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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 18-12;
11-5 in C-USA (3rd/American)
Postseason: Lost to Notre Dame 82-63 in first round of NCAA South Region.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Brown 11.3
Rebs: Johnson 4.6
Assists: Brown 4.2
FG: Johnson 46.9%
3pt: Nash 36.8%
FT: Brown 72.8%
01-02 Stats:
Charlotte | C-USA
KEY LOSSES
Jobey Thomas | 18.5 ppg
Cam Stephens | 13.2 ppg
Jermaine Williams | 4.3 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Demon Brown | Soph
G | Curtis Nash | Senior
C | Cal. Clemmons | Junior
F | Butter Johnson | Junior
F | Eddie Basden | Soph
Player to Watch
Butter Johnson
Junior Forward
Still learning how much is too much, but could develop into consistent double-double guy.
DATE TO REMEMBER
The 49ers go to Bloomington to face the national runner-up Hoosiers, their only true marquee non-conference opponent. Last time they were there, the 49ers coughed up a 17-point lead and lost, so this one should provide double motivation.
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CHARLOTTE 49ERS
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Only a fool questions Charlotte's annual competitiveness. Despite all the heat generated by Rick Pitino and John Calipari joining Conference USA, it's Bobby Lutz's club that has been the inarguable No. 2 team in the league to Cincinnati over the years. That said, the 49ers are up against murderous competition. Charlotte will probably be as solid as ever -- and it's been to five of the last six NCAA Tournaments -- but could be the fourth-best team in the American Division. The 49ers lost their two leading scorers, sharpshooter Joby Thomas and banger Cameron Stephens. They'll have a fine backcourt in Demon Brown and Curtis Nash, and talented Butter Johnson moves from sixth man to a possible starring role at power forward. He has some of the same all-court skills as former Charlotte star Rodney White, but needs to cut down on the Parkay moments (too many turnovers, too many fouls, too many questionable 3-pointers, too many missed free throws). Eddie Basden will share time with freshman Vincentt Grier at the small forward spot, while center is up for grabs among a pair of newcomers, South Carolina transfer Calvin Clemmons and freshman Curtis Withers. Charlotte is a traditionally slow-starting team that seems to catch fire in January and February, just in time to make the tournament. This year's schedule is a little less difficult, but still features interesting road games at Appalachian State, Richmond, Davidson, Indiana and Valparaiso.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Charlotte returns a starting backcourt that combined for 234 assists, 68 steals and 21.3 points per game last year. That's a fine building block. The 6-8 Johnson's ability to handle the ball and score inside make him very difficult to defend, which is why he gets to the line so much (an average of seven three-throw attempts per 40 minutes).
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Nobody on the roster is taller than 6-8, and the centers are new. How will they fare against the likes of Cincinnati and Marquette? Thomas made an astounding 110 of Charlotte's 247 three-pointers last year, and shot a great percentage while doing it (43.3). Lutz loves the three-ball, but only two players on the roster (Brown and Nash) have showed they can make it. He could use one more shooter.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
This would not be a great year for a slow start. Seven of Charlotte's final 11 games are on the road, including a closing two-game swing at Saint Louis and Louisville - games that were losses last year. Lutz's team will again play in the postseason, but how it fares against the rest of a rugged division will decide whether it's NCAA or NIT.
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