GAME NOTES: Charlotte at TCU
Feb. 24, 2004
Ft. Worth, Texas -
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Charlotte Travels To TCU (Wed., Feb. 25 - 8:05 p.m.) Radio: WFNZ, SportsRadio 610am (Matt Swierad) The Charlotte 49ers (17-6; 9-3; #31 RPI (Feb. 23) travel to TCU (10-13; 6-6; #130 RPI), Wednesday. Charlotte is in a three-way tie for second-place in C-USA, one-game back of league leader Memphis (10-2). Cincinnati and UAB are tied with the 49ers with 9-3 league records. At TCU, the 49ers will conclude a crucial stretch that will see them play on the road in five of seven games. Charlotte is 5-1 so far during the stretch (W: @ #8/#7 Cincinnati, @ East Carolina, vs. Louisville, vs. South Florida, @ USM; L: @ Saint Louis). The 49ers host Cincinnati, Saturday and then finish the regular-season with two of three on the road. Charlotte has played more than half of its schedule on the road this season and has tied the school record for road wins (neutral games not included) with eight victories at opposing team's home arenas.
Charlotte v. TCU: Despite playing in the same conference for the last three years, the two teams have never met -- a quirk of the league's previous two-division scheduling format.
Road Warriors (8-4):
The 49ers have played more than half of their games on the road (12 of 23) and have two of their final three games on the road. Charlotte has tied the 49ers school record for true road wins (neutral games not included). Charlotte is 2-0 in road games vs. Top 10 teams (@ #7/#7 Syracuse; @ #8/#7 Cincinnati). Of the 12 road games, 10 have come against RPI Top 100 teams. Other road news:
... 3-2 in road games vs. Top 35 RPI teams (W: Cincy; 'Cuse; SIU; L: Alabama; Memphis).
... 8-4 in road games (ties sch. rec for road wins)
... 7-2 in road games of by six points or less.
... 12 of 23 games on the road
... 10 road games vs. Top 100 RPI (6-4)
... 6 of 11 non-conference games on the road
... 5 of 6 non-con road games vs. Top 100 RPI
... road wins at #8/#7 Cincinnati, at #7/#7 Syracuse; in double OT at Old Dominion; at Southern Illinois, where the Salukis owned a 31-game home win streak, and at DePaul and Southern Miss
A Balanced Diet: Known for a dangerous perimeter game, Charlotte has been successful, this year, thanks to a balanced attack that conjures memories of NCAA teams past. Charlotte has four players averaging in double figures. The last two times that happened: 1988 (NCAA); 2002 (NCAA). In five of the last six games, Charlotte has had at least four players score in double figures and of the 49ers 76 double-figure outings, 28 (or 37%) have been from the frontcourt (Withers 20; Clemmons 4; Iti 3; Pigford); 31 (or 41%) have been from the backcourt (Plavich 13; Brown 12; Baldwin 6) and 17 (22%) have been from the wings (Basden 14; Johnson 3). See chart (page 2) for recent 49er NCAA teams and the corresponding inside-out stars. Quick Synopsis: At 9-3 in league play, Charlotte is tied for second, 1.0 games back of Memphis (10-2). Cincinnati and UAB are also 9-3. The 49ers are #31 in the Feb. 19 RPI and own a school record three Top 10 victories and four wins over RPI Top 35. Despite playing more than half of its games on the road, the 49ers are 17-6, overall; 3-0 vs. Top 10 teams; 2-0 vs. 2003 NCAA Final Four participants and have tied the school record for most road wins (8). The 49ers sport Top 10 road wins at #7/#7 Syracuse and at #8/#7 Cincinnati and a home win over #9/#9 Louisville. Key wins include the road wins at defending national champ Syracuse (1st time in NCAA that a defending champ lost its home opener); at Southern Illinois (snapped the Salukis 31-game home win streak), at DePaul (to open C-USA play), at Top 10 Cincinnati (Bearcats were 62-5 in C-USA home games) and vs. #9/#9 Louisville, Marquette and Saint Louis at home. All six losses are to Top 100 RPI teams with three coming to Top 30 teams (@ Alabama (24); @ Memphis (27) and UAB (30). Charlotte has been led by C-US APlayer of the Year candidate Curtis Withers (16.3 ppg; 9.5 rpg), who leads C-USA with 13 double-doubles. Three other 49ers average in double-figures: Demon Brown (12.5 ppg; 4.2 apg), Brendan Plavich (11.4 ppg; 67 3FGM), Eddie Basden (10.9; 53 steals). All four have had a 25+ scoring night and Withers (twice), Brown and Plavich have each been named C-USA Player of the Week.
C-USA Player of the Year Candidate: Curtis Withers leads C-USA in double-doubles (13), is fourth in scoring, second in rebounding and first in offensive rebounding. Withers is averaging 16.7 points and 9.0 rebounds in C-USA play and has posted six double-doubles in league play. Last year, the 49ers had three as a team (all by Withers). Withers has scored in double figures and pulled at least 7 boards in all but two games. He's also shooting .466 from the floor, best in C-USA among players with 10 attempts per game.
"Curtis Withers is the best power forward in our league"
-- UC head coach Bob Huggins
"Here's another guy I'm right about: Curtis Withers, a sophomore forward from Charlotte. He might end up being Conference USA's Player of the Year."
- Seth Davis, CNN/SI
"He's a fantastic basketball player."
-- UofL head coach Rick Pitino
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