SCHEDULE | TICKETS | VIEWBOOK | RECORD BOOK
PRESEASON PROSPECTUS | ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
 
CHATTANOOGA---Practice is now nine days old. The Chattanooga Mocs work has been steady with an eye firmly set for the November 10 opener at Wyoming.
 
It's virtually a blank canvas for the Mocs. The student-athletes have a new head coach in Lamont Paris along with nearly a complete turnover in staff. The on-court crew returns just five student-athletes from a year ago. Everyone else – coaches & players – are brand, spanking new.
 
With that in mind, GoMocs.com begins its three-part "Wednesday Watch" series with a look at the point guard position. This is one of the few spots on the court with collegiate starting experience.
 
Greg Pryor completed his run as the four-year starter at the one in March. If Paris has as much luck as Will Wade did with his first point guard, then good days are ahead for the Mocs.
 
Sophomore Rodney Chatman returns as the heir apparent. Chatman tutored under Pryor native for 28 games before taking over as the starter late after the latter's season-ending injury.
 
Chatman was one of three players to enter all 31 contests in 2016-17 joining Justin Tuoyo and Johnathan Burroughs-Cook. He averaged 5.3 points and 2.2 assists per game with three starts including the three of the final four matchups.
 
In fact, when he entered the game, Pryor often shifted to the 2. Chatman showed great quickness on both ends of the floor.
 
"Rodney's really competitive," Paris began. "He wants to win and is a good teammate. He's learning and developing as a leader as are some other guys. It's hard when you had such a senior-laden team like last year for any of these guys to have been in a leadership role. They weren't, so they're all developing in that role.
 
"His decision-making is improving. It was pretty good, but it is improving. Overall, I've been pleased with how he competes and listens. His instincts are good too."
 
Behind Chatman is a work in progress. Redshirt freshman David Jean-Baptiste (pronounced gene-bap-TEEST) looks to be the next man up. Signed originally as a combo guard out of Miami Norland High School, Jean-Baptiste has experience on the ball.
 
"We're still figuring that out," Paris added. "In theory, sure, but we're still figuring that out. Who's shown they can make better decisions? That process is ongoing. We're still unproven in that area, but probably David or Makale (Foreman)."
 
Beyond that it may take a little outside-the-box thinking. True freshman walk-on C.J. Massengill projects as a 1. Then there are several student-athletes on the roster with the necessary ball skills to make it work.
 
ALSO HEARD
Here's some additional sound that didn't work its way into the story…
 
Paris on characteristics he values most, philosophically, from the point guard position:
"Good decision making…tough…in an ideal world, they're a great leader. They're someone who doesn't flinch in the moment…the want big moments, not necessarily to take a shot but making good decisions. Those are qualities I'd expect out of the most effective point guard. With those things come the tangible or measurable quality of high assists with low turnovers."
 
NOTES

• Chatman averaged 7.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per start in 2016-17.
• 84.6 percent (220 of 260) of games over the last eight seasons have been started by Pryor (school-record 125) or all-time assist leader Keegan Bell '12 (95) at the point. The 2012-13 season (32 contests) is the only one with neither on the roster.
• The school-record for assist-to-turnover ratio is 1.57 (191 assists/122 turnovers) in 1977-78.

 
COMING UP
Next week's Wednesday Watch takes a look at the wings. Complete schedule:
 
Oct. 11 – Point Guards
Oct. 18 – Wings
Oct. 25 – Posts
 
TICKETS ON SALE
The first competitive look at this year's edition comes on Saturday, November 4, in an exhibition game against Francis Marion at 5 p.m., in McKenzie Arena. Season tickets are on sale via GoMocs.com (at the link above) or by calling the McKenzie Arena ticket office at 266-MOCS (6627) during normal business hours.
 
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.