The biggest difference between Tennessee Wesleyan playing the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga last Saturday and Virginia Intermont facing UTC in McKenzie Arena tonight is that this one counts for the Mocs -- sort of.
It will be recorded as a victory -- barring an embarrassment of ultimate proportions -- and count in the win-loss record through the season, and statistics will be stamped in the history books.
But when the RPI is calculated throughout the year, humbling an NAIA Division II team doesn't factor into the formula that helps seed NCAA tournament teams.
It's essentially a second exhibition against an Appalachian Athletic Conference member.
But UTC sophomore point guard Keegan Bell doesn't quite see it that way.
"It doesn't say 'exhibition' in front of it," said the Vanderbilt transfer, who will play in his first official game in two years. "We always have to take it as we're playing in the SoCon tournament. We have to take every game as important and just as serious and do the right thing."
Tipoff against the Cobras (0-3) is set for 7 in McKenzie Arena.
"It definitely counts because you look at the Syracuse stuff and you can get beat by anybody," Bell said. "It still counts in our eyes."
The Mocs had Saturday to shake off the rust and get acclimated to playing in front of a crowd with bright lights shining from the rafters.
"I think it's important for us to have a scrimmage like we did at Auburn and then one night to run through and wear uniforms and lights on," coach John Shulman said. "So we're ready for an opener. I wish we had 12 scholarship players instead of eight.
"But I wish I looked like George Clooney, too."
Sophomore guard Ricky Taylor watched the 103-60 win with assistant coach Brent Jolly, and they broke down every one of Taylor's defensive plays.
"I could see where I stunk it up," Taylor said. "We drill it every day, and I didn't do things I should have been. We're now looking for improvement."
And they'll be looking for it in an unofficial exhibition.
David Uchiyama is a sports writer at the Chattanooga Times Free Press who began his tenure here in May 2001. His primary beats are UTC athletics — specifically men’s basketball and athletic department administration — and golf, which includes coverage from the PGA Tour to youth events. He also covers other high school sports, outdoor adventures, and contributes to other sections of the newspaper when necessary. David grew up in Salinas, Calif., and began working ...
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