Coach Jim Foster's Mocs a young group in 2017-18

UTC guard Aryanna Gilbert, right, steals the ball from ETSU guard Malloree Schurr during a home game last season. Gilbert is the only player who was with the Mocs before Jim Foster took over as coach four years ago.
UTC guard Aryanna Gilbert, right, steals the ball from ETSU guard Malloree Schurr during a home game last season. Gilbert is the only player who was with the Mocs before Jim Foster took over as coach four years ago.

And then there was one.

When the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team begins practice this afternoon at Chattem Practice Facility, UTC coach Jim Foster and his assistants will have only one player - senior Aryanna Gilbert - on the roster who was there when Foster took over prior to the 2013-14 season.

Gilbert is one of three seniors on the roster and the only fifth-year player left. Her sister Keiana and Anne Claire Noblit are the others. Aside from that are five freshmen and a transfer, former Winthrop post Arianne Whitaker.

"We've seen a glimpse of how good we could be, but there's still a lot to get together," Aryanna said prior to the team's trip to Canada in August.

The Mocs had a chance to grow some during that trip, going 3-0 while using the time as a "bonding experience." That, along with the two practice hours per week the team was allowed during the offseason, has given the Mocs a chance to bond. They'll have five weeks prior to the season opener at Green Bay on Nov. 11.

"Five freshmen and a transfer gained great game experience," Foster said after the Canada trip. "It was culturally terrific for the players and a good bonding opportunity. A success in every phase."

With that, the Times Free Press looks at five questions surrounding the Mocs entering their first practice:

1. How good is this freshman class? Foster hasn't been shy while talking about how good this group is, and in Canada each performed well. Bria Dial led the team in scoring in one game; Brooke Burns hit nearly 80 percent of her 3-pointers; Mya Long and Jacobi Lynn ran the offense and made some spectacular plays; 6-foot-3 post Rochelle Lee played well at times. They'll get thrown into the fire with the schedule, but they have handled things well up to this point.

2. Who will replace Joyner? Jasmine Joyner was a staple in the rotation from late in her freshman season to the final game of her senior year, scoring 1,330 points (14th all-time in UTC history) with 436 blocks (eighth in NCAA history). Her defense may be irreplaceable, but Whitaker, a sophomore, may be a better offensive option, with a soft shooting touch and some good post moves at her disposal.

3. Does the team have the shooting? As a team, the Mocs shot 31.5 percent from 3-point range last season, which was the second-best mark of the Foster era behind the 2014-15 team's 33 percent. Lakelyn Bouldin was one of the best shooters in the SoCon last season at 39 percent, and with junior Shelbie Davenport, Burns, Noblit, Long and Lynn on board - proven shooters - plus Whitaker and junior Ashlyn Wert on the interior, the Mocs could easily challenge that best mark.

4. How quickly can this team come together? Foster is notorious for putting together challenging nonconference schedules in order to test his team's resolve. In some cases, team meetings and bonding sessions have been necessary, but the end result, despite the adversity, has been a 4-for-4 mark in capturing SoCon tournament titles during his tenture. With the makeup of this team being a young one, there may be growing pains, but similar to past UTC lineups, its best basketball may happen in late January and February.

5. Who steps into leadership roles? Joyner and guard Chelsey Shumpert - who has transferred to NCAA Division II Union University - filled that role last year. It's not a role that gets chosen but simply happens over the course of the season. Aryanna Gilbert would seem to be the most likely candidate because she's the most experienced, with 96 games and 70 starts in her UTC career. She would be a good fit.

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.

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