Mocs Not In Position To Relax

The Mocs are ahead of the rest of the North Division by a game and a half. They are 3-0, and off to a tremendous start in conference play.

Last year, on January 14, the Mocs were 11-6 and 3-1 in SoCon play. They had lost to Elon at home, but beaten Georgia Southern on the road, along with UNC-Greensboro and The Citadel at home. They looked like they were going to be one of the main contenders in the North.

And then it all fell apart. The whole thing collapsed. The Mocs won just four games the rest of the year and lost twelve. It was disturbingly bad. Ridge McKeither and Jasper Williams and Dante Harvey all left the team. Ty Patterson had to be carted off the floor to the hospital, and the Mocs were in a disarray. Complete and total disarray.

This year, the Mocs vow things are different. They really could be in for a special season if they can maintain their focus.

Again, this team has not arrived. They still need to keep winning. A first round bye is critical for the Mocs to win the tournament. They have road trips to UNC-Greensboro and The Citadel as their next two conference games. Both are winnable. But both are also loseable.

UNC-Greensboro is winless this year, but the Spartans have played their last three games against Clemson, Wake Forest, and Richmond exceptionally close. They are a dangerous team.

The Citadel is always a dangerous team when we play them. There was the dramatic close win last year, and the hard fought road win at their place two years ago.

If the Mocs can somehow get to 5-0 (and believe me, I am not counting it as a cinch yet), then they will be in prime position to get a bye and possibly win the division. They could even finish with the best record in the conference at that point.

But they need to capitalize on this. They were 3-1 a year ago- and now they are 3-0. They need to focus.

And I believe they will.

GO MOCS!