UTC Mocs guard Greg Pryor (1) takes the ball to the top of the key at McKenzie Arena.
Ronrico White (11) of UTC runs to regain control of the ball during the basketball game between UTC and Maine in the Dr Pepper Classic at McKenzie Arena at UTC in this file photo. The Mocs won the tournament.Greg Pryor made what teammates have called the play of the year when he took a charge in the final seconds to preserve the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s 70-69 win over Wofford last Saturday.
He wouldn’t have made the same play earlier this season, when fellow point guard Ronrico White wore warmups during games and acted as another coach instead of a player. UTC couldn’t have afforded Pryor trying to take charges for the risk of fouls being called on him.
Not anymore.
Pryor, despite a decrease in his scoring and assisting, has matured some as a point guard, and White has his back off the bench. That is a luxury coach Will Wade couldn’t bank on during the preseason or much of UTC’s nonconference schedule.
“The thing about Greg is that he has a great feel for the game,” said White, a junior who began playing the point last season for former coach John Shulman. “He’s so poised out there. He doesn’t look rattled. He’s already got a trait of an older point guard — he’s cool, calm and collected.