STOCKTON — When asked about what will determine the success of his team, Damon Stoudamire kept returning to one very important word.
Defense.
University of the Pacific’s men’s basketball team can shoot, it can score and it consistently plays with high energy. But Stoudamire knows the Tigers have to shore up its defense to compete in the West Coast Conference.
Pacific opens WCC play at 8 p.m. Thursday when it plays host to BYU at Spanos Center. The game is televised nationally on ESPNU.
The Tigers looked good during much of its nonleague schedule, posting a 10-5 record.