Mocs Basketball Faces Louisville Friday Night
(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA (Nov. 9, 2023) — The Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team is set for its first road game of the 2023-24 campaign as the squad travels north to face ACC-member Louisville on Friday night inside the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Tip-off is set for 7:02 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra/ESPN+. Chattanooga (1-0) is coming off an 89-44 victory over nearby Covenant College in the season opener held on Monday inside the Roundhouse. The Mocs were led by graduate transfer forward Jan Zidek who registered a game-high 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the floor, tying his previous career best for field goals made in a game (11). Louisville (1-0) escaped its season-opening clash against UMBC on Monday night at home after a couple late key plays allowed the Cardinals to walk away with a narrow 94-93 decision. The matchup between UTC and Louisville is the 12th overall and first since a 106-65 Cardinals win back on November 22, 2010. GAME DETAILSChattanooga (1-0) at Louisville (1-0)7:02 p.m. ET ∙ KFC Yum! Center (Louisville, Ky. ∙ 22,090)All-Time Series ∙ Louisville leads 6-5 (last: LOU, W 106-65, 11/22/10) MEDIA COVERAGEWATCH ∙ ACCNX/ESPN+ (PxP: Kent Taylor, Analyst: Jody Demling)LISTEN ∙ WFLI 96.1FM, 100.3FM, 1070AM – Varsity Network – GoMocs.comLIVE STATS ∙ GoMocs.comFOLLOW ∙ X/Twitter: @GoMocsMBB SEASON-OPENING WINChattanooga rolled its way to a lopsided 89-44 victory over NCAA DIII Covenant College in the 2023-24 season opener on Monday night inside McKenzie Arena. Graduate transfer forward Jan Zidek (Pepperdine) scored a game-high 25 points & tied a career-high in FG’s made (11) after finishing 11-13 FG (3-4 3PT). Sophomore Sam Alexis added nine points, 13 rebounds, five blocks and four assists during the victory. UTC’S ACC HISTORYChattanooga carries a 2-24 overall record (0-18 on the road) against the ACC and is in search of its first win over a league opponent since a 67-65 home win over Clemson on March 15, 1985, during the first round of the NIT. UTC is 0-21 against the ACC in regular season games dating back to the league’s start in 1953. It’s the first matchup against an ACC opponent since a narrow 63-58 loss at Virginia Tech on December 11, 2019.OPENING SEASON NOTESHead coach Dan Earl begins his second season at the helm for Chattanooga, and it’s clear the Mocs have found their leader. The one-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year went 18-17 in his first season and was able to lead the Mocs to the SoCon Championship Game as the seventh seed, ultimately finishing runner-ups and nearly accomplishing a feat that hasn’t been executed since 1939. Earl has a new roster and will look to lead the Mocs back to the top of the Southern Conference in 2023-24. SEE, SHARE, SHOOTThe 2023-24 version of Chattanooga men’s basketball is poised to showcase a high-flying, fast-paced, and free-shooting product that collectively competes under a team slogan of “See, Share, Shoot” implemented by the coaching staff. NEWCOMERS SET THE TONE FOR 2023-24Many new faces will be in play for Chattanooga this season. 10 total newcomers from the transfer portal, high school signings and walk-ons, will go along with just three returning letter winners to form a fresh roster for coach Earl. Forwards Demetrius Davis, Sam Alexis and Randy Brady are the only returning Mocs who saw action last season, with Davis being the only starter. THREE IS FREESophomore guard Honor Huff (10.0 ppg in ’22) will return to play this year after being ineligible last season due to the Southern Conference’s intra-conference transfer rules. Huff was voted to the SoCon All-Freshman Team in his one season of play before transferring to Chattanooga with coach Earl. He was named to the All-Southern Conference Preseason Team heading into the 2023-24 season. KEY TRANSFERSChattanooga added transfer guard Rudy Fitzgibbons III (7.9 ppg in ’21-22) from the Citadel to go along with graduate transfer forwards Tyler Millin (4.0 ppg) from MTSU and Jan Zidek (7.3 ppg off the bench) from Pepperdine. Florida transfer guard Trey Bonham (5.6 ppg) is currently ineligible due to the two-time transfer rule but is awaiting a rule change or waiver from the NCAA in order to play this season.
