CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball team will see its first game action of the 2010-11 season hosting Tennessee Wesleyan for an exhibition game. The contest is Thursday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m., following the Lady Mocs exhibition with Lee which starts at 5:30 p.m.
Chattanooga returns three starters and 11 total letterwinners from last season. The Mocs have high expectations entering the new season.
"This is Chattanooga," head coach John Shulman said. "The same expectation is always there, and that's a championship contending squad. I'm very pleased with our work in fall camp and look forward to getting started.
"Our guys are too," added Shulman who is entering his seventh year on the Mocs' bench. "The energy and enthusiasm has been great. This team has proven to me that it will work to continuously improve and I think we'll be a lot of fun to watch. They feel like we have a lot to prove."
Starters Keegan Bell (Hazel Green, Ala.), Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.) and Jeremy Saffore (Nashville, Tenn.) return. Returnees Josh Odem (Johnson City, Tenn.), Chris Early (Huntington, W. Va.) and DeAntre Jefferson (Bloomington, Ill.) are pushing hard for starting positions.
Newcomers Omar Wattad (Johnson City, Tenn.) and Jahmal Burroughs (New Orleans, La.) are as well with Troy Cage (Baton Rouge, La.) looking better and better coming off an injury-plagued 2009-10. Dontay Hampton (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Drew Baker (Knoxville, Tenn.), Jeff Smith (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Sam Watson (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Martynas Bareika (Kedainiai, Lithuania) are battling for time as well.
"It's an exhibition game so the fans will get to see everyone as we continue to find the right mix," continued Shulman. "We return three starters, but every position is up for grabs. The competition has been fierce and that should carry over into the season."
Chattanooga officially opens the season Friday, Nov. 12, at Tennessee for a 9 p.m., tip on SportSouth. The home opener is the following Monday as the Mocs welcome Austin Peay to McKenzie Arena (7 p.m.).
Tickets are available on GoMocs.com or by calling 266-MOCS (6627). Fans can also purchase at the main ticket window at gate one of McKenzie Arena.
A position-by-position preview of the Mocs' 2010-11 season on GoMocs.com will begin on Friday, Nov. 5, with the point guards.
2010-11 NUMERICAL ROSTER
|
No.
|
Name
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Cl.
|
Hometown (Prev School)
|
|
0
|
Omar Wattad
|
G
|
6-5
|
224
|
RJr.
|
Johnson City, Tenn. (Georgetown)
|
|
2
|
Dontay Hampton
|
G
|
6-1
|
164
|
RSo.
|
Chattanooga, Tenn. (Arts & Sciences)
|
|
3
|
Keegan Bell
|
G
|
6-1
|
182
|
RJr.
|
Hazel Green, Ala. (Vanderbilt)
|
|
5
|
Drew Baker
|
F
|
6-7
|
190
|
So.
|
Knoxville, Tenn. (Karns)
|
|
10
|
Josh Odem
|
G
|
6-5
|
170
|
So.
|
Johnson City, Tenn. (Science Hill)
|
|
11
|
Ryan Gentle
|
F
|
6-5
|
179
|
Fr.
|
Nashville, Tenn. (Franklin Road Academy)
|
|
12
|
Troy Cage
|
G
|
6-5
|
195
|
Sr.
|
Baton Rouge, La. (Kilgore J.C.)
|
|
13
|
Martynas Bareika
|
G
|
6-4
|
188
|
Fr.
|
Kedainiai, Lithuania (Triobet-Malsta)
|
|
14
|
Jeff Smith
|
G
|
6-5
|
182
|
Gr.
|
Chattanooga, Tenn. (Tyner)
|
|
*20
|
Drazen Zlovaric
|
F
|
6-9
|
206
|
Jr.
|
Novi Sad, Serbia (Georgia)
|
|
21
|
Chris Early
|
F
|
6-7
|
242
|
Jr.
|
Huntington, W. Va. (Huntington)
|
|
22
|
Ricky Taylor
|
G
|
6-5
|
175
|
Jr.
|
Brownsville, Tenn. (Heywood County)
|
|
24
|
Micah Ballard
|
G
|
6-3
|
166
|
Fr.
|
Maryville, Tenn. (William Blount)
|
|
32
|
Jahmal Burroughs
|
F
|
6-6
|
210
|
Jr.
|
New Orleans, La. (Neosho County C.C.)
|
|
34
|
DeAntre Jefferson
|
C
|
6-8
|
231
|
Sr.
|
Bloomington, Ill. (Vincennes Coll.)
|
|
44
|
Sam Watson
|
F
|
6-7
|
256
|
So.
|
Knoxville, Tenn. (Farragut)
|
|
53
|
Jeremy Saffore
|
C
|
7-1
|
225
|
RSr.
|
Nashville, Tenn. (Hillwood)
|
*Sitting out 2010-11 due to NCAA transfer rules
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