The Mocs schedule is very interesting this year. Last year's schedule included three non-D1s, while this year, the Mocs only have two non-D1s. The schedule was OK last year in spurts, but this year is in undoubtedly better. It looks great all the way through. You can view it here.
Each month, we do a month-by-month preview. Our November preview is coming Wednesday. Our breakdown of each of the out of conference opponents is coming Tuesday. But right now, let's look at the schedule as a whole and try to analyze it up front.
Easiest Game: Tennessee Temple, November 12. The Mocs season opener is probably their easiest game. Sure, Reinhardt on down the road is going to be relatively easy as well, more than likely. But sometimes it is easier to get caught looking ahead at that mid-December game. Sure, there will probably be some nerve from the young guys in this one. But I expect to see the Mocs so excited to be on the floor that they control this one with relative ease. The youthful exuberance of this game should help the Mocs control it from the outset.
Toughest Game: at Kansas, November 15. The Mocs second game is against the seventh ranked team in the country. The Jayhawks may have lost Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson, but they are still one of the better teams in the country. They win the Big 12 almost every year. They are the favorite again this year. A Mocs win would be a total shocker. But also would be a ton of fun to do. Davidson did it last year. So it's not completely unheard of.
Most Important Game: Western Carolina, January 19. The Mocs will need to protect their home court if they intend to compete in the SoCon North. This is their first game against one of the SoCon North favorites at home. Yes, Appalachian State and Davidson both come to Chattanooga before this game. But Davidson is probably the best team coming to Chattanooga this year, and Appalachian State is picked anywhere from fourth to sixth in the North this year. If the Mocs intend to get a bye in the North, they need to beat Western Carolina at home. This game will tell us plenty about the Mocs chances to get there this year.
Easiest Stretch of Games: Reinhardt, Dr Pepper Classic (December 21-December 29). This is not going to be an easy stretch by any means. But the Mocs first round battle against High Point is against a pretty good Big South team, and the second round will be against either Utah Valley (who they hammered in the same event last year) or Austin Peay (always a solid team in the OVC). So this is hardly an easy stretch. But it is a stretch of home games against a non-D1 and a tournament that the Mocs win regularly.
Toughest Stretch of Games: Davidson, Eastern Kentucky, at LSU, Mercer (December 1-December 16). This stretch does feature three home games, but Davidson, Eastern Kentucky, and Mercer are all going to be very good teams. In the mean time, they are going to LSU to take on an SEC team. This is not exactly a good time for the Mocs. At least it is only four games over sixteen days, and not crammed into a week.
Most Important Stretch of Games: The Citadel, College of Charleston, Samford, Furman, at Wofford, UNCG, Elon (February 7-February 23). Yes, I'm on the record saying that the Mocs CBE Classic and Kennesaw State games are key to the Mocs early season posturing. But for the Mocs, this year is all about March. It all builds up to March. This seven game stretch late in the year is all SoCon games. Six of them are at home. If the Mocs are to build up momentum, make a run at a bye in the SoCon Tournament, and build confidence for the SoCon Tournament, this is the stretch to do it during. Can the Mocs be in position to make a big run at this point in the year? Maybe. If they are, the Mocs desperately need to take advantage of this long stretch of home games. Of their other ten SoCon games in 2013, they play just two home games. That makes winning here all the more critical.
GO MOCS!
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