Matt McCall needed to clear the air.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball coach sat at a podium in McKenzie Arena on Wednesday and spoke with the media about a variety of topics for 30 minutes.
A news report that came out Sunday night indicated senior forward Tre' McLean was "likely" out for the season after leaving the bench at the beginning of the second half of the Mocs' 64-54 loss to Mercer this past Saturday, which was senior day and the Mocs' home finale for the season. The report also alleged McLean and senior Johnathan Burroughs-Cook "had to be separated" in the locker room at halftime.
McCall said Tuesday the report was not true.
"There was no fight," he said. "A lot has been said and written, and that's where you can get frustrated as a coach, is when things leave the locker room - which is supposed to be a sacred place - and things are said that aren't necessarily factual.
"It can really break down trust."
McLean did miss Monday's game at The Citadel in his hometown of Charleston, S.C., serving a one-game suspension for "conduct detrimental to the team." UTC lost 85-76, its fourth straight defeat, and dropped to 19-11 overall while finishing 10-8 in the Southern Conference.
McCall said Wednesday that McLean, a 6-foot-5 forward and All-SoCon selection (second team by coaches, third team by media), could play in UTC's conference tournament quarterfinal against Wofford (15-16) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C.
McLean's All-SoCon honors came after he averaged a team-leading 13.6 points to go with per-game averages of 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals while shooting a career-best 39.1 percent from 3-point range.
"There's been a plan laid out for Tre' to be a part of this team going forward," said McCall, who is in his second season leading the program. "He understands that because he knows the culture and he knows the standard here."
Tuoyo honored
UTC senior Justin Tuoyo was named SoCon defensive player of the year for the third consecutive season, the league office announced Wednesday.
The 6-foot-10 center set a career high by averaging 6.7 rebounds per game this season, when he led the league with an average of 2.9 blocks per game and also averaged a career-best 13.6 points. The All-SoCon selection was named to the first team by coaches and the second team by media.
Furman's Devin Sibley was named SoCon player of the year after averaging 17.3 points and shooting 45 percent from 3-point range, while the Paladins' Niko Medved, who guided the team to a 21-10 record and a share of the SoCon championship, was named coach of the year.
The Citadel's Preston Parks, who averaged 18 points, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals, was named freshman of the year.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.