Members of the Mocs' scout team dubbed the "Stay Ready Squad" are, from left, Isaiah Otyaluk, Liam Vitters, Ryan Lopez, Houston Holland and Parker Robison.
photo by Paul Payne
During the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s handful of practices leading into last week’s National Invitation Tournament quarterfinal contest at Bradley, Parker Robison was tasked with the challenging duty of impersonating the Braves’ dynamic point guard, Duke Deen.
Then with the Mocs struggling in the opening half against the Braves, UTC head coach Dan Earl inserted the freshman guard into the game to provide a needed spark. Suddenly, Robison found himself face-to-face with the player he had been emulating for the past few days.
In his two minutes of action, the former McCallie School standout neutralized Deen while picking up a steal and contributing an assist.
Such is the life being a member of the “Stay Ready Squad”, the self-anointed nickname given to the members of UTC’s scout team comprised of Robison’s fellow freshman walk-ons Houston Holland and Liam Vitters, sophomore walk-on Ryan Lopez along with 6-foot-7 freshman signee Isaiah Otyaluk from Cary, N.C., who is redshirting this season.
“I tried my best to be Duke Deen at practice, then I was guarding him in the game,” Robison said. “That was pretty awesome. That’s why we stay, ready, because you never know.”
They all enjoyed successful high school careers, each with dreams of competing at the collegiate level. But in the end, they have been bound by a mission that far exceeds how they envisioned their basketball fortunes unfolding.
“We just want to win, and whatever we have to do to do that - whether that's picking up chairs after a time out, or working out these guys in practice by going through other teams’ plays, getting to practice early - doing stuff like that to just help us win,” Robison said. “Then when our number is called and we have to go to the game, that's why we stay ready.”
With the exception of Robison, who has seen meaningful action as a defensive stopper in 23 games this season including all three NIT contests, the other members of the “Stay Ready Squad” operate in virtual anonymity. But they understand the importance of their role, and perform their duties with conviction.
They have the responsibility of learning opponents’ offenses and out of bounds plays in order to provide the regulars with a look of what they might be facing. There’s a certain amount of pressure in constantly absorbing different schemes, but it’s a challenge they each embrace with pride given the manner in which the upperclassmen show their appreciation.
“I think everybody embraces each other equally,” said Holland, who prepped at Silverdale Academy and turned down Division II offers to join the Mocs. “We love competing against the starters and trying to help them execute for the next game. With all our seniors, we realize this could be their last game so we’re trying to do all we can to win.”
Vitters, who is a native of Arlington, Va. and played high school basketball in Pennsylvania, has been motivated by the effort he sees coming from his older teammates.
“There’s a certain amount of pressure to get things right, but I think we all enjoy doing it so much we’re not really worried,” Vitters said. “We talk a lot about how lucky we are to have such a great group of guys our first year. We didn't expect that.”
Earl has witnessed a camaraderie between his regular contributors and the scout team that never existed during his playing days, and he finds it a testimony to the leadership on his squad.
“One of the things I find cool is how our older guys treat them extremely well,” Earl said. “It speaks to their character and how they fit in. Back when I was playing, sometimes it was a ‘Hey rookie, get my bag’ kind of deal. Our older players have a full appreciation for what these guys do to stay ready. They bring it every day in practice and whenever they're called on. They've been completely awesome.”
They have spent the past week emulating the sets run by Loyola Chicago (25-11) in anticipation of Tuesday’s 9:30 p.m. NIT semifinal contest inside Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as Chattanooga (27-9) makes its first Division I Final Four postseason appearance.
With the exception of Robison, they realize they will likely not see any game-time action. Holland has scored seven points in seven games, Vitters has tallied five in nine contests, and Boyd-Buchanan product Lopez connected on a 3-pointer for his lone points in six games. But the real enjoyment comes from playing the role of an opposing team’s sharpshooter.
“When you get a ‘green’ on the scout that means you’re a dead-eye shooter,” Holland said. “You’re going to have a pretty fun day when that happens.”
Preparing for Wofford were among the favorite practices for the 6-foot-5 Vitters.
“Wofford was my favorite personally because I got to be (Kyler) Filewich,” Vitters said.
The “Stay Ready Squad” demonstrates selflessness without complaining. They exist in the shadows while daily having to take on the likes of Honor Huff, Trey Bonham and Bash Wieland. The expectations to adequately prepare their teammates for upcoming foes is a matter of pride for Robison.
“That’s our job,” Robison said. “If we don’t prepare these guys and they go out in the game and mess up, we didn’t do our job. The way we look at it, pressure is a privilege.”
Earl is effusive in his appreciation for the young men making up his scout team knowing the challenges they face.
“They take tremendous pride in preparing our starters or guys that are playing, so they have to know their stuff,” Earl said. “All of a sudden, we'll flip into our stuff and sometimes it takes them a second to adjust and they have to put up with me yelling at them. They've been great, completely bought in and just great teammates as well.”
With a deep run in the NIT that has included chartered flights and national television exposure, Holland could not have dreamed of a better freshman season.
“It's exceeded my expectations, especially coming here and getting to know everybody,” Holland said. “I realize my part is a big role that might go unnoticed, but I’ve been fulfilled doing that. Of course, I want to be out there competing, but it's a pleasure coming and working day in and day out.”
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com