Kentucky 87, Chattanooga 62

FOUR FACTORS (plus two)

eFG%
Mocs-39.7%
Kentucky- 57.4%
Advantage- Kentucky

TO%
Mocs- 19.0%
Kentucky- 17.6%
Advantage- Kentucky

OR%
Mocs- 26.8%
Kentucky- 32.4%
Advantage- Kentucky

FTRate
Mocs- 27.0%
Kentucky- 20.6%
Advantage- Mocs

FT%
Mocs- 70.6%
Kentucky- 64.3%
Advantage- Mocs

3PtRate
Mocs- 42.9%
Kentucky- 48.5%

PLAYER RATER

Overall
1) Drazen Zlovaric 27.5
2) Ricky Taylor 21.6
3) Z Mason 16.5
4) Keegan Bell 10.6
5) Omar Wattad 8.8
6) Rico White 5.5
7) Dontay Hampton 4.8
8) Jared Bryant 3.8
9) Jahmal Burroughs 3.4
10t) Trey Brown 0.0
10t) Drew Baker 0.0
10t) Martynas Bareika 0.0
13) Lance Stokes -1.5

Per 40

1) Drazen Zlovaric 33.3
2) Z Mason 33.0
3) Ricky Taylor 31.9
4) Jared Bryant 21.4
5) Rico White 18.3
6) Dontay Hampton 16.0
7) Keegan Bell 12.9
8) Omar Wattad 11.4
9) Jahmal Burroughs 7.1
10t) Drew Baker 0.0
10t) Martynas Bareika 0.0
10t) Trey Brown 0.0
13) Lance Stokes -20.0

ANALYSIS

I fully realize that the Mocs should not be pleased with a 25 point loss to anyone, and that includes Kentucky.

I also fully realize that if the Mocs could have just gotten some shots to fall in the first half, there is no telling what would have happened.

The Mocs opened the first half shooting 25%. Omar Wattad was 1 for 8. Keegan Bell was 0 for 6. In the second half they combined for 4 for 12, which is not exactly lighting the world on fire, but it is far better than the first half was. Honestly, the Mocs could have been down single digits, possibly less than five, if Wattad and Bell (and maybe even Taylor) had shot just a little bit better.

But there was plenty to be impressed with here. Against one of the better rebounding teams in the country, the Mocs were outrebounded by just six. Drazen Zlovaric, who I thought would be totally outmanned, played his best game of the season. Yes, Antony Davis dominated the boards against the Mocs, with 18 total rebounds. But the rest of the Cats were nto doing that good of a job on the boards compared to the Mocs. Zlovaric really held his own. On top of that, Z Mason looked like he belonged out there banging inside. He played a tremendous game. If he continues to play like that, the Mocs will be in good shape at the power forward spot, even if Chris Early does not return to the team for a while.

Mason was on top of every rebound, he was playing great defense, and he was effective playing inside. Really- he was impressive. If he plays like that, he will be tough to contain in SoCon play, and could find himself with a big season. Same with Zlovaric.

Rico White and Dontay Hampton were not awful, but they were not quite as impressive as I was hoping they would be. They struggled at times, and did not look like the guys I thought they would be. Again, they were a bit of a calming influence at times. That was good.

And it would be completely remiss to not mention that Bell got four assists, and is now the all time leader in assists at Chattanooga. He struggled early against the Kentucky pressure, but to hold the school record for assists at a place that had guys like Tim Brooks, Chad Copeland, and Wes Moore playing, that is a solid set of stats.

The Mocs had only fifteen turnovers for the game and forced thirteen. It really was the shots not falling for the Mocs and Anthony Davis for Kentucky that was the difference in the game. The Mocs really need to start shooting better. They continue to struggle from the field. As I said after the Mercer game, the Mocs are playing to be good by the Dr Pepper Classic. Spalding, Kentucky, and Hiwassee weren't going to tell us a whole lot. I still think that. What I think now (in a slight nuance) is that the Mocs are still not playing poorly. They haven't really played poorly since either the Georgia Southern loss or the Gardner-Webb loss. They certainly did not play well against Mercer for much of the game, but played well for a chunk of it. But there have been a lot of positive signs in recent weeks, even though wins against D-1 competition have not been coming. That needs to change in the Dr Pepper Classic.

All in all, not a bad night for the Mocs. It wasn't a great night. It wasn't a totally magical night. But it was not a bad night. Losing hurts. But the Mocs have nothing to be ashamed of.

GO MOCS!