UTC Mocs logoAfter starting its week with away games in Wisconsin and Indiana, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball team gets a much more manageable road trip today. The Mocs travel to Tennessee Tech for a 7 p.m. EST tipoff in Cookeville.
In a game being played 100 miles from McKenzie Arena, the Golden Eagles will be the first opponent this season on a general par with the Mocs. Hiwassee was overmatched in the season opener; Wisconsin, ranked No. 3 in the nation, was too much for the Mocs, and really so was Butler, although as expected, there were glimpses of promise for UTC in that game.
Tonight’s game promises to be a grueling affair, as the Mocs will have to combat the size of Tech’s starting frontcourt of 6-foot-10, 225-pound Charles Jackson and 6-8, 245-pounder Dwan Caldwell. The Golden Eagles outrebounded National Christian College Athletic Association opponent Piedmont International 61 to 28 in a 54-point win in their season opener and then went to Los Angeles and held a 42-33 backboards advantage over Southern California despite a 70-58 loss to the Trojans.
The Mocs have been outrebounded in their two games against Division I opponents.
“That game’s going to be a bloodbath in the paint,” UTC coach Will Wade said. “They are a heck of a rebounding team. It’s going to be a close game, and both teams are going to go after it.