Self says team not playing as well, but confident going into Rice game

Self says team not playing as well, but confident going into Rice game<br><br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Tulsa coach Bill Self says 14th-ranked Tulsa needs to overcome some shakiness if it wants to finish on

Monday, March 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Self says team not playing as well, but confident going into Rice game

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Tulsa coach Bill Self says 14th-ranked Tulsa needs to overcome some shakiness if it wants to finish on top of the Western Athletic Conference tournament.

Self says he doesn't think the team is playing its best right now. He says the Hurricane played at a high level for a long point through late January, but hasn't been finishing games the way they should be.

Tulsa is coming off Saturday's 83-to-78 double-overtime win over Southern Methodist. Tulsa beat S-M-U 70-to-59 in early February.

And it took a last-second 3-pointer from Tulsa guard Tony Heard to send the game into overtime. Then Tulsa used an eight-point run in the second extra period to seal the win.

Tulsa's first round opponent is Rice, a team it's beat in two meetings this season. Self says his players cannot afford to look past Thursday's game against the Owls.