The workout has become pretty routine for Eric Robertson.
Spot-up 3-pointers from the wing. Fade-outs to the corner for catch-and-shoot 3s. He practices it over and over, to the point where the muscle memory associated with the exercise has been learned. He said that he makes anywhere from “10-40” shots from six different spots a day.
As a result, he’s become a valuable contributor to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as a 3-point marksman. He makes an average of 47.6 percent of his 3-point tries, which leads the Southern Conference. That number would rank second in the nation if he had enough makes to qualify for the statistic.
Yet, according to UTC coach Will Wade, his value to the team reaches far beyond his stroke. The 6-foot-4 junior has also become the team’s emotional leader, and that value will be important as the Mocs (20-9, 13-3) enter the final weekend of the season, which begins tonight in Lexington, Va., against Virginia Military Institute (11-16, 7-9).
“He has such a great spirit and a great attitude,” Wade said Monday. “He gets us going every day in practice, and that’s going to be impossible to replace when he leaves. He would never admit this, but he’s done as much to help Duke (Ethridge) develop as anybody; he’s a tremendous team player. He’s always talking guys up, and by the time he’s done everybody’s ready to go. I can do those things, but it means much more coming from the players.
“I can’t tell you how valuable he is.”
With his teammates, Robertson is a big-time talker and motivator. He’s always furiously clapping his hands and talking it up with his teammates both before and during games. The chatter ends with the guys wearing his colors, though. No trash-talking involved.
“I don’t talk in that way,” Robertson said. “Some will talk to me like that, but my talking is on the court. I don’t talk to to the other team; I like to encourage mine. I don’t like boasting in that manner.”
He came to UTC as more of an all-around player. He played point guard at Lee High School in Huntsville, Ala., averaging 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. When Wade took over in 2013, the Mocs were in need of shooters, and although he didn’t know it at the time, Robertson seemed a natural fit for that role.
“I really focused on it in offseason workouts,” Robertson said. “It’s worked out pretty well for me.”
Added Wade: “He spends a lot of time at it before and after practice. He has a good routine and work ethic. It’s not just the ones he makes; his value extends well beyond that, because when he’s on the court, even when he’s not making shots he causes a defender to sit out in the corner with him, so it opens up driving angles for others guys that otherwise wouldn’t be there.”
Tonight’s game will pit the two teams that allow the fewest number of 3-point attempts per game in the conference — although it’s been for two separate reasons. VMI allows only an average of 14.7 attempts per game — slightly better than UTC’s 14.9. Of course, Keydet opponents don’t have to shoot 3-pointers because opponents get better shot opportunities against VMI’s wide-open, fast-breaking style of play. That didn’t phase Robertson, who made all five of his shots — including three 3s — in the Mocs’ 86-64 win over the Keydets on Jan. 22 in Chattanooga.
“I am excited for the game,” Robertson said, “but not because I know I’m going to get open looks. I’m excited for every game because it’s another opportunity for us to play and hopefully get a win.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.