GAME NOTES | PRESEASON PROSPECTUS | ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
 
CHATTANOOGA---The Chattanooga Mocs open the 2017-18 season Friday at Wyoming. It's not only opening night for the Mocs, it's the first game of the Lamont Paris era.
 
"It's exciting on one hand," Paris started. "On the other hand, it's one of many games where we just want to see where we are, and where we need to improve. How did we improve from the exhibition game? Naturally, it's exciting to have your inaugural game as a head coach, but it seems like I've been doing this for a while now.
 
"I'm just ready to get it going, play and improve...find out where are strengths and weaknesses are against a good team. Wyoming is a good team, good team. I'm more caught up in that than it being my first game. I'm just not that focused on me."
 
Paris' debut is not the only one for a youthful Mocs roster. Eight student-athletes have the opportunity to see the floor in their first college game. There are just five letter winners back from last year's 19-win team which makes the program one of just 14 nationwide with so few student-athletes back in the fold.
 
Did we say youthful? In a preseason survey sent to all Division I basketball schools, the Mocs are the YOUNGEST team in the country with an average age of 19.31 years old ahead of Kentucky (19.43).
 
Not to belabor a point, but the Mocs program is one of just five without a senior in its ranks. It's one of seven without a starter back as well.
 
But flip the script to see there is a lot of opportunity. Paris said as much when asked what he's learned since practice in October.
 
"There's a lot of unknown, and there will be for a while," he noted. "There's opportunity here. Guys learn at different rates, but there's just a lot of unknowns.
 
"There's a lot of uncertainty with this team, but a lot of potential too."
 
Game time is at 9 p.m. It airs on the Mountain West Digital Network online and locally on the radio on Real 96.1 FM.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS (2016-17 Stats)
G - 0-Makale Foreman, 6-1, 185, So., 3.1, 0.4
G - 1-Rodney Chatman, 6-1, 175, So., 5.3, 2.1
F - 5-Nat Dixon, 6-4, 180, Jr., 2.5 ppg. 1.8 rpg
F - 21-Duane Moss, 6-6, 190, Fr., 13.8, 6.4 (HS Stats)
F - 22-Makinde London, 6-10, 220, Jr., 6.0, 3.5
 
ALSO HEARD
Here's some additional sound that didn't work its way into the story…
 
Paris on what he'd like to see when he looks back on this season in March:
"I want to see growth...learning...maturation. Maturation and growth would be the main things. On and off the court; they're correlated. But those would be the two biggest things."
 
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first meeting with Wyoming and just the third against a Mountain West Conference institution. The last MWC matchup was the heart-breaking 83-81 loss at Nevada on Nov. 22, 2013 in the fifth game of the Will Wade era. The Wolf Pack's Deonte Burton hit a 25-footer at the buzzer to hold off a valiant effort. Z. Mason had 24 points and eight boards in the contest, while Greg Pryor added 19 points with five assists and three steals.
 
3 NOTES TO KNOW

• 30-10 in the DI era in season openers, but just 4-9 when starting on the road.
• Paris is one of 27 first-year head coaches at the DI level this season.
• Rodney Chatman (31), Makinde London (30) and Nat Dixon (30) are the only returnees to play in 30 or more games a season ago.

 
FOLLOW ALONG
Friday night's game is available online and on the radio. Here's the broadcast info with links available on the men's basketball schedule page:
 
Video Stream: Fans can watch the game via the Mountain West Digital Network. Click the MWDN link to watch Wyoming's broadcast on the Mountain West Digital Network.
 
Radio: There are several ways to listen to the game. "Voice of the Mocs" Jim Reynolds is over the airwaves on Real 96.1 FM in Chattanooga. Click the 96.1 FM link on the men's basketball schedule to listen online or use the iHeart (search Real 96.1 FM) and TuneIn (search Chattanooga Mocs) radio apps.
 
Live Stats: Access live stats on the men's basketball schedule page.
 
Social Media: Score updates and more on Twitter from @GoMocsMBB.
 
NEXT UP         
Next three games for the Mocs:
Nov. 13 at UAB, 8 p.m. (ET)
Nov. 16 vs. Hiwassee, 7 p.m. HOME OPENER
Nov. 20 vs. Alabama State, 7:30 p.m.
 
TICKETS ON SALE
Tickets are on sale – season, single-game and mini-plans – at all the usual places. To buy tickets, you can:
 

• Visit the Gate 1 Ticket Office at McKenzie Arena during business hours.
• Call the McKenzie Arena Ticket Office at (423) 266-MOCS (6627) during business hours.
• Go online via GoMocs.com: Season | Single-Game | Mini-Plan
• Group tickets are available by calling (423) 425-5470 or emailing Barry Kamen or Allison Callari.

 
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.