March 9, 2010

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By Josh Bowe for utamavs.com

KATY - Texas - Tommy Moffitt has tasted it before. The UT Arlington senior forward went to the NCAA Tournament his sophomore season.

That's why Moffitt is even hungrier this time around. Not only is he hungry, he's pretty confident too.

"I think it's going to be fairly easy," Moffitt said with a grin. "That's how I'm feeling right now."

It might be hard not to mistake Moffitt's words as arrogance as opposed to confidence, but that's how Moffitt handles himself. Moffitt has been the emotional leader for the team this season - doing everything from leading the team in rebounding to emotional speeches during halftimes this year.

UTA wrapped up its first day of practices Tuesday afternoon at Katy High School. The Maverick's first game of the tournament is Wednesday at noon against the two seed Stephen F. Austin.

Even though the Mavericks are on a three game losing skid after falling to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday, Moffitt has a right to be confident - he didn't play during UTA's first match up with SFA, a 72-65 loss earlier this season.

"I'm ready to bring that intensity and toughness we lacked that game," Moffitt said.

The Lumberjacks bring an imposing physical game to the table against the Mavericks. Coach Scott Cross said it's one of the tougher teams in the conference.

"They're a very tough and physical team," Cross said. "They're a really good team. They play really hard.

"They don't beat themselves, we're going to have to beat them tomorrow."

Moffitt's confidence has drizzled down to the rest of his teammates. Senior guard Marquez Haynes said the three game losing streak shouldn't be on the minds of his fellow Mavericks - after all this is what every collage basketball player lives for.

"If you can't focus in this environment man - this is what March is about," Haynes said. "We had a really great practice yesterday. Everybody seems extremely focused."

Haynes leads the team with 22.8 points per game. But Haynes said the offense isn't even a problem for this Mavericks squad. He said it's the defense that determines how good UTA is.

"We've won game when we've been balanced and we've won games when I've had 30," Haynes said. "That defense is the real key. Offensively anyone can go off, but just as long as defensively we're locked in, the points will come from where they need to come from."

The first game against SFA this season was almost two months ago back in January. Cross said his Maverick team is completely different from the team that lost to the Lumberjacks.

"I think we definitely have more weapons now," Cross said. "We have more depth. We're more prepared as a team."

Haynes said that even though this is his last year as a Maverick, he hasn't thought about the end yet. He said he's thought about playing three more games though.

"I have my heart set on being in the NCAA Tournament," Haynes said. "It doesn't feel like it's my last game at all.

"I'm 100 percent confident right now. This is as focused as I've ever seen us."

The team's confidence showed during the practice Tuesday afternoon - there were smiles, laughs but nothing over the top. And if anyone forgot how the Mavericks felt going into the tournament, just ask Moffitt.

"We're confident," Moffitt said. "Everyone's starting 0-0 now. We're going to try and start 3-0."