Tag: Chattanooga basketball

Illinois survived Chattanooga’s upset bid and no one is quite sure how

It’s better to be lucky than good sometimes.

Ever so often, you watch a game and you’re not entirely certain how the winner pulled it off. You give them their appropriate credit but are still baffled how they ended up with more points than the other team.

On Friday, that was No. 4 Illinois (-8) against No. 13 Chattanooga in the Men’s NCAA tournament. The Illini scraped by, 54-53, and we’re still wracking our brains at how they pieced the win together. When you’re in line for an upset and show little signs of life the entire game, you’re not supposed to get up off the mat.

The Illini’s chances of avoiding disappointment seemed unlikely when Chattanooga took a 20-6 lead halfway through the first half. It seemed outright impossible when the Mocs held a 51-46 lead with less than five minutes to go. Brad Underwood’s squad looked unprepared and completely overwhelmed throughout the night.

What other conclusion can you reach when you shoot 38 percent from the field as a team while missing nine free throws?

And when Coleman Hawkins missed a free throw with 48 seconds remaining, you might as well have packed it in and left early if you’re Illinois. Missed free throws are the death sentence in the tournament.

That is unless you’re Kofi Cockburn.

Whoa. What a Herculean effort from the young center and a timely fortuitous bounce for Illinois.

Still, they had to hang on. Once the two teams exchanged pairs of free throws, Chattanooga was right there at the end with not one but two shots.

Right there!

If you’re an Illini fan still wiping off the obvious nervous flop sweat from your forehead, I don’t blame you. I think your squad got away with one.

If you’re a Chattanooga fan, I don’t know what to tell you. Everything happens for a reason? Oh well, at least there’s next year. Maybe you’ll enjoy the Illini’s luck then.

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No. 13 Chattanooga lost a heartbreaker to No. 4 Illinois and everyone made the same joke about Terrell Owens

Yes, T.O. We know Chattanooga is your school.

The cruelest defeat in March has to be the almost-upset.

If you get blown out, that’s fine. You probably didn’t belong in the tournament, to begin with. You live, you learn and you appreciate the experience of postseason basketball. If you’re the team on the receiving end of an upset, yeah it stings, but life goes on. If you come within inches, fouls or one shot of glory, I don’t know how you even fathom getting out of bed the next morning.

It’s a reality that No. 13 Chattanooga (+8) has to stomach after just barely falling short to No. 4 Illinois, 54-53, in a Men’s NCAA tournament matchup on Friday.

One of Chattanooga’s more famous alums is Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens. Since long retired, Owens decided to make an appearance to cheer his alma mater on in the only way he knows how.

Of course, with the Mocs suffering a heartbreaking defeat within earshot of Owens, every college hoops fan couldn’t help but make the same joke.

Come on. He’s a passionate guy. Stop kicking Owens while he’s down. It’s not nice.

He’s clearly invested in these young men’s basketball journeys. That’s very kind coming from someone of his stature. Give him some credit and, again, be nice.

Okay, what the heck: (Voice breaking) That’s my alma mater!

Sorry, T.O. And sorry, Chattanooga. Better luck next year. Maybe we’ll all have more original jokes by then.

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Chattanooga vs Furman College Basketball Prediction, Game Preview

Chattanooga vs Furman prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Monday.

Chattanooga vs Furman prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch: Monday, March 7

Chattanooga vs Furman How To Watch

Date: Monday, March 7
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Harrah’s Cherokee Center, Asheville, NC
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Chattanooga (26-7), Furman (22-11)
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Chattanooga vs Furman Game Preview, SoCon Conference Tournament Final

Why Furman Will Win

Just when it seemed like the Mocs were done after a rough three-game losing streak – including a 64-58 loss to Chattanooga – it picked a great time to go on a run winning four of its last five games to get here.

Now it’s a win away from going to the NCAA Tournament. If it gets there, it’s going to be the team no one wants to face in the first round.

And why?

Threes, threes, and more threes.

Few teams take more threes than the Paladins, few teams make more, and it’s all starting with great ball movements and an aggressive backcourt that generates a ton of steals.

It’s been shooting the lights out over the last few games from all over the floor – including the free throw line – and it always has a shot to get and stay in games because of its O. However …

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Why Chattanooga Will Win

No one’s better in the SoCon at stopping the three than Chattanooga.

Opponents are hitting fewer than 30% from three against this group, and that includes Furman, who only made 3-of-20 tries in the last game – but it made 9-of-23 in the first loss.

This is hardly a dominant Moc team defensively, but it’s consistent offensively with one of the nation’s best shooting teams, and that defense …

Only one team has hit 40% from three against the Chattanooga D in the last 12 games.

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Chattanooga vs Furman: What’s Going To Happen

This is going to be fun.

Furman might have lost its first two meetings with the Mocs, but it was right there with plenty of chances to push through and pull it off. They were low scoring games, though, and that favored the Chattanooga defense.

The problem for Furman will turn out to be free throws. It makes them when it gets to the line, but it shoots so many threes that it simply doesn’t get enough opportunities.

Chattanooga only had 23 attempts in its two wins, but it’ll come up with a few more chances and do a bit more defensively from three when it needs to.

Chattanooga vs Furman Prediction, Lines

Chattanooga 69, Furman 65
Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
ATS Confidence out of 5: COMING

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Must See Rating: 3.5

5: College basketball starting … now
1: Baseball negotiations

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