CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- It's that special time of the year. The temperatures begin to drop, the cool air couples with changing leaves and the beautiful sound of leather meeting hardwood erupts on college campuses all across the land.

College basketball season preparation begins in earnest this Friday, October 12. The Chattanooga Mocs open at 5 p.m., in the Chattem Basketball Practice Facility with great anticipation.

"We can't wait to get started," said head coach John Shulman, who is entering his ninth year on the bench. "This team is very young, but very talented. We have veterans up front and a lot of young guards. We are getting back to Chattanooga basketball...rebounding and defending that ball."

UTC has 28 championships in 35 seasons in the Southern Conference, by far the most in the league over that time period. That includes 10 SoCon Tournament titles, 10 regular-season crown and eight division with division play starting with the 1994-95 season.

Chattanooga's season opener is Monday, November 12, against Tennessee Temple in McKenzie Arena at 7 p.m. After a trip to Kansas on Thursday, November 15, the Mocs return home to host the CBE Classic Chattanooga Sub-Regional with a four-team round-robin format October 18-20. Louisiana Tech, Southeast Missouri and Troy join UTC in McKenzie Arena for six games in three days.

Season tickets for a school-record 18-game home slate are available. Call 266-MOCS (6627), go online here at GoMocs.com or stop by the Gate One McKenzie Arena Ticket Office.

GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs.  The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page (ChattanoogaMocs), or on Twitter (@GoMocsMBB & @GoMocs).

Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE THROUGH OCTOBER