Game #26: Chattanooga

UPDATE:  The Western Carolina men's basketball game slated for Thursday, February 13 at Chattanooga has been postponed one day, until Friday, February 14 due to Winter Storm Pax. Tipoff for the Friday night game is now scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Round House in Chattanooga.

The Catamounts will travel over the mountains to the round house in Chattanooga, a place that has been very difficult for the Catamounts to win, as the Cats have only won three times as the visiting team playing in that arena. The Mocs of UT Chattanooga holds a 58-21 overall advantage in the series, and the Friday night, February 14th game is deemed to be a critical game for both teams.

The Mocs and Catamounts both feel as they belong in the top tier (top three) of teams in the Southern Conference, but with Davidson and Elon already established in the upper level of conference play, there is only room for one of these two teams.

A win for Western would put them at 8-3 in the conference, and make them winners of four straight conference games. While a loss for Chattanooga puts the Mocs at 1-4 in their last five games, and would project an image of a team on the decline, after such a hot 8-0 start in conference play.

A win for the Mocs would end their two game losing streak, and keeps Chattanooga in contention for the regular season championship with a 10-:2 record, just behind Davidson.  While a loss for the Cats, drops them to 7-4, and jeopardizes their 5th place position and a possible first round tournament bye.

In the preseason, the Mocs were picked by both the coaches and media to finish in 7th place this season, and they have been over-achieving ever since.  The Mocs were 8-0 in conference play before running to the buzz saw that was Davidson.  The Mocs are currently 9-2 in conference play.

Chattanooga is currently second in offensive scoring in the SoCon at 76.7 ppg and the Mocs are in 9th place in scoring defense, giving up 74.4 ppg.  Chattanooga has four players averaging double figure scoring.  Z Mason leds the Mocs with 17.7 ppg, followed by Casey Jones with 12.0 ppg, Ronrico White with 11.4 ppg, and Gee McGee with 10.1 ppg

Chattanooga Probable Starters
Sophomore - Casey Jones, 6-5 200 lbs, 12 ppg -  5.9 rebs
Junior - Martynas Bareika, 6-5 215 lbs, 9.8 ppg -  2.8 rebs
Senior - Z. Mason, 6-6 235 lbs, 17.7 ppg - 9.6 rebs
Freshman - Greg Pryor, 6-1  195 lbs,  6.0 ppg  - 2.6 rebs
Sophomore - Gee McGhee,  6-4 205 lbs, 10.1 ppg - 4.3 rebs

Courtesy Daily Catamount

RealTime RPI projects an 8 point loss for the Catamounts, 70-78.

RPI:                             Sagarin:                          Pomeroy:                        Massey:
WCU  239                      WCU   230                      WCU   241                       WCU  235
UTC   244                       UTC    277                      UTC    253                        UTC   250

I think this one is a toss-up, and can go either way.  It's just which team wants it more and plays like it's the critical game that it is.  Of course the Mocs have the home edge, but playing in a neat empty round house on a cold snowy Thursday night could negate that advantage.  

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