Seniors’ experience crucial for UTC men’s basketball team

UTC senior Greg Pryor shoots over Tennessee Wesleyan's Lenny Pradia during a game last month at McKenzie Arena. Having five senior starters should be a major asset for the Mocs in Southern Conference road games this season. UTC senior Greg Pryor shoots over Tennessee Wesleyan's Lenny Pradia during a game last month at McKenzie Arena. Having five senior starters should be a major asset for the Mocs in Southern Conference road games this season.

By Gene Henley January 2, 2017 3 min read

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Matt McCall wasn’t worried about his team’s slow start Saturday at Western Carolina.

Why? His players had been through the wars before.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball team used eight players in its 64-48 win over the Catamounts to begin Southern Conference play, but the lineup on the floor most often was the obvious choice – the one with five experienced senior starters.

Jonathan Burroughs-Cook, Casey Jones, Tre’ McLean, Greg Pryor and Justin Tuoyo played the vast majority of the game, with none totaling fewer than 25 minutes. They combined for 61 points, 21 of the team’s 31 rebounds and eight of its 13 assists.

They also helped beyond the stat sheet by not panicking after falling behind 14-5 to the Catamounts early. The start was eerily similar to the Mocs’ game in Cullowhee last season, when UTC trailed by 19 points before losing 67-61.