Mocs Potentially Face Six BCS-Conference Schools
posted August 28, 2008
The Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball program released its schedule on Thursday as announced by Head Coach John Shulman. The Mocs will face arguably the most difficult schedule in the program's history. This is on the heels of having the No. 2 non-conference strength of schedule in the country in 2007-08.
"It will not be for the weak at heart I assure you," smiled Shulman who prepares for his fifth season as the head coach. "Our schedule last year was strong, but it does not compare with this season. We have the potential to play six BCS-conference schools."
"I may be crazy, but I think it is the type of test that will prepare our team for the things we want to accomplish in March."
The Mocs open the season on the road at Tennessee on Nov. 15. From there, they travel to Missouri for a Nov. 17 tilt before heading straight to the O’Reilly Auto Parts/ESPNU Puerto Rico Tipoff Classic, Nov. 20-23. The Tigers are considered an opening round game for the Puerto Rico Tipoff Classic, one of two in the tournament (Fairfield at Memphis is the other).
When the Mocs arrive in San Juan, the first round opponent there is 2008 NCAA runner-up Memphis with a meeting with either USC or Seton Hall in the second round. Xavier, Virginia Tech, Missouri and Fairfield await in the other half of the eight-team bracket.
"The opening five games will be in a word, challenging," added Shulman. "Playing at Tennessee is a nightmare unto itself, but then we are off to Missouri in front of some of the toughest fans in college sports."
"Then there is not a cupcake in Puerto Rico," he noted. "The event we played in Anaheim included six postseason teams and two who won 18 games. This is stronger."
Chattanooga returns for its home opener Nov. 29 as Tennessee Temple makes its way across town to meet the Mocs. After finals, UTC opens its conference slate Dec. 13 at Davidson before pre-Christmas trips to East Tennessee State (Dec. 17), Mississippi Valley State (Dec. 20) and Alabama (Dec. 22).
Following Christmas break, Chattanooga hosts the annual Dr Pepper Classic Dec. 29-30 with an interesting new twist. On the first night, Niagara and Murray State square off before the Mocs host Tennessee Wesleyan. The second night opens with Lee University facing Tennessee Wesleyan and Niagara facing Chattanooga.
"We had to get creative this year with the Dr Pepper," noted Shulman. "It is not what we envisioned going into the summer, but it has been harder to field a four-team tournament with all the "exempt" events now available. We feel like we will still have two nights of great basketball for the community to support."
The New Year takes the Mocs to Statesboro, Ga., Jan. 3, to start a long and winding road with only conference foes remaining that ends with the Southern Conference Championship coming to Chattanooga, Mar. 6-9. This season, SoCon members play 20 league games facing all but two teams twice with those two teams coming in the opposite division.
The Mocs will face The Citadel (road) and College of Charleston (home) once. North Division members are Appalachian State, Elon, UNC Greensboro, Samford and Western Carolina. App State and WCU face Davidson and Georgia Southern once, while UNCG and Elon have a single meeting with Wofford and Furman.
"This may be one of the most competitive years in SoCon basketball," added Shulman. "With the addition of a quality program in Samford and the incredible run by Davidson in last year's NCAA Championship, it should lend itself to be a very interesting year."
"We are very excited to have the tournament in the McKenzie Arena," he continued. "The city of Chattanooga does a great job hosting the event and the community supported it well in 2005."
UTC 2008-09 Men's Basketball Schedule
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |