Chattanooga Mocs
Southern (29-5, 15-3)
Chattanooga took a big blow eight games into the season when they lost their returning leading scorer. Casey Jones was well on his way to a great senior season and was averaging 12.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists through eight games before an injury ended his season. He will take a medical redshirt and return in 2016-2017. But for now, the Mocs have done a great job moving on without one of their leaders. A game after losing Jones, they beat Dayton and that really set the tone for a great season in the Southern Conference.
Big Wins: 11/13 at Georgia (92-90), 12/12 at Dayton (61-59), 2/13 at East Tennessee State (76-68)
Bad Losses: 1/9 at Furman (55-70), 2/11 at Western Carolina (61-67), 2/20 UNC Greensboro (64-79)
Coach: Matt McCall
Why They Can Surprise:
For the most part, four players have stepped up their scoring to help replace Jones. Perhaps the biggest surprise is junior small forward Tre’ McLean. After being a roleplayer a year ago, McLean has had a breakout season, averaging 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He was basically a glue guy last season, but now he is a glue guy who puts up big numbers in every aspect of the game. Justin Tuoyo is the big man on the team and an absolute menace on both ends of the floor. He may leave much of the rebounding to others, but Tuoyo is a great shot blocker and by far the team’s most consistent interior scorer. The scorers in the backcourt are Greg Pryor and Eric Robertson. Pryor, a junior point guard, does everything you want a point guard to do. He attacks the basket effectively, gets his teammates involved and has enough of an outside shot to keep the opposition honest. But the best outside shot belong to Robertson. The senior has connected on 40.4 percent of his 198 attempts from beyond the arc. He pretty much is just a shooter, but he does it well.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Statistically speaking, Chattanooga is pretty good across the board. They need to keep their turnovers under control and second chance scoring opportunities have not come easily or often, but this is a solid all-around team. Unfortunately, a solid all-around team like this just does not have as much talent as teams they will face in the postseason. Robertson will need to be knocking down shots and Tuoyo will have to out hustle fellow big men who can match or surpass his size and strength if Chattanooga wants to make some noise in March.
Probable Starters:
Greg Pryor, Junior, Guard, 9.9 ppg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 spg
Eric Robertson, Senior, Guard, 8.8 ppg, 1.7 apg
Tre’ McLean, Junior, Forward, 12.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg
Chuck Ester, Junior, Forward, 7.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Justin Tuoyo, Junior, Forward, 11.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.3 bpg
Key Roleplayers:
Johnathan Burroughs-Cook, Junior, Guard, 6.0 ppg, 1.3 apg
Duke Ethridge, Senior, Forward, 7.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg
Dee Oldham, Senior, Guard, 7.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.9 (112th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 66.6 (55, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.8 (88, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.5 (173, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.6 (108, 6)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.5 (87, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 72.8 (59, 3)
Rebound Margin: 3.4 (70, 3)
Assists Per Game: 14.7 (88, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.4 (148, 3)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2014 CIT First Round loss to East Tennessee State
2009 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Connecticut
2005 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Wake Forest
1997 NCAA Round of 64 win over Georgia
1997 NCAA Round of 32 win over Illinois
1997 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Providence
1995 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Connecticut
1994 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Kansas
*all team stats through 3/6
