THE COLLEGES / JEFF FLETCHER : CSUN Women’s New Attitude Not Translating Into Offense

You hear it all the time: Oh, this season is different. We have a whole new attitude.

In the case of the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team, it is the standard response to any question about differences between last season’s 1-26 team and this season’s 1-6 team.

“We’re not going out just thinking, ‘I hope we don’t lose by this many points,’ now,” sophomore Sarah Bell said.

“We are going out thinking we can win.”

Added sophomore Pam Karbowski: “The attitude has changed a lot. Last year we were just going through the motions.”

That’s great, but we contend that the Matadors are indeed better this season, and we can show it without even using the “A” word.

A look at the Northridge stat sheet shows the Matadors’ problems this season can pretty much be boiled down to two numbers--shooting percentage and free throws.

Northridge is shooting a miserable 32% from the field. And it’s not because defenses are shutting the Matadors down so much they can’t get good shots.

Northridge has taken 51 more shots than its opponents but has made 16 fewer. Last season, the Matadors allowed about 10 more shots a game than they took.

But this season they are getting easy shots and missing them.

So Coach Michael Abraham ought to be able to correct the problem by putting it into perspective for his players, saying: “Hey, even short, out-of-shape sportswriters can make a layup.”

As for free throws, if the Matadors made all 102 of their shots from the line, they’d still trail their opponents, who have hit 143 of 211.

Either the Matadors are getting “homered,” or they are, in fact, fouling too much.

If it’s the former, you figure things will even out. If it’s the latter, Abraham simply has to say: “Stop playing defense like an out-of-shape sportswriter. Move your feet instead of reaching.”

Whatever problems the Matadors have had, you must give credit to Abraham for realizing his mistakes and trying to correct them early, before the record gets too ugly and the “A” word starts to go down the tubes again.

Abraham already has concluded his offense might not have been best-suited for the talent he has, so he’s spending this week revamping it.

Last week, Abraham said he thought he wasn’t tough enough on the team. On Tuesday, he had the players running wind sprints on the sidewalk in front of Matador Gym because, even though their time was up inside the gym, he wasn’t happy with their effort.

The players gladly did the extra running. After they had finished hyperventilating, they said the work is good for them.

But those great attitudes had better start making some layups, because the smiling faces won’t be able to withstand another 1-26.

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The Northridge men’s basketball team technically can’t be called rebuilding, because it’s been so long since the Matadors were very good in the first place.

But as a building season goes, Northridge seems to have something going.

Two of the main reasons for optimism next season are both named Higgins. Guard Derrick Higgins, Northridge’s top newcomer, is expected to use his redshirt season because of a broken foot, giving him two remaining seasons at Northridge.

Forward Keith Higgins, Derrick’s brother, has to sit out this season after transferring from Colorado, but he has been one of the most impressive players in practice.

Point guard Trenton Cross, perhaps Northridge’s best player, will be a junior next season.

Damion Morbley, a junior and the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, also will be back.

Center Kevin Taylor, who will miss most of December because of a right knee injury, will be a key if he’s healthy all next season.

Taylor is one of the Matadors’ best defensive players. At 6-foot-7 with long arms that make him seem even bigger, Taylor is also the closest Northridge has to a true post player.

Even if Coach Pete Cassidy can’t recruit his dream player--a 6-10, muscular center--the Matadors still figure to be competitive immediately in the Big Sky Conference.

Just keep all that in mind as they limp through this season.

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Northridge football coaches must have had nightmares after watching Saturday’s televised Division I-AA semifinal in which Montana dismantled Stephen F. Austin, 70-14.

The Grizzlies will be only one obstacle for Northridge as it joins the Big Sky Conference. The weather will be the other.

Cameras on Saturday frequently flashed to coaches on the sideline dressed in heavy parkas with thick mittens and ski masks covering all but their eyes and mouths.

The temperature was six degrees.

Fortunately for the Matadors, Montana and Montana State are playing at Northridge in 1996. Unfortunately, the Matadors play both on the road in 1997.

Root for global warming, guys.