2011-12 CHATTANOOGA MOCS BASKETBALL PREVIEW
CHATTANOOGA (9-14/3-7) AT WESTERN CAROLINA (9-14/3-7)
Game 24 | Feb. 2, 2012 | 7 p.m. | Ramsey Center (7,826)
LISTENING
Listen to "Voice of the Mocs" Jim Reynolds' call on ESPN 105.1 FM in Chattanooga, pregame show begins 30 minutes prior to game time. Live audio (free) available via MocsVision on GoMocs.com where you can find live stats link as well.
VIEWING
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com with Darren Goldwater (PxP) and Dean Keener (analysis) on the call.
ABOUT WESTERN CAROLINA
• It’s the second-longest series in the SoCon for the Mocs after Samford (82 games)...UTC leads Western Carolina 57-20 with a 46-17 advantage in regular season league matchups.
• Chattanooga looks for the first sweep in the series since 2004-05 season, Shulman’s first season.
• The Catamounts are 9-13, 3-6 in the SoCon North...2-2 at home in league games with wins over UNCG (73-69) and Wofford (67-57) and losses to Furman (55-58) and Elon (63-71).
• WCU leads the SoCon in steals (8.0) and turnover margin (+1.7).
• Four players average in double figures led by Harouna Mutombo at 13.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game...Trey Sumler (12.7), Keaton Cole (11.3) and Brandon Boggs (10.2) also boast double digit scoring lines.
• In the first meeting this year, Chattanooga trailed 60-58 with 6:59 left before shutting down WCU...the Catamounts did not score again until mop-up time on a layup by Trey Sumler with 31 seconds left...UTC held Western Carolina to 0-7 from the field and 0-4 from 3-pt. range during that scoreless streak in claiming the 16-point win.
OPENING TIPS
• Chattanooga hits the road for two this weekend traveling to Western Carolina (Thursday) and Davidson (Saturday). Eight games remain in the regular season with four on road (WCU, Davidson, App St. - 2/15 & Furman - 2/23) and four at home (Elon/UNCG - 2/9-11, The Citadel - 2/18 & Samford - 2/25). UTC is three games behind UNCG (6-4) for first-place in the SoCon North.
• 78th meeting with Western Carolina, second-most frequent opponent in school history. UTC holds a 57-20 advantage, 46-17 in regular-season league play. For series notes, see page nine.
• Senior Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.) continues to climb the Mocs record book. He is not 8th on the DI era scoring list just 12 points south of sixth (David Phillips - 1,157) with 1,145 points. He is also in the top 10 in field goals attempted (8th, 918), 3pt field goals made (T9th, 149), 3pt field goals attempted (7th, 416). Other potential top 10 lists for Taylor:
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FG Made:
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10, Phillips, 400
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Taylor, 12, 383
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Needs: 17
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FT Made:
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10, Phillips, 272
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Taylor, 17, 230
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Needs: 42
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FT Attempted:
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10, Casey Long, 367
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Taylor, 18, 307
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Needs: 60
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• The Mocs lead the SoCon in assists (15.6), FG% defense (39.5) and defensive rebound percentage (73.8%). Senior captain Keegan Bell (Huntsville, Ala.) leads in assists at 6.7 per contest and assist-turnover ratio (2.3). Senior Omar Wattad (Johnson City, Tenn.) is the leader in 3pt made per game (3.0). For UTC team ranking and SoCon leaders see page five. Individual ranks are in the player notes on page four.
• Chattanooga is among the nation’s leaders in FG% defense (34th), 3pt made per game (29th, 8.2), 3pt FG% defense (44th, 30.5) and assists (32nd) through Monday’s games. Bell is seventh in assists and 44th in assist-to-turnover ratio. Wattad is 15th in 3pt made per game and 49th in 3pt FG% (39.1). Bell is just one of nine (four 6’1” or less) in NCAA DI play to record a triple-double this season (12 pts/10 reb/10 assists at Coll. of Charleston).
TRENDING
• UTC has limited 11 opponents to less than 40% FG this season (school record is 15 in 2004-05).
• Mocs have not been beaten on the boards since Tennessee (1/2), a span of eight games while out-rebounding seven in that span (+6.9 margin).
• Keegan Bell’s 153 assists this season in No. 9 on the Mocs’ record list.
