It’s the NBL drought which could come to define the Illawarra Hawks title challenge in 2016.
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For 3731 days the Hawks have now been win-less against the Perth Wildcats in the West Australian capital.
Thursday’s 95-72 mauling was the latest loss in a 21-straight game run for the NBL heavyweights.
It helped the six-time champions seal a 4-0 sweep over the Hawks for the season, but with both teams on track to make the playoffs in 2016, Illawarra may still have another chance to break the drought.
The match-up could prove crucial to their chances of winning the silverware this season.
If that duel eventuates, Illawarra coach Rob Beveridge is adamant, despite the recent dominance of the Wildcats, Perth won’t hold any mental edge.
“To be honest, the two games we lost at home, we were the better team for 95% of it so I honestly couldn’t careless about the psychological effect [of a 4-0 sweep] whatsoever,” Beveridge said post game.
“Our guys got their arses kicked [on Thursday] and they have to analyse themselves, and obviously we will as coaches, but I have zero fear of Perth or Melbourne or any team.
“We respect every team, but we don’t go ‘oh my God we are playing the Wildcats’.
Illawarra did take it to the hosts early on Wednesday night, but ultimately faded to a heavy defeat without star Kiwi Kirk Penney.
After leading by as many as 10-points in the second quarter, they were out-hustled by a Wildcats outfit who seemed on a mission to bring the high-flying Hawks back to earth.
“We were mentally soft and didn’t handle the physicality like we knew that we were going to play against,” Beveridge said.
“We failed in that area.
“I would prefer it to happen now than if we get to playoffs and I said to the players, If we get to playoffs.
“I think some people might be a little content that we are in the playoffs but we are so far off the playoffs.
“The Wildcats taught us a lesson why they are a championship team and I want to learn from that experience.”