LINKS: Notes | Tickets (Home) | Samford
 
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
LINKS: Access links for video, audio and live stats on the men's basketball schedule page on GoMocs.com.
TV/VIDEO: ESPN3 (Samford Production).
RADIO: The Mocs Sports Network flagship station is 96.1 the Legend FM in Chattanooga. Jim Reynolds is in his 36th year as the play-by-play "Voice of the Mocs".
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow the action on Twitter @GoMocsMBB. Get interactive using the hashtags GoMocs and ReptheC.
 
NEXT UP         
Monday, Feb. 1 vs. The Citadel, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 4 vs. Wofford, 7:30 p.m. (DH)
Saturday, Feb. 6 vs. Furman, 5 p.m. (DH)
 
TICKET PROMOTIONS
The UTC ticketing and marketing staffs have two special ticket deals for the final six SoCon contests this season. Fans can purchase a lower level ticket for $60. For the more adventurous types, there is the "Mocs Win, You Win" offer. The ticket costs $30 and is good for the next game as long as the Mocs win at home where they sport an 8-0 mark on the year.
 
RANKINGS
Chattanooga is No. 6 in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, The poll is announced on Mondays here.
 
STARTING FIVE
- Chattanooga leads the Southern Conference at 6-1. ETSU (6-2) is second followed by Furman (6-3) in third, while Mercer (5-3) and Wofford (5-3) are tied for fourth. UNCG rounds out top six at 4-4. Complete SoCon standings and upcoming schedule are on page 8 of the notes package.
- The Mocs are looking for their first 18-3 start since opening the 1982-83 season (26-3).
- Samford is the program's most frequent opponent with this being the 90th meeting between the two.
- Chattanooga is 15-0 when scoring 70 or more points. The Bulldogs are 6-7 when their opponents top 70. Check out the indicators on page 9 of the notes package.
- Looking for consistency? UTC shot 47.5 from the field over the first 10 games and 47.4 percent over the next 10. Stat splits are listed on page 4 of the notes package.
 
OPENING TIPS
- The Mocs lead the series 53-36, 16-24 in Birmingham. It's a 10-4 advantage in regular season league play. More series notes on page 6 of the notes package.
- After eight days with the VMI postponement, UTC had eight days off. It starts a four-game-in-eight-day stretch at Samford. Complete schedule on page 2 of the notes package.
- Good offensive run for UTC shooting 50.8 percent (101-199) from the field, 44.0 percent (33-75) from 3pt range and 76.1 percent (86-113) from the free throw line over last four contests.
- Last three 18-3 or better openings? 1982-83 (26-3), 1981-82 (27-3) and 1973-74 (19-3).
- Last 17-4 start? 1983-84 squad started 20-4 reaching the second round of the NIT beating Georgia and losing to Tennessee.
- Last time 7-1 or better in the SoCon? 2014-15 (7-1). Last time 6-2? 2004-05 (6-2).
- UTC is 393-221 (.640) in regular season SoCon games, 154-154 (.500) on the road.
- Chattanooga has won 12 of its last 13 and 14 of 16.
- The Mocs are 33-8 (.805) in league play since start of the 2013-14 slate. They're 15-6 (.714) on the road over that span.
- Leading the SoCon in scoring margin (+9.8), FG% (47.5), 3pt% (39.5), blocks (4.8) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3).
- Individual league leaders: Justin Tuoyo in blocks (2.5). Complete SoCon stat rankings (overall & league games only) are on page 9 of the notes package.
- Greg Pryor has scored in double digits in three of the last four games. He's made 29 of his last 30 free throws (96.7%).
- Eric Robertson has 37 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in the last two contests.
- Tre' McLean averages during four-game win streak: 16.0 points, 6.5 boards, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game shooting 52.4 percent (22-42) from the field, 46.2 percent (6-13) from 3pt range) and 77.8 percent (14-18) from the line.
- Chuck Ester is averaging 7.5 points, 5.6 boards, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per contest since taking over for Casey Jones in the starting lineup (12 games).
- Justin Tuoyo averages during four-game win streak: 18.0 points, 5.3 boards and 2.8 blocks per game shooting 63.9 percent (23-36) from the field and 78.1 percent (25-32) from the charity stripe.
- How balanced is the UTC offensive attack? 10 student-athletes have tallied double digits, eight in multiple games: Pryor (12 times), McLean (11), Tuoyo (10), Robertson (8), Casey Jones (6), Johnathan Burroughs-Cook (6), Ester (6), Duke Ethridge (5), Dee Oldham (1) and Peyton Woods (1).
- For more information, click the notes link above to access game notes for both programs.
 
