Mocs Basketball Team Picked to Win Southern Conference Title

(GoMocs.com) CHATTANOOGA—The Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball program is picked to win this year’s Southern Conference Championship in polls by the coaches and media around the league. The same occurred prior to last season’s 11th SoCon Regular Season and 11th Tournament Championships.

Even so, coach Matt McCall doesn’t get the warm and fuzzies over preseason polls.

“Last time I checked, they don’t give you a trophy or let you cut down a net for being picked to win in October,” McCall stated. “Holding that trophy, and the piece of net we all have from last year, those memories are ones you want to repeat. It will take a lot to pull it off again.

“I really like my team. We have a great mix of experience and young, hungry talent. Who wins the league, who goes to the NCAA Tournament, who is the Southern Conference champion is all dependent on what takes place between the lines.

“We have to continue to focus on the process of getting better every single day.”

The coaches also picked a 10-man, preseason all-conference squad replete with a player of the year prognostication. Tre’ McLean, Casey Jones and Justin Tuoyo are listed with McLean picked as player of the year.

Links for this year’s features, schedule, tickets, roster and preseason prospectus are available as well leading into the exhibition contest with Covenant on Friday, Nov. 4. Follow @GoMocsMBB on Twitter for “countdown to gameday” heading into the season opener Nov. 11 at Tennessee.

Season tickets are available on GoMocs.com at the link above or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627).

SoCon Preseason Poll – Coaches
Team (1st-place votes): Total
1) Chattanooga (8): 80
2) ETSU (2): 74
3) Wofford: 57
4) Mercer: 55
5) Furman: 50
tie) UNCG: 50
7) Samford: 32
8) Western Carolina: 20
9) VMI: 19
10) The Citadel: 13

Preseason All-SoCon Team: Tre’ McLean (POY, Chattanooga), Casey Jones (Chattanooga), Justin Tuoyo (Chattanooga), T.J. Cromer (ETSU), Stephan Jelks (Mercer), Fletcher Magee (Wofford), Hanner Mosquera-Perea (ETSU), Q.J. Peterson (VMI), Devin Sibley (Furman), R.J. White (UNCG)

SoCon Preseason Poll – Media
Team (1st-place votes): Total
1) Chattanooga (26): 296
2) ETSU (4): 268
3) Furman: 213
tie) Wofford: 213
5) Mercer: 194
6) UNCG: 142
7) Samford: 113
8) Western Carolina: 112
9) The Citadel: 53
10) VMI: 48