CHATTANOOGA---The Chattanooga Mocs eagerly await word of their NCAA Tournament site. It's the 11th Big Dance for the program since the move to DI in 1977-78, easily the most of any school in the league over that period.
As they prepare for a faceless opponent, the team, coaches and fans plan to gather in the University Center Auditorium Sunday for the NCAA Selection Show. "Selection Sunday" is woven deep into the fabric of the nation's sports culture.
"There's been a lot of excitement, a lot of media requests...it's been really exciting," coach
Matt McCall said. "We're really looking forward to Sunday, to see who we are playing. I wanted these guys to enjoy what they've done.
"Tomorrow it's about getting back to work."
CBS starts its coverage at 5:30 p.m., with the show ending at 7:30 p.m. The selections are slated to begin in the six o'clock hour.
"Right now we are going to focus on ourselves," McCall added. "There are areas we need to improve on. I think press offense is one of them...late-game situations. We're going to continue to get better defensively and guarding the ball.
"Taking advantage of this time to get ourselves better."
The UC Auditorium is on the second floor to the left of the main entrance across from Maclellan Gym. Students, alumni, faculty, staff and fans are welcome to join the team learning its destination, date and dance partner.
For the first time in Southern Conference history, the same school won both the men's and women's tourney titles. The Mocs women's program learns its fate Monday night at 7 p.m., on ESPN. It will also meet in the UC Auditorium to learn its destination.
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here. ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL- The Mocs are by far the most successful program in the Southern Conference since joining the league in 1977-78. The team has won 29 titles with 11 regular season, 11 tournament and eight division.
- 16 NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1961 (DII), 1973 (DII), 1975 (DII), 1976 (DII Runner-up), 1977 (DII National Champs), 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 (Sweet 16), 2005, 2009, 2016.
- 11 SoCon Tournament Crowns: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2009, 2016.
- 11 SoCon Regular Season Championships: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2016.
- 8 Division Titles: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011.
- The 1997 team went to the NCAA Sweet 16 with wins over Georgia and Illinois.
- 5 SoCon Players of the Year: Willie White (1981-82), Keith Nelson (1991-92), Tim Brooks (1992-93), Chad Copeland (1993-94) and Johnny Taylor (1996-97).
- 3 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year: Z. Mason (2014),
Justin Tuoyo (2015, 2016).
- 4 SoCon Coaches of the Year: Murray Arnold (1982, '83), Mack McCarthy (1986, '92, '93), Will Wade (2014) and
Matt McCall (2016).
- 9 NBA Draft Picks: Walter "Moose" McGary (1973 & '74), William Gordon (1977), Wayne Golden (1977), Russ Schoene (1982), Nick Morken (1982), Willie White (1984), Gerald Wilkins (1985, 13 seasons) and Johnny Taylor (1997 1st Round).