HEAD COACH MATT MCCALL
- Head Coach Matt McCall is 17-3 in his first season as a head coach. He comes to Chattanooga from Florida where he was an assistant to Billy Donovan over the last four years. He is 7-3 in away games.
- First Mocs ball coach to start his tenure 17-3 or better. Next best through 20 games? Ron Shumate opened 16-4 in 1972-73.
- McCall is a 2004 graduate of Florida. He spent 10 seasons with Billy Donovan working as a student manager (2003-06), director of basketball ops (2006-08) and assistant coach (2011-15). He spent three seasons as an assistant to Mike Jarvis at Florida Atlantic (2008-11) culminating with a school-best 21-11 mark in 2010-11.
- McCall's staff includes a former head coach, Reggie Witherspoon (Buffalo, 1999-2013), fellow former FAU assistant Peter Gash and Jesse Bopp, a former prep school head coach that most recently served as director of basketball ops for Shaka Smart at VCU. Former Gator SEC Legend Eddie Shannon is the director of basketball ops, while Jacob Kurtz is video coordinator after completing his playing career in 2015 at UF. Jordan Clark returns as graduate manager.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS    
- 11-10, 2-6 in the Southern Conference. 5-2 at home, 2-1 in league play.
- Head Coach Scott Padgett is 25-28 in his second season as a collegiate head coach, all at Samford. He is 9-17 in SoCon games and has a 0-2 mark against the Mocs, 0-1 in Birmingham.
- Darius Jones-Gibson is the team leader in points at 15.0 per game. Christen Cunningham adds 13.1 points per contest.
- Wyatt Walker (9.1 ppg) leads the way on the boards (5.8 rpg) and shooting (57.6%).
- Matt Rose (9.8 ppg) is the leader in 3pt percentage making more than two a game at a 44.9 percent clip.
- Jones-Gibson, Cunningham, Jamal Shabazz (8.2 ppg) and Iman Johnson (4.7 ppg) have started all 21 games. Walker has opened 19 contests.
 
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ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
- The Mocs are by far the most successful program in the Southern Conference since joining the league in 1977-78. The team has won 28 titles with 10 regular season, 10 tournament and eight division.
- 15 NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1961 (DII), 1973 (DII), 1975 (DII), 1976 (DII Runner-up), 1977 (DII National Champs), 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 (Sweet 16), 2005, 2009
- 10 SoCon Tournament Crowns: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2009
- 10 SoCon Regular Season Championships: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
- 8 Division Titles: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011
- The 1997 team went to the NCAA Sweet 16 with wins over Georgia and Illinois.
- 5 SoCon Players of the Year: Willie White (1981-82), Keith Nelson (1991-92), Tim Brooks (1992-93), Chad Copeland (1993-94) and Johnny Taylor (1996-97).
- 2 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year: Z. Mason (2014), Justin Tuoyo (2015).
- 3 SoCon Coaches of the Year: Murray Arnold (1982, '83), Mack McCarthy (1986, '92, '93) and Will Wade (2014).
- 9 NBA Draft Picks: Walter "Moose" McGary (1973 & '74), William Gordon (1977), Wayne Golden (1977), Russ Schoene (1982), Nick Morken (1982), Willie White (1984), Gerald Wilkins (1985, 13 seasons) and Johnny Taylor (1997 1st Round).