The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga basketball team has lost four straight games for a variety of fundamental reasons.
One night the problem is rebounding. One night it's turnovers, one night it's poor shooting and another the opponent shoots the lights out.
All of those bad nights -- the last three on the road in Courtyard by Marriott rooms -- have led to sleepless nights for coach John Shulman including after the Mocs' lone day off this week on Tuesday.
"I got to spend one night with my family," Shulman said . "At least that was nice."
The Mocs (11-10, 3-5 SoCon) can end their four-game losing streak -- they last lost five in a row to open last season -- tonight against Western Carolina at 7 p.m. in McKenzie Arena.
"I knew there'd be struggles," Shulman said. "I had no doubt there'd be struggles. You just don't want there to be struggles. When I was an assistant at ETSU we lost Rodney English, Calvin Talford and Greg Dennis in one year.
"We weren't as good the next year. That's part of (college basketball). That's why Western Carolina is 16-4 and we're 11-10."
The Mocs have been inconsistent in their recent streak.
Charleston scored 90 points to start the run. UNC Greensboro forced 23 turnovers in its win. Elon shot 42.9 percent from the 3-point line including 12-of-18 in the first half to beat the Mocs on Saturday.
Wofford out-rebounded UTC by eight in the second half and out-scoured UTC 20-10 in the paint on Monday for a 15-point win.
"Sometimes we rebound, sometimes we don't," said Ricky Taylor, who is the only player to score at least 10 points in the last three games. "I think success will follow consistency. We need to rebound better and shoot better."
Shulman had a a scouting report on Western Carolina, the Cats' stats and a notepad in his hand when he headed into the team meeting before practice. On the pad of topics to cover he had written, "Find an identity."
"I think all great teams have an identity," Shulman said. "I'm still looking for that. You know what I want to be. We're going to defend and rebound because that gives you a chance in March."
The Mocs won't have much of a chance in the SoCon tournament if they don't get back into position for a first-round bye. WCU has a one-game lead over Appalachian State for first place in the North Division and the Mocs are three games back.
The Cats started three seniors and two juniors and had Jake Robinson -- their leading scorer -- come off the bench Monday in a 100-90 win over the College of Charleston.
"It's a new experience (having a veteran) team because we haven't had that until this year," WCU coach Larry Hunter said. "I really like the character of my team. We have good chemistry."