The Associated Press preseason women’s basketball poll was released Friday, and three of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s first eight opponents are among the top 19 teams.
For a young Lady Mocs squad with just two returning starters and five freshmen on the roster, the accelerator may need to be hit on the maturation process because No. 4 Tennessee, No. 9 Kentucky and No. 19 Georgia await UTC in the first month of the season.
Lady Mocs coach Wes Moore said the freshmen are coming along, with good days and not-so-good days, during the first few weeks of practice.
Blue & Gold TipoffWhen: About 11:45 a.m. (after the football team’s Moc Walk)Where: First Tennessee PavilionWhat’s happening: The UTC men’s and women’s basketball teams will shoot around and give fans a look at the players. There will be contests for fans and interviews with the coaches. Afterward, the women’s team will head over to Finley Stadium to receive their 2010 Southern Conference championship rings.
“I don’t know if they’re gym rats, but I do think they have a passion for the game,” he said. “I haven’t seen a whole lot of sour looks on the face and that sort of thing. Again, sometimes I’ve seen some dazed looks on the face, but I think for the most part they’ve bought in, and I think it helps when everybody’s on that same page.”