Some Pre-Game Talk: Tenn-Chattanooga vs Kentucky
By Staff
Out of all the team websites I have looked at over the weeks for these posts, the Tenn-Chattanooga Mocs website ha done the best job of previewing their games, here just take look:
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ABOUT KENTUCKY
8th meeting…6th in Lexington…series began during 1920-21 season…UK leads 7-0.
Last meeting was on Dec. 5, 2006 in Freedom Hall in Louisville, a 79-63 UK win.
The 3rd-ranked Wildcats are 8-1 on the year winning, on average, by 22.4 points per game.
Doron Lamb leads the team with a 14.9 points-per-game scoring average…five Wildcats average in double digits.
Anthony Davis is posting 11.6 points and a team-best 9.1 rebounds per game…UK owns a +6.7 rebound margin.
The Mocs last win over an SEC program was in Shulman’s first season, a 69-68 triumph over Tennessee on Dec. 5, 2004.
OPENING TIPS
Saturday is the final contest in a four-in-five-game stretch away from the friendly confines of McKenzie Arena. The Mocs end the pre-holiday schedule at home Wednesday, Dec. 21, hosting nearby Hiwassee at Noon.
Chattanooga finished classes on Friday, December 9. Spring semester classes begin on Monday, January 9. Senior Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.) graduates Saturday and then will hop in a car for the trip to Lexington.
UTC is 1,172-946 in its 91st season. The Mocs moved to DI in 1977-78 after the 1977 DII National Championship. In the DI era, Chattanooga is 644-397, 347-192 in the SoCon. The program has posted 27 winning ledgers in 34 DI seasons with 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament. For more on the Mocs’ history, see the info in the shaded area to the left.
The Mocs lead the SoCon in assists (15.9) and steals (8.5/gm). Senior captain Keegan Bell (Huntsville, Ala.) leads the league in assists at 7.1 per contest ranking eighth nationally (as of 12/14), while junior captain Dontay Hampton (Chattanooga, Tenn.) is tied for third individually at 1.7 steals per game. Senior Omar Wattad (Johnson City, Tenn.) is the conference leader in three-pointers made per game (2.8). For UTC team ranking and SoCon leaders see page five. Individual ranks are in the player notes on page four.
UTC has out-rebounded one DI opponent in 2011-12…Indiana by nine in the season opener. The Mocs are 94-46 all-time under Shulman when winning the battle on the glass.
The Mocs are shooting 45.0 percent (148-329) inside the 3pt arc this season after making 17 of 26 (65.4%) against Spalding Tuesday night.
TRENDING
UTC shot 38.1% (33% 3pt) in its 1st 5 games, 44.9% (40.8% 3pt) over last 5.
Over last 5, Ricky Taylor’s averaging 14.6 ppg & 4.6 rpg shooting 46.8% FG, 50.0% 3pt & 94.7% FT.
Hampton is making the most of his playing time. He’s averaging 20.2 pts per 40 min played over last 5.
Keegan Bell has had 5 or more assists in all 10 games this season with 8 or more 4 times.
Mocs have limited 5 opponents to less than 40% shooting from the floor. School record is 15 (2004-05).
PLAYER NOTES
Keegan Bell (Huntsville, Ala.)
Leads the SoCon in assists at 7.1 per game while ranking eighth nationally.
2nd in SoCon in assist/turnover ratio (2.1).
Was on the 2011 Bob Cousy Award Watch List and made All-SoCon 2nd Team (Media).
His 412 career assists is 3rd all-time at UTC…needs three to break the record of 414 held by Tim Brooks (1992-93) and Wes Moore (1996-99).
10th all-time in 3pt FG Made with 126…two behind John Oliver (1994-96) with 128 in ninth…Ricky Taylor is eighth with 129.
6th in career 3pt FG Attempted with 408…Tim Parker (2000-03) is fifth with 418.
643 career points (735 including Vanderbilt numbers – 507 assists combined).
Eight career 20-point games…28 games with double digit scoring numbers…has led the team in scoring twice this season, 10 times in his career.
47 career five-plus assist games including all 10 this season.
Made four or more threes 15 times in two-plus seasons.
Chris Early (Huntington, W.Va.)
Topped 500 points for his career in the win over Savannah State…544 total.
386 career rebounds…looking to become 10th UTC player in DI era with 500.
SoCon Ranks: 5th in 3pt% (45.8), 13th in rebounding (6.0) and 8th in defensive boards (4.7).
Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.)
42 points shy of 1,000 for his career with 958…would be the 18th UTC student-athlete in the DI era (1977-78) to accomplish the milestone…currently 20th all-time in scoring, 12 shy of Brooks in 19th with 970 and 36 behind James Hunter (1984-87) in 18th with 994.
SoCon Ranks: T16th in scoring (12.2), 4th in FT% (85.7), 4th in 3pt% (46.2) and T15th in 3pt made/game (1.8).
Ranks 23rd all-time at UTC in FGM with 320, seven behind Brooks in 22nd with 327…18th in FGA with 775, three shy of Daren Chandler (1989-90) in 17th with 778 and 20 short of Johnny Taylor (1996-97) in 16th with 795.
8th all-time in 3pt FG Made at 129 which is 20 away from Isaac Conner (1996-99) in seventh with 149…9th in 3pt FGA (365), trailing Long (380) in eighth and Bell (408) in seventh.
Led the Mocs in each of the last two seasons in free throws made (151 total) and leads this year with 30 thus far…tied for 21st all-time with Maurice Head (1984-87) with 189….Keith Parker (1978-80) is 20th with 194.
Is 23rd in career FT% (75.6), but is 11th among those who have shot 200 or more.
53 double-digit scoring nights for his career, eight in 2011-12…nine career 20-pt games…led team in scoring four times this season, 21 times in career.
Omar Wattad (Johnson City, Tenn.)
SoCon Ranks: Leads in 3pt FG made per game (2.7) and is T16th in scoring (12.2 ppg).
Made his 100th three-pointer against Warren Wilson…tied for 15th in career treys made with Maurio Hanson (1994-95) with 116…Benny Green (1988-89) is 14th with 118 following Casey Long (2004-07) and Chad Copeland (1993-94) in 12th with 119.
Scored his 500th career point against Kennesaw State…now stands at 578 (654 including Georgetown stats).
24 points is season in loss at IU…two 20-pt efforts in 2011-12, nine career…28 career double-digit scoring games, seven in 2011-12.
Drazen Zlovaric (Novi Sad, Serbia)
SoCon Ranks: 9th in rebounding (6.3/gm), T6th on the defensive boards (5.0/gm) and 9th in FG% (50.3).
Game-high 10 boards in 1st collegiate action in more than a year at Indiana after sitting out the 2010-11 season due to transferring from Georgia.
7 or more rebounds in six of 10 games.
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