Mocs make sure the beat goes on

Marcus Watts set his own beat and began singing on his way to the media room after the Mocs’ last-second win at Elon.

“Picked in fourth in the North, now we in first,” Watts rapped. “Picked in fourth in the North, now we in first.”

Watts’ lyrical skills — apparently based in real-life experiences — don’t compare with his basketball play, especially as of late, for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

“I’m no Lil Wayne,” Watts said of his favorite musical artist. “But sometimes they call me ‘Wayne Watts,’ because I’m such a Lil Wayne fan.”

Watts’ improved skills and contributions helped the Mocs exceed preseason poll predictions from the media and coaches; UTC was picked finish fourth in the North Division of the Southern Conference.

“We knew we were a good basketball team, and that’s all that mattered,” sophomore Matt Gwynne said. “They could think what they want. We knew we were better than fourth in the North.”

UTC easily could have finished there considering the obstacles it faced this season, ranging from typical injuries to a bus breaking down on a road trip.

There were serious injuries to Khalil Hartwell and Keyron Sheard. Kevin Bridgewaters injured his ankle in a shootaround. Some players had to sit for violating team rules and another was suspended for a violent elbow. The death of Qavotstaraj Waddell’s father also had an impact.

“The answer is ‘E’ — all of the above,” Watts said. “This team has been through it all.

“You can make excuses, but winners go out and get results, and that’s what we did.”

The Mocs (17-11, 13-7) earned a share of the North title and its top seed, No. 2 overall, in the SoCon tournament, which starts Friday in the North Charleston (S.C.) Coliseum. UTC will play either Elon or Furman on Saturday at 7.

“We’ve been through good times, bad times and tough times,” junior Kevin Goffney said. “We stuck together. We looked at each other with trust and love like a family.”

Mocs players missed a combined 38 games this season for various reasons; all but two of the games missed came after Jan. 1.

“What haven’t we overcome?” said Sheard, who missed six games with a dislocated clavicle. “We’ve been through so much. It shows how tough this team is.”

The quarterfinal game will be the first of 2008 that every player will be available to coach John Shulman.

“We have put ourselves in a good position,” Shulman said. “When we tip it up, it’s going to be a six-team tournament and we won’t have done anything yet.

“We are going down there to win the tournament.”

Which would provide Watts with more to sing about.