University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball coach Matt McCall was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year by both the coaches and the media on Tuesday.
In addition, center Justin Tuoyo and forward Tre’ McLean were named to all-conference teams, with the 6-foot-10 Tuoyo earning his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award. McLean was first team by the media, while Tuoyo was a second-team nod. Both were named to the coaches’ 10-player all-conference team.
In his first season as head coach, the 34-year old McCall led the Mocs to a 26-5 regular-season mark and a 15-3 record against SoCon competition that was the league’s best for the Mocs’ first conference title since 1994.
He guided the Mocs to road wins over Dayton and Georgia, as well as Big Ten member Illinois in a neutral site game. In league play, the Mocs swept Mercer, Wofford and East Tennessee State – teams expected to challenge UTC in the preseason – and split with Furman, who finished third in the league.
McLean averaged 12.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals for Mocs, becoming possibly the team’s most indispensable player in league play. In 18 conference games, his numbers bumped up to 14.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
Tuoyo averaged 11.6 points and 5.2 rebounds, while blocking a league-high 68 shots in 29 games. He had 20 games with multiple blocks and 17 with at least 10 points.
The Mocs next play in the quarterfinals of the SoCon tournament Saturday against the winner of Samford and Virginia Military Institute.
For a full story, read Wednesday’s Times Free Press.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.