have a chance to fight and win the conference championship, but we have to stay positive and get through this.''

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

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