GETTING INSIDE

Chattanooga could at least go into its holiday break on a positive note. After dropping consecutive games to Georgia Tech and Murray State, the Moccasins took care of business against lower-tiered Tennessee Temple before taking an eight-day layoff.

And while few expected the Mocs to struggle in the game, coach John Shulman was able to see something at times this season he never thought would come—production from the bench.

Three reserves—DeAntre Jefferson, Ricky Taylor and Jeff Smith—scored in double figures in the game.

“They came out and did what we asked,” Shulman said. “We are still in this learning process and some of these guys are going to have to learn by the seat of their pants. It is a great way to happen. The quickest way to your brain is through your tail.”

The bench production could turn into a key component of the Mocs’ season. Between injuries and suspension, Shulman’s team has already had to alter plan after plan in preparation for the Southern Conference season.

Additionally, knowing that one or two injuries might not derail everything the Mocs have worked for thus far this season is knowledge the relatively inexperienced squad can use. It’s an approach even the players understand they need to have.

As for what a fully healthy Chattanooga team can do? Well, those same players believe it could be something pretty special.

“We always have something going on, somebody’s sick or somebody’s hurt,” Taylor said. “When we get everybody together we are going to be a loaded basketball team.

“We are not even close to where we need to be. We are taking steps forward, but we have a lot of room for improvements. We just need to focus and listen to coach and we can be successful.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• With two more games in the books, previously suspended guard Ty Patterson has kept up the scoring output he had in his first two. The 6-foot-6 Patterson, who was out during the fall semester because of academic issues, has averaged 16.5 points per game through his first four games, all starts. Heading into the team’s Dec. 29 game against Long Island, Patterson was leading the team in points per game.

• Coach John Shulman recorded his 96th victory at Chattanooga on Dec. 21 against Tennessee Temple. With four more victories, he will become the fifth Mocs’ coach to win at least 100 games. The last to reach that number was Mack McCarthy, who won 243 games between 1986 and 1997.

January At A Glance:   As well as guard Keegan Bell has played when he’s been healthy, the Mocs are struggling mightily with ball possession. Bell, who earlier in December ranked sixth in the country in assists, has played a part in Chattanooga’s massive turnover number. Through Dec. 27, the Mocs hav more turnovers, 224, than any other team in the Southern Conference. Getting that problem fixed might be priority No. 1 for coach John Shulman, who is watching scoring opportunities disappear in droves.

Quote To Note:   “I love that it sets you up in the right places to score. Now it is just learning the plays, playing at the right speed and being aggressive within the offense. As the season progresses more and more, people are going to start to click into it and learn how to play their game within the system.”—Junior DeAntre Jefferson, on the team’s inexperienced players getting used to coach John Shulman’s offensive approach.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Season Recap:   Seemingly everyone who has put on a Mocs’ uniform this season has been prone to missing court time. Leading scoring Ty Patterson missed the first eight games while serving an academic-related suspension. Troy Cage (leg) has yet to suit up and might not this season. Dante Harvey (wrist) hasn’t played since Dec. 1. Keegan Bell (stomach virus) was limited in back-to-back games in December. Needless to say, it’s tough to put together strategy when you don’t know who is going to be available.

Player Rotation:   Usual Starters—G Keegan Bell, G Josh Odem, G Ty Patterson, F Ridge McKeither, C Jeremy Saffore. Key Subs—G Ricky Taylor, F DeAntre Jefferson, G Jeff Smith, G Jasper Williams.

Game Review:  

Georgia Tech 95, Chattanooga 64

Murray State 73, Chattanooga, 62

Chattanooga 84, Tennessee Temple 52

Game Preview:  

Vs. Long Island, Tuesday, Dec. 29

Vs. Eastern Kentucky or Morgan State, Wednesday, Dec. 30

At Georgia Southern, Wednesday, Jan. 6

Vs. UNC Greensboro, Monday, Jan. 11

Vs. The Citadel, Thursday, Jan. 14

In Focus:   The Mocs’ are the only Southern Conference team to have played only one league game heading into January. And seeing as the injury-riddled team has yet to jell completely, that’s probably a good thing. But Chattanooga can even its conference record at 1-1 on Jan. 6 at Georgia Southern. The Mocs certainly don’t want to start 0-2 in the Southern Conference with Western Carolina and Appalachian State in position to put major pressure on Chattanooga to perform early and often.

Roster Report:  

• Starting point guard Keegan Bell, who transferred from Vanderbilt after the 2007-2008 season, was limited against Murray State on Dec. 19 because of a stomach virus. Bell played only eight minutes after not starting. He returned to the starting lineup Dec. 21 against Tennessee Temple, but he took only one shot. Previous to the Murray State game, Bell was ranked eighth in the country in assists.

• Junior forward Troy Cage could miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right leg. Cage, a highly touted junior college transfer, has yet to play this season.

• Likewise, sophomore forward Dante Harvey is out until at least mid-January because of a wrist injury he suffered against Jacksonville State on Dec. 1. Harvey struggled in the four games he appeared in before the injury, averaging under one point per game.