Sophomore Ricky Taylor is a shooting guard with near-perfect form that made him the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's leading scorer during its basketball trip to Canada and in its exhibition game Saturday against Tennessee Wesleyan.

With four Mocs forwards out for a month, however, Taylor will spend a lot of time at a new position in a three-guard lineup with freshman Josh Odem and sophomore Keegan Bell.

"We're all quick, but we're short in the three-guard lineup," Odem said. "Right now, the benefit is that we have a good shooter at the 3. We can score more."

Junior Jeff Smith and sophomore Jasper Williams are expected to be part of the three-guard rotation as well, while coach John Shulman awaits the return of somebody who fits the traditional definition of a small forward.

"For the next month, we don't have any other possibilities," Shulman said. "We'll have a 2-man playing the 3-spot, and that ain't changing.

"I think it helps us offensively and hurts us defensively."

Playing a guard at the small forward position hinders the Mocs' defense and rebounding while increasing their scoring opportunities in the open court.

"I look at everything defensively," Shulman said. "I didn't like our defense (Saturday). I didn't like our presence on the glass."

Early games against East Tennessee State, Richmond, Missouri and Texas-Pan America will show whether the three-guard lineup is viable for the rest of the season.

"I believe it can work by running as fast as we can," Taylor said. "Our ability to make shots can hurt teams as well."

Last year, in critical situations when UTC needed a quick two points, Shulman often called for Kevin Goffney to post up on the block against his defender -- who was usually smaller -- and make a power move with his back to the basket. At 6-foot-5 and a stocky 205 pounds, Goffney usually won a one-on-one battle on the block.

Taylor, Odem and Smith have never played with their backs to the basket and don't have the size or particular skills to make post moves. They lack the size and toughness Shulman has enjoyed with Goffney, Marcus Watts and Ricky Hood in the past.

"We've always had a physical presence at the 3," Shulman said. "Ty (Patterson) has good size; Troy Cage has size; Chris Early is big; Dante Harvey has real good size. But last I checked, they're out at least a month."

But none of Shulman's traditional small forwards of the past have been able to shoot as well as Taylor, or drive to the basket like Odem, Smith or Williams.

"The benefit is that you have three threats out there on the perimeter," Shulman said. "Three guys who can handle the ball and three guys who can shoot and get to the basket."