ANALYSIS : CSUN Slows the Pace but Not Its Decline : College basketball: Scoring droughts and poor shooting now plague 3-9 Matadors.

Their free-throw shooting is abominable and they commit too many turnovers, especially the unforced variety, but the malady most responsible for the Cal State Northridge basketball team’s 3-9 record is its inability to generate a consistent offense.

Coach Pete Cassidy started the season by adapting the Redlands and Loyola Marymount philosophy: institute an up-tempo offense combined with a full-court press that would create numerous fast-break opportunities.

Initial results were not encouraging. CSUN lost its first three games, all on the road, by an average of 35 points, but the Matadors were entertaining and in their next game, at home, blitzed Northern Arizona, 109-90.

But since a lethargic 108-73 loss to Montana and a 104-78 loss to a Montana State team that ran virtually unchecked through its press, CSUN has yet to conduct a press or fast break for an entire game.

In its past four games in particular, Northridge has slowed the play and averaged just 64.5 points a game, the offense bogging down in its adjustment from run-and-gun to a half-court game.

After his team’s 69-61 loss at Weber State, Cassidy observed: “We must have been stuck on 46 (points) forever. Neither team was scoring forever.”

Unfortunately for CSUN, these droughts occur two and sometimes three times a game. Last Saturday in a 61-59 loss to Weber State at Northridge, the Matadors scored only one field goal in the last five minutes of the first half and went more than five minutes in the second half without a field goal.

“Sometimes we go stretches of eight or nine possessions without scoring,” center Todd Bowser said.

“We get stuck on one number for God knows how long. It is really frustrating when we work 40-42 seconds on defense, get the ball back and then throw it right to them.”

One reason for the many turnovers--the Matadors are averaging 21.5 a game--is that the players are unsure of what they want to do. Rarely do they automatically go into a motion offense or a play. Instead, they stand around watching the point guard.

When they finally move, it alerts the defense that they are running a play so the defenders have an easier time.

Moreover, players forget the play at times, leading to low-percentage shots. Or they don’t pass quickly enough. Or they dribble too much. No wonder CSUN is shooting just 39.2% from the field. (At the free-throw line the Matadors shoot at a 61% clip.)

“We’re working on learning the offense better and reacting better,” Cassidy said. “But we are still a long way away. I think the shooting percentage will come around as the rhythm of the offense develops.”

In its most recent loss to Weber State, with Keith Gibbs, Kyle Kerlegan and Andre Chevalier taking most of the shots, Northridge hit only 33% of its field-goal attempts.

One effect of Chevalier taking over the point is that former point guard Gibbs, the second-worst shooter on the team at 35.2%, is playing shooting guard instead of a more accurate outside shooter such as David Keeter or David Swanson, both of whom are reserves.

In three-point shooting, for example, Gibbs has made only nine of 42 attempts (21.4%) whereas Keeter is 11 of 30 (36.6%) and Swanson is 15 of 41 (36.6%).

“I think it would be in Keith’s best interests to go back to his style, that of a slashing player as opposed to standing out there and shooting threes,” Cassidy said. “He’s an active player. He is capable of shooting threes but right now that is not going well, so we are encouraging him to use other shots from his arsenal.”

With the current lineup of Chevalier at point, Kerlegan and Gibbs at shooting guards, and Shelton Boykin and Bowser in the post positions, CSUN has only one outside shooter, Kerlegan--although Chevalier occasionally shoots from outside.

Gibbs might be better off, despite his 6-foot-5, 185-pound frame, at one of the post positions. He is a good rebounder and a better scorer inside. Certainly, Northridge cannot afford to take him out of the lineup, not in light of his defensive skills, his passing abilities and his uncommon hustle.

If Gibbs, the team’s leader in assists and steals, moved to a post position, Keeter, who shoots 43.3% or Swanson, a 40% shooter, could play shooting guard opposite Kerlegan.

It would be one way to give the two more playing time. Last Saturday, Swanson played only eight minutes although he missed all three of his three-point attempts. Keeter played just six minutes and did not get off a shot.

Cassidy, however, will not give them more playing time unless their defense improves.

Keeter has had the most roller-coaster season of any Northridge player. He started the season as a starter and averaged a team-high 15.6 points in his first three games.

After a poor performance against Montana, he did not start against Montana State and was limited to five minutes and was held scoreless. Then he missed the next two games because of a sprained ankle.

On his return, Keeter scored 13 points in 19 minutes against Idaho State. But since then, he has just eight points in an average of 9.3 minutes a game.

The reduction in Keeter’s playing time is one reason CSUN is taking fewer three-point shots.

Whereas nine different players made three-point baskets in the opener against Colorado, the trend now is for only three or four players to take long-range shots.

Kerlegan, who led the nation in three-point baskets last season with 145, has launched 112 from three-point range this season and made 43 (38.4%).

CHANGING STYLES There have been changes in the Cal State Northridge basketball offensive style in recent games that have been reflected statistically: OFFENSE: No more run and gun Scoring Average First 8 games: 80.7 Last 4 games: 64.5 DEFENSE: No More matador defense Points Allowed First 8 games: 100.0 Last 4 games: 68.7 SHOT SELECTION: No more three-point shots instead of layups. Three-Point Attempts First 8 games: 29.2 Last 4 games: 18.1