Sports Editor

With Reinhardt College (4-7) coming into Trojan Arena on Saturday night, Troy State head coach Don Maestri said his team will be facing a competitive opponent, but right now that’s not what he’s concerned about.

Basketball is all about chemistry.

And right now his Trojans (1-5) don’t have it.

"If there is one thing that I see is our biggest problem, it’s our chemistry. We’re still trying to find the right people that will get our there on the court and know their roles," Maestri said.

Since a win at home against Florida A&M on Nov. 30, the Trojans have lost their last three games, which includes two losses to Trans America Athletic Conference foes’ Florida Atlantic and Jacksonville.

Starting out the 2000 season 0-2 in the TAAC and 1-5 on the year is not what Maestri and company planned on.

"It’s frustrating to me, but I know it’s a disappointment for the kids," he said. "They feel like they’ve let some people down after coming in with such high expectations.

"But the thing is we can’t hold onto that feeling. We have to concentrate on staying positive in order to turn this thing around."

However, Maestri points out that his team could easily be 5-1, if only a shot here or there would have found it’s way into the basket.The Trojans lost by just four to Nicholls State last Saturday night and fell by three to Florida Atlantic on Dec. 2.

"In basketball a lot of times it’s not how you start, but how you finish," he said. "Our team has to realize that."

On Saturday night, Maestri will continue his search for "the right starting five." Herbert Evans, a freshman, and Matt Holmes will start in the backcourt, with sophomore Lovell Craig under the basket and Rob Lewin and Derick Davis joining him in the frontcourt. This will be the first game action this season for Davis, a senior transfer from Arizona State, who was academically ineligible for the Trojans’ first six games.

"We’re beginning a stretch of four games, where we have a chance to find ourselves before Christmas," Maestri said. "We didn’t expect to be where we’re at right now and are annoyed that this could happen, but there’s still time to right the ship."

After Reinhardt, the Trojans will travel to play Ole Miss in Oxford and on Dec. 21-23 will be in Hawaii, playing in the Pearl Harbor Classic.