With the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament underway, we thought we would take a journey back in time to when the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga progressed to the Sweet 16 in 1997.
The Mocs were led by Mack McCarthy, who served as head coach from 1985 to 1997. During his tenure, the Mocs went to five NCAA Tournaments + in 1997, they reached the Sweet 16 for the first time after winning the Men’s Division II basketball tournament.
The Mocs were named the No. 14 seed in the Southeast Region, and in round one they faced No. 3 seed Georgia. After going into overtime, the Mocs came out on top over the Bulldogs, 73-70. The Mocs then set their eyes on No. 6 seed Illinois for the second round.
One of the season’s star players, Forward Johnny Taylor, stated ahead of the game in a 1997 interview with the Daily Press, “They better be ready to play because UTC is no joke.”
It was reported that UTC players heard Illini celebrating their win in their locker room before the game began — which fueled the Mocs as they took to the court. To the surprise of many, the Mocs defeated Illini, 75-63, the second time ever that a No. 14 seed had advanced to the Sweet 16.
Finally, the Mocs were up against No. 10 seed Providence, and although it was a close game, the team was defeated by the Friars, 65-71, ending the longest progression made in the tournament to date.
Coach McCarthy described the run as an “unbelievable success story.” Notably, the victory over Illinois landed Taylor on the cover of USA Today + he would later become the highest draft pick in UTC’s history. He went on to play with the Orlando Magic in the summer of 1997.
