UTC Mocs near bottom but cling to hope

UTC's head mens basketball coach John Shulman

The Mocs are close to rock bottom.

After losing 77-76 in the waning seconds to UNC Greensboro on Saturday, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball team shares the Southern Conference North Division cellar with Western Carolina (10-17, 4-10 ). That leaves only The Citadel in the South with fewer overall and SoCon wins.

"I'd say we're not at the top mentally," Mocs coach John Shulman said. "I'm not going to put us in the valley, either. As long as we've got things to play for, which we do, I don't think you can ever say you're at the bottom."

But they're close.

Four games remain in the regular season, followed by an opening-round game in the SoCon tournament.

The Mocs have only two chances to keep from being the only team in UTC's Division I history to go winless on the road. The first chance is Wednesday at Appalachian State.

This UTC squad also is three defeats away from being the only 20-loss team in the school's Division I era. A certain loss to end the season and two more along the way would get the 2011-12 Mocs to that dubious mark.

"I don't know if we as a team feel that we've hit rock bottom where there's no hope," point guard Keegan Bell said over the phone Monday. "Rock bottom is when it's all said and done.

"UNCG was frustrating because we felt like we could get on a roll. But Greensboro kind of closed it out. It's still frustrating because it's little mistakes."

That's been the theme all year in a season with many more lowlights than highlights.

"I think we're ... beyond mad," Bell said. "But when things don't bounce your way, you can't stay mad, because if all you do is get mad, that's a childish way to do things. Let's be mad because we know we can play better."

Shulman gave his players Sunday to recuperate and ordered them to shoot and lift weights on their own Monday.

He is setting up preparations for the final four SoCon games, and possibly if they keep winning in Asheville, four tournament games.

"The biggest thing is that we are mentally fresh and physically fresh," Shulman said. "For all we've been through, that is a concern."

Senior Ricky Taylor said he grabbed little sleep after the Spartans stole a victory from the Mocs on Saturday. He also said he hasn't slept well much of the season.

"It's hard to forget and it's hard to let go," Taylor said. "I was replaying the whole game in my mind and thinking about the team mistakes and the individual mistakes."

The season is not over for the Mocs. They are guaranteed to play at least five more times this season, but they're already locked out of a first-round bye in the SoCon tournament.

"We can heat up real quick and gain some momentum," Taylor said. "I'm not concerned about the bye."

Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.