Not just a basketball coach, Will Wade is also a guy who loves history. He was a history major at Clemson, after all.
Monday became a day for an excellent teaching point.
With the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga out for the celebration of Martin Luther King Day, the second-year Mocs coach spent time talking with his team about the historical significance of the occasion. The team watched King’s “I Have A Dream” speech and Wade gave a 20-minute lesson on Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
“I want to maximize the day. Every little detail matters,” Wade said. “We have to get the most out of the day, so with the guys being off school today, they needed to understand why they’re out of school.”
It was nothing new to senior guard Ronrico White, who at Bearden High School in Knoxville played for Mark Blevins, another history buff. White said Blevins would take his team to the nearest battleground on road trips.
“Not everybody does that,” White said. “Whether it’s Presidents’ Day or MLK Day, it’s good to have a little knowledge and a little background as to what it really is and what it symbolizes.”
The Mocs (12-7, 5-1), who are currently tied for second in the Southern Conference, had a light practice in the morning in preparation for Thursday’s home game against Virginia Military Institute. The Keydets (7-12, 3-5) lead the conference in scoring and lead the nation in possessions per game (77).
UTC’s home opponent Saturday, UNC Greensboro (6-13, 2-4), is another pressing team with a lot of size.
The Mocs are hoping for added attendance this week.
“We’re excited to continue to defend the home court,” Wade said. “We hope to have some great crowds and start building in the second half of the conference season.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.