How does one go about classifying this season to date? One could look at it half full: 3-0 in the SoCon, and .500 overall. Or one could look at it half empty: 2-7 against non-conference D1 opponents, including three non-conference home losses.
So what will happen in this January? There is one out of conference road game against Austin Peay on Monday, followed eight SoCon games in a row, evenly split between four at home and four on the road, though four of the first six are on the road. The Mocs want to win the SoCon North? They need to perform well this month, as their season series will be done with both UNC-Greenbsoro and Elon by the end of the month, and they will have played each North Division team at least once. They will have just three division games in February, while playing four this month.
This month may be the key to the rest of the season. Obviously, March is the most important month in the SoCon. But this month will go a long way to determining just how the Mocs finish this season. Will they get a bye? Will they win the division? Will they make a run at best record in the SoCon? This month will play a key factor in answering those questions.
Toughest Game: at Wofford, January 20. College of Charleston, Wofford, and Furman (three of the four highest ranked teams in the RPI in the SoCon) all are on the schedule this month. Two of those three are on the road. They come in three straight games as well. Wofford is the reigning SoCon Champs, and will be looking to prove that they can beat the Mocs on their home floor. This will be a very difficult game for the Mocs to win in Spartanburg.
Easiest Game: UNC-Greensboro, January 27. OK. This is far from an easy contest, and I would have put the Elon home game first, but it comes just two days after this one. UNCG comes after five days off, and is at home. UNCG has not won a game yet this year, but has been very competitive as of late. This is far from a guaranteed win. But the Mocs will be favored in this game for sure. The question is how the Mocs will respond to being favored in this contest.
Most Important Game: at UNC-Greensboro, January 8. So, the home game is the easiest game, but the road trip to Greensboro is the most important. If the Mocs lose to Austin Peay on Monday night, the Mocs will be on a two game losing streak, and will desperately need to come up with a win to get the confidence rolling. Even if the Mocs beat Austin Peay, they still need to not overlook UNCG and get to 4-0- especially since this is a North team. The Mocs also play The Citadel in the second game of this road trip, and that one is equally important, but the more important game is the North Division game.
Predicted Record: 4-5. So, if the Mocs go 4-5, here is how it happens. Lose to Austin Peay, split the road games against UNCG and The Citadel, beat Samford at home, lose to CofC, Wofford, and Furman, then come home and beat UNCG and Elon. The Mocs are capable of better than that. They also are capable of worse. The CofC, Wofford, and Furman spell is not going to be easy, but the other six games are all winnable. They probably SHOULD beat both UNCG and The Citadel on the road, but I have not seen enough yet to be assured that what they should do is what they will do. This is a big month, and not an easy one. But it should be a lot of fun. The SoCon race this month will really get things going, and should hopefully serve as a way to get the Mocs fired up and ready to play.
GO MOCS!
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