The Shorthorn - Mavericks gear up for SHSU next at Southland Conference

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Mavericks gear up for SHSU next at Southland Conference

Written by Clint Utley, The Shorthorn sports editor

Thursday, 21 January 2010 08:22 PM

After losing to Stephen F. Austin State on Wednesday night, men’s basketball head coach Scott Cross started his practice Thursday with "championship conditioning."

“It’s not the 1-3 that I’m concerned about,” Cross said of his team’s Southland Conference record. “We lost the hustle points last night.”

He said championship conditioning is a standard thing they do.

“Depending on how many we get out-rebounded, that’s how many sprints we do,” he said.

Senior guard Marquez Haynes (0) leaps through defenders Morris Smith IV, left, and Devin Gibson during the second-half of the Mavericks� 72-66 win over UTSA on Saturday at Texas Hall. Haynes scored a career high of 38 points with 30 coming in the second-half of the victory. (The Shorthorn: Andrew Buckley)

The Mavericks were out-rebounded 38-29 by the ‘Jacks, so they did their fair share of running during practice. Between each set of full-court sprints, the team practiced its jump-shooting and free throws.

Senior guard Brandon Long said he is accustomed to the sprints and that they help simulate a late game situation when a player’s legs get tired and heavy.

Cross’ team will get a chance to put this practice time to work at 7 p.m. Saturday night when it hosts Sam Houston State at Texas Hall. The Bearkats (11-5, 3-0 SLC) come to Arlington on a three-game winning streak. Cross said SHSU is a top team in the conference.

“They’re probably either the first or second most talented team in the league,” he said. “We definitely have to out-hustle them to have a chance to win the game.”

Senior guard Marquez Haynes said that he and Long have explained to the younger players how to handle the team’s rough start in the conference schedule.

“You’re never out of it,” he said. “I told them the story about when I was at [Boston College] we started 0-3 in conference and ended up finishing second to Duke that same year.”

“They aren’t handing out trips to the NCAA tournament right now. It’s about getting better every day, especially when it comes time for that conference tournament, that we’re clicking on all cylinders.”

The Mavs will be without senior forward Tommy Moffit and possibly junior forward Trey Parker. Moffit has a broken foot and hasn’t played since Dec. 4. Parker injured his knee in Wednesday night’s game against SFA. Cross said the team won’t have much room for mistakes against SHSU.

“We don’t have a big margin for error, especially with Tommy still down and Trey went down in the second half,” he said.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 21 January 2010 09:56 PM )

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