Time remained on the clock for the final four-minute stretching period.
But University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball coach John Shulman has been waiting for this day since last season came to a merciless end.
“Coach Eddie Fogler called me today to wish me luck on the season and told me to have fun with the team,” Shulman said. “I’d like to have fun. This is a basketball game. Sometimes we work so hard it’s not fun.”
The Mocs held their first official practice of the 2010-11 season Friday afternoon in McKenzie Arena. They’ve been working in small groups and individual workouts and playing pickup games since school started.
But the work wasn’t like Friday’s organized practice with offensive drills, defensive periods and an emphasis on playing with enthusiasm.
UTC senior Troy Cage hasn’t been very enthusiastic during his 14 months on campus. He’s spent more time in the operating room than on the floor.
Three surgeries since December – one to insert a rod in his shin, one to remove screws from that surgery and a superficial surgery on his left knee this summer – have limited the former UNLV player, who played only 58 minutes in eight games late last season.
He spent more time this summer in physical rehabilitation than in workouts and pickup games.
“I’m excited because nobody knows what I can do,” Cage said. “I don’t even know what I can do. I’m out here trying to find myself as a basketball player.”
Cage played through Friday’s practice with a little shin pain that he’ll have to endure the entire season. But he ran, jumped, dunked, juked, shot and looked healthier than at any point last season.
“On the court, it’s a new and fresh start, but in the back of my mind, I know that this is my last time,” Cage said. “I can only remember two games from last year when I had significant minutes. When people ask how many games I played, I tell them two.”
He hopes to play his way into a starting role at small forward.
“I’m glad he’s finally back,” junior guard Ricky Taylor said. “He’s a big addition to us, and I think he brings a lot to the table.”
The next four weeks of practice will help Cage find himself again and prepare the Mocs for their season opener at Tennessee on Nov. 12 at 9 p.m. Until then, the Mocs are all talking about practice – especially Cage.
“This is a big adrenaline rush,” Cage said. “I’m happy to be back on the court and able to play right now. I’m excited to see what this year is going to bring.”