The Mocs have no momentum. They actually have the opposite of momentum. They have deceleration. They are way off right now, having lost a bunch of really close games in recent weeks.
But with the month comes a new chance at gaining momentum- a new chance to win. The Mocs were not good in January, at least in the win-loss column. But they have an opportunity to turn some of those losses into wins in February. And if they do, they could still move up in their seeding and get in position to make a big run in the SoCon Tournament in Asheville in March.
Toughest Game: at Davidson, February 4. The Mocs provided a serious challenge to Davidson in Chattanooga last Thursday. But the Wildcats are the far superior team. They are 9-1 in SoCon play, while the Mocs are 3-7. Davidson has been nearly impossible to beat at home in recent years, as the Wildcats have been tough for any SoCon team to beat. Chattanooga will have an almost impossible time trying to go into Davidson and come up with the win.
Easiest Game: The Citadel, February 18. It is certainly true that the Mocs could lose to anyone on their schedule at this point. But the safest win for the Mocs has to be considered a home game against a 1-9 team. The Bulldogs feature Mike Grosselle, who just might be the most under-appreciated player in the SoCon. Grosselle should legitimately be an All-SoCon player. Hopefully he gets there. He has earned. Voters may go another way because of his playing on a poor team, but he is as deserving as any player in the SoCon. Still, the Mocs have to be considered the heavy favorite in this one since it is a home game. They haven't made anything easy this year though.
Most Important Game: at Western Carolina, February 2. With the current losing streak the Mocs are on, and with the way the last three games have ended, it would be easy for the Mocs to pack it in. Are they going to pack it in? Was Saturday's last second three pointer by Georgia Southern the "dagger to the heart" like Drazen Zlovaric and John Shulman called it? Will they be able to fight back? If they are able to fight back, they will show it in this game. Cullowhee is never an easy place to win in the SoCon, but the Catamounts played Monday and were beaten by 26 by Wofford on the road. They have lost eight of nine to D1 teams. The Mocs beat Western by 16 in Chattanooga. If the Mocs show heart and come up with a win on Thursday night, they may well be able to right the ship for the rest of the year. If they lose against the Catamounts on Thursday night and don't show the effort that has been the hallmark of this team, then the Mocs may well be in trouble in every game the rest of the year.
Predicted Record: 3-5. I'm going to beg the Mocs to prove me wrong here. I'm calling for a home win over either Elon or UNCG, and home wins over The Citadel and Samford. Since the Mocs have not won a road game yet, I'm not picking them to beat Western Carolina, Davidson, Appalachian State, or Furman. I'm also picking them to lose one home game to either Elon or UNCG. The thing is, the Mocs are good enough to go 7-1 if everything breaks right here. If things break wrong, a winless month or a 1-7 month could happen as well. Huge couple of weeks here.
GO MOCS!
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