Chattanooga (#16 West, Philadelphia pod)
vs. Connecticut (#1)
Mar. 19 @ 3pm
Vegas Line: Chattanooga +20.5
General Profile
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Conference: Southern — Tournament Champion
Coach: John Shulman, hired 2004. Record at Chattanooga = 90-71.
08-09 Record: 18-16 (11-9)
Last 12 Games: 8-4, won 3.
Best Win: College of Charleston, 80-69 on 3/9/09.
Worst Loss: at Furman, 70-72 on 2/7/09.
Off. Efficiency Rating: 103.3 (132nd)
Def. Efficiency Rating: 107.8 (288th)
Nuts n Bolts
Star Player(s): Stephen McDowell
Unsung Hero: 6’2″ senior guard Keyron Sheard, 7.1 ppg but leads team with 3.8 apg in just over 26 minutes/game.
Potential NBA Draft Pick: None.
Key Injuries: No significant injuries.
Depth: 27.6% mins (247th)
Achilles Heel: Overall defense. Teams shoot 44.2% (204th nationally) from the field against the Mocs. 3-point defense is even more suspect, with teams shooting 36.7% (292nd nationally).
Will Make a Deep Run if…: God becomes a Mocs fan.
Will Make an Early Exit if…: …the Mocs don’t turn up the defensive effort for every second of 40 minutes.
NCAA History
Last Year Invited: 2005.
Streak: 1
Best NCAA Finish: 1997 Sweet 16.
Historical Performance vs. Seed (1985-present): N/A
Other
Six Degrees to Detroit: None
Distance to First Round Site: 733 miles
School’s Claim to Fame: The women’s basketball program. The women’s team has won the SoCon regular season title nine years in a row.
School Wishes It Could Forget: Terrell Owens went there (played in 1995 NCAA Tournament).
Prediction: First round and out.
Major RTC stories: ATB: 9 Down, 56 To Go
Preview written by: John Stevens, Rush The Court.