Hoop Mocs stretch minds

Jeremy Saffore could have made big plans for a Friday night following a 107-62 basketball win over Virginia Intermont earlier in the evening.

After all, he had the best game of his career at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with 15 points and 13 rebounds. He had every reason to celebrate.

But his plans were rather mundane. They included a take-out box from Chili's, a remote control for the flat-screen and a hot-water heater turned on full blast.

"Eat, watch some TV, shower, sleep," Saffore said. "We've got practice in the morning."

Coach John Shulman considered giving Saffore and the Mocs a day off Saturday. But the coach and competitor in him wanted to practice and improve, especially with a game against East Tennessee State looming Tuesday in McKenzie Arena.

He settled on a compromise -- a day of mental practice. Then his guys could have fun at the Mocs' football game, in which UTC came from 15 points down to win 31-28.

The basketball Mocs spent almost as much time watching their game on a big screen Saturday as they did playing it Friday night. Some details were precise down to the number of dribbles a player should have taken on a play and how another player should have been a few more inches into the lane to help on defense.

"We needed to exercise our minds and not our bodies today," Shulman said. "We got very detailed. Then we walked through a few things for game preparation."

Watching the game again re-emphasized a few things Shulman thought after the game. Sophomore point guard Keegan Bell played like he should every night. Redshirt freshman Dontaye Hampton, a walk-on, played well. Saffore had a good game, as did the rest of the starters -- nothing spectacular, just solid.

"I felt that I was much better than the Wesleyan (exhibition) game," said Bell, who had 12 points, six assists and five steals. "Our traps were better, and when there's two big guys down there and you're in that interceptor spot, you're like a football player ready to intercept the ball.

"I felt back to normal, and it was fun."

But the reserves need to play better for UTC to succeed against comparable competition, especially junior Jeff Smith and sophomore Jasper Williams. Walk-ons Sam Watson and Drew Baker are included in that "need improvement" mix as well.

"I liked our first bunch, but I don't think our second bunch played very good at all, and that's a problem because they're going to have to play," Shulman said. "I thought we were much better, especially early, than we were against Tennessee Wesleyan."