Jim Foster only knows life at the top while at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The fourth-year Mocs coach inherited a women’s basketball program that was coming off a Southern Conference championship the year before his arrival. With a 52-3 record in league play under Foster’s direction, the Mocs have continued their SoCon success.
But it hasn’t been easy.
As teams at the bottom of the SoCon standings keep improving and other contenders get better, the Mocs have remained the constant in the league, and they will try to maintain that standard tonight at UNC Greensboro (14-12, 5-6). The game tips off at 7.
The Mocs (15-9, 9-1) hold a half-game lead over Mercer (20-5, 9-2) for the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament, and they have already swept the season series with the Bears.
“We’re first place,” Foster said after the Mocs won at East Tennessee State last Friday to sweep another season series. “We’ve been in first place essentially for the four years I’ve been here. It’s hard to stay in first place. It’s easier to get there than it is to stay there, but you have to play like you’re the best team, because everybody’s going to give you their best shot.”
The Buccaneers did just that in Friday’s game, taking a six-point lead into the locker room at halftime. The Mocs responded by outscoring them 26-8 in the third period and won 70-62.
UTC answered the bell at Mercer, at Samford and at Wofford. The only hiccup was Jan. 28 at Furman, a 65-48 loss, but tonight will provide another test, because the Spartans battled the Mocs to the final possession in the first meeting before falling 58-55 on Jan. 21 in Chattanooga.
The Mocs played very well most of the game and led by 19 points late in the third quarter, but the Spartans outscored them 24-8 in the final 13 minutes, and along the way they gained confidence in their ability to play with the Mocs.
UTC players have talked all season about knowing they have to bring their best, considering they will enter every game as the hunted. That will be the case tonight.
But that’s expected when you’re at the top.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.