UTC men's basketball coach Matt McCall shouts instructions during a scrimmage last month. The Mocs face NCAA Division III member Covenant College in an exhibition game Friday and open the season Nov. 13 at Georgia.The date is getting so close, Tre' McLean couldn't contain his excitement recently.
The more the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga junior guard/forward learns his role in new head basketball coach Matt McCall's system, the more he likes it.
And seemingly, so does the rest of the team.
Through 30 days of practices and scrimmages, along with a number of preseason workouts, the Mocs have focused on execution leading up to their exhibition against NCAA Division III Covenant College at 7 p.m. Friday at McKenzie Arena.
"The time is approaching, so we know we need to pick it up," McLean said recently. "We're all excited because we can accomplish things. There are bigger achievements ahead of us, so as the season approaches, we're just trying to tighten up and execute."
Overall, there isn't too much difference between McCall's system and that of former UTC coach Will Wade, who utilized a dribble-drive system to create shots for players off the bounce. McCall, a former Florida assistant, has a lot of pick-and-rolls and pick-and-pops to free shooters for open looks.
"Coach McCall has done a great job instilling confidence in us," said the 6-foot-5 McLean, who averaged 14.5 points, nine rebounds and four assists in two scrimmages. "Everyone needs to be a basketball player and not just a robot, so we're just out there trying to play and have fun playing basketball. This system gives us a lot of space to be basketball players and not just robots."
Junior center Justin Tuoyo was held out of a recent intrasquad scrimmage, while junior forward Chuck Ester was limited. Both were back not long after, but the coaching staff has had to monitor how much work the players are getting, with practice having started Oct. 9.
"There's a lot of time between the first practice and the first game," McCall said recently. "You can use the time how you want, but we have a great strength and training staff, and the guys can get extra rehab to get their legs underneath them."
McCall likes the way players have adapted to the new system and new offense. They'll continue to prepare in anticipation of their Nov. 13 season opener at Georgia.
"I think we're doing a pretty decent job taking care of the ball," McCall said. "Our execution offensively has got better, but now we have to get our legs under us as we start to prepare for a game."
Special contest
In an attempt to drum up a connection between the team and the student body, Mocs coaches will take on students in a 3-on-3 game Tuesday in the UTC Aquatics and Recreation Center across from McKenzie Arena.
For the students, it won't be easy. Director of basketball operations Eddie Shannon played at Florida and was recently named a Southeastern Conference Legend. Jacob Kurtz, the video coordinator, walked on at Florida, is 6-foot-7 and started seven games for the Gators during the 2014-15 season.
Assistant coach Jesse Bopp played at Division III program Plymouth State in New Hampshire, while strength and conditioning coach Collin Crane played at Carson-Newman.
McCall, a solid high school player who turned down an opportunity to play at Division I program Stetson to attend Florida and pursue his coaching dream, is expected to play as well.
The coaches will play Team Get Buckets, who won a 13-team qualifying tournament. The game will be played to 15 points, and the winner must win by two.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.