UTC BasketballIf there is anything that Alex Bran has proven over his University of Tennessee at Chattanooga career, it’s that he always will be ready if sent into a game.
So Thursday evening shouldn’t have been a surprise.
The 6-foot-2 senior walk-on guard made two 3-pointers in the Mocs’ 77-58 Southern Conference win over Western Carolina on Thursday.
UTC coach Matt McCall said later that due to Bran’s practice effort, he felt good putting him in the game early. Bran responded by hitting the two long shots.
“He has had the right focus in practice and has done whatever we’ve asked him to do every day,” McCall said. “Whether it be on the scout team, run opposition plays, he’s done it. I just felt at shootaround today, he was moving really well and was into it.
“He’s completely fearless. He’s not afraid when he goes in: He’s not afraid to shoot, not afraid to put his body out there or make the right plays. That guy has put his heart and soul in this program for four years, and to see him have success in a league game, I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
This is nothing new for Bran, who played at St. George’s in Memphis and was a Mr. Football finalist his senior season. At UTC, he was inserted in a December 2012 game against then nonconference opponent Mercer and scored 10 points in what turned out to be a 63-53 loss. He joined the Mocs program with the intention of proving himself as a viable option and has done just that for three separate coaching staffs.
“I just make sure I pay attention in practice and in pregame, just so that way when my number is called I don’t look like an idiot out there and I know what I’m doing,” Bran said. “I know what to expect.”
Bran has scored 188 points in his college career, with 38 of his 67 made shots coming from 3-point range. He steps onto the court expecting to make those shots if given the opportunity, and if the first one goes in? Watch out.
“As soon as I see the first one go in, I have no doubt the next shot is going in,” he said. “Selfishly, I can’t wait to get the shot off, but I want to make sure I take a good shot. I like creating opportunities for my teammates as well.”
He became a fan favorite when he had the big game against the Bears. He’s always been a favorite of his teammates, who have gone from just happy for his success to somewhat expecting him to succeed when he enters the game.
“We have confidence in Alex and his shot,” junior guard Greg Pryor said. “Whenever he touches the ball, we want him to shoot the ball. We have no complaints about him shooting.”
Since the loss to Furman in which the ball didn’t move much on the offensive end of the court, the Mocs have had five players in double figures in each of their two games – wins over Wofford and Western Carolina. The team’s defensive effort has been solid in those games, too, as defending the 3 – a weakness earlier in the season – and rebounding have improved.
“Tonight really showed us how important it is to move the ball around and guard the 3,” Bran said. “It’s good to see us do those things well, and if we do, we can stop anybody.
“Even if we’re playing a team we can beat by 20, it’s still important to do that.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.