• UTC’s received significant bench contributions in the 7 games surrounding the UNCG game (12-54 deficit). In the other 7, the Mocs hold a 147-57 advantage, a +12.9 scoring margin.
PLAYER NOTES
Keegan Bell (Huntsville, Ala.)
• Leads the SoCon in assists at 6.7 per game while ranking seventh nationally.
• Leads SoCon in assist/turnover ratio (2.3)...44th in the country.
• Made the 2012 Bob Cousy Award Watch List for second straight year...MVP of Dr Pepper Classic.
• Mocs career assist leader with 494...passed Tim Brooks (1992-93) and Wes Moore (1996-99) on a feed to Ronrico White with 8:12 left in the game at Kentucky...his 153 assists this season is 9th-best, but only six behind 6th-place, his 2009-10 season with 159.
• 8th all-time in 3pt FG Made with 150 one ahead of Ricky Taylor (149) who is tied for 9th with Isaac Conner (1996-99) and one behind Omar Wattad (151) in seventh.
• 3rd in career 3pt FG Attempted with 496...Keddric Mays (2006-07) is second with 516, while Stephen McDowell (2008-09) is first with 611.
• 749 career points (841 including Vanderbilt numbers – 589 assists combined).
• Eight career 20-point games...32 games with double digit scoring numbers...has led the team in scoring thrice this season, 11 times in his career.
• 55 career five-plus assist games including 18 this season...10 or more assists nine times, four in 2011-12.
• Made four or more threes 17 times in two-plus seasons.
Z. Mason (Nashville, Tenn.)
• SoCon Ranks: 20th in rebounding (5.2).
• SoCon Ranks (league games only): 5th in reb. (7.6), 7th in defensive reb. (5.3) and 11th in offensive reb (2.2).
Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.)
• Graduated with a degree in accounting on December 17, 2011...then immediately drove to Lexington, Ky., as the Mocs took on Kentucky that evening where he had a career-best five assists.
• Scored 1,000th career point in win over Longwood on a 3pt bucket...18th UTC student-athlete in the DI era (1977-78) to accomplish it...currently eighth in scoring (1,145)...eight shy of Stanford Strickland (1981-84) in seventh at 1,153 and 12 from David Phillips (1997-00) in sixth with 1,157.
• SoCon Ranks: 11th in scoring (13.4), 4thd in 3pt% (44.2) and 10th in FT% (77.2).
• 12th at UTC in FGM with 383, 12 behind Johnny Taylor (1996-97) with 395...looking to become 11th student-athlete in DI era with 400 FGM...8th in FGA with 918, one away from Brandon Born (1992-95) with 919.
• Tied for 9th all-time in 3pt FG Made at 149 with Conner...one behind Bell (150) in eighth and two short of Wattad (151) in seventh...7th in 3pt FGA (416), trailing Tim Parker (2000-03) in sixth with 418.
• Led the Mocs in each of the last two seasons in free throws made (151 total) and leads this year with 71...17th with 230...Gerald Wilkins (1983-85) is 16th with 234, Ashley Champion (2003-04) is 15th with 237.
• Career FT% (74.9) is fifth among those who have shot 300 or more.
• 64 double-digit scoring nights for his career, 18 in 2011-12...10 career 20-pt games...led team in scoring eight times this season, 25 times in career.
Omar Wattad (Johnson City, Tenn.)
• Leads SoCon in 3pt FG made per game (3.0) ranking 15th nationally.
• Other SoCon ranks: 12th in scoring (12.9 ppg) and 11th in 3pt% (39.1) which is 49th-best in nation.
• Made 100th trey against Warren Wilson...seventh in career treys made with 151...Born is sixth with 159.
• Scored his 700th career point at Elon...now stands at 727 (803 including Georgetown stats).
• 25 points at Elon topped his 24 points in season opener at IU...three 20-point efforts in 2011-12, 10 career...35 career double-digit scoring games, 14 in 2011-12.
Drazen Zlovaric (Novi Sad, Serbia)
• SoCon Ranks: 4th in rebounding (6.8), 5th in defensive boards (5.4) and 7th in FG% (51.6).
• Game-high 10 boards in 1st collegiate action in more than a year at Indiana.
• 14 double-figure scoring nights...7 or more rebounds in 14 of 23 games...six double-digit rebounding games with four double-doubles.