Published: 12:34 PM, 02/04/2010

Last updated: 12:40 PM, 02/04/2010

By: Steve Behr Sports Editor

By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com
Appalachian State is coming off a terrible 87-76 loss to King College this past Monday. It was the Mountaineers' second-straight loss, as they were beaten by Chattanooga two days earlier.
Head coach Buzz Peterson openly challenged his five seniors to provide more leadership following the King College loss. He challenged the entire team to come up with an identity, and questioned his team's effort.
So this Saturday may not be the best time for the Mountaineers to take on the Southern Conference's North Division leader Western Carolina this Saturday. Yet the Mountaineers travel to Cullowhee for a rematch with the Catamounts, beginning at 7 p.m.
However, it is the Catamounts who are looking for revenge. Appalachian State handed Western an 87-74 defeat back on Jan. 23, three days after the Mountaineers lost to South Division cellar-dweller Georgia Southern.
"I was really impressed when we played them up there and I've been impressed with them all year long," Western Carolina coach Larry Hunter said. "(Peterson) knows how to win and we'll have our hands full. It will be a big challenge for the Catamounts."
If there has been a Western Carolina team ready to take that challenge, it may be the one the Mountaineers face Saturday. Appalachian State has beaten Western Carolina 10 out of its last 11 games with the Cats, but Western's lone victory during that stretch was last season.
Peterson feels the Mountaineers will have to play their best game to beat the Catamounts Saturday. Peterson has also never lost to Western Carolina in his coaching career.
"It will have to be our best performance of the year, no doubt," he said. "Really, we have to play our best. It's the only way we're going to be able to do it and right now, we're far from playing our best right now.
 Peterson left no doubt about his disappointment following the loss to King College. Appalachian State fell behind by 19 points, rallied to take a one-point lead, but could not build on that advantage.
The Mountaineers took Tuesday off, but returned to the practice court Wednesday night. Peterson went recruiting Tuesday and Wednesday, but returned for practice.
He would like them to return to how they played in the first half of their 68-55 victory over Samford when they built a 38-18 first-half lead. Peterson said in a conference call Tuesday that the Mountaineers must return to playing as a team and not try to do so much as individuals.
"We've got a lot of what I call independent contractors, who want to do things their own way and I don't know what else to do with them or what to say to them," Peterson said.
Appalachian State may have to play without guard Marcus Wright, who landed hard after being fouled against King College. He left the game and did not return.

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