Junior De'Angelo Alexander recorded a double-double Wednesday s. Duquesne. |
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GAME NOTES: Charlotte at #7/#6 George Washington (ESPN)
March 3, 2006
Washington, D.C. -
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The Game: The Charlotte 49ers (18-10; 11-4 Atlantic 10), who have won seven of their last nine games, close out the regular-season at #6/#7 George Washington, Saturday at 2:00 p.m. (TV: ESPN - Dave Barnett, Tim McCormick; Radio: WFNZ SportsRadio 610 - Matt Swierad). Charlotte secured a first-round bye in next week's Atlantic 10 Tournament with its victory over Duquesne, Wednesday night. The 49ers are in second-place in the A-10, one game ahead of third-place Saint Louis. Charlotte can grab the #2 seed in the A-10 Tournament with a victory over GW or a Saint Louis loss at La Salle. If Charlotte and Saint Louis tie for second-place, the Billikens would get the #2 seed by virtue of their head-to-head victory and Charlotte would get the #3 seed.
Charlotte continues to be led by A-10 Player of the Year candidate Curtis Withers, who scored a season-high 27 points against Duquesne on his way to his league-leading 15th double-double. Withers leads the A-10 in rebounding (10.9) and double-doubles (15) while averaging a double-double of 16.1 points and 10.9 rebounds. He ranks 8th in the NCAA in rebounding. He needs 16 rebounds to reach 1000 in his career, something only two others 49ers: Jarvis Lang (1995); Cedric Maxwell (1977), have accomplished. Withers is currently ranked 8th all-time in scoring with 1684 points. He posted one of the nation's six 20-20 games of the year with 23 points and 21 rebounds vs. Dayton. A two-time first team all-Conference USA choice, he could become only the third 49er in school history to garner three first-team all-league awards. His 43 career double-doubles are second all-time.
Chairman of the Boards: All-America candidate Curtis Withers ranks 8th in the NCAA with 10.9 rebounds per game. He has grabbed double-digit boards 19 times and 14 or more rebounds 10 times. He averages 11.1 rebounds in league play with seven games of 14 or more rebounds. He has moved past 1998 Conference USA Player of the Year DeMarco Johnson into 3rd-place all-time with 984 career rebounds, 16 shy of 1000. His 10.9 rebounding average is the 49ers fifth-best all-time and the first in double-figures since Jarvis Lang pulled in 10.1 in 1993-94. He grabbed a career-high 21 boards vs. Dayton, the first 49er to grab 20 or more in 16 years (Cedric Ball, 22 vs. USF, 1/4/90). He is also the first to post a 20-20 game (23 pts; 21 rebs vs. Dayton) since Cedric Maxwell (twice, 1976-77). He is one of four active players in NCAA Div I. with over 1600 career points and 900 career rebounds (Craig Smith, BC; Shelden Williams, Duke; Kenny Adekele, Hartford)
The Long Rangers: Charlotte is 3rd in the A-10 with a .373 three-point field goal pct. and has always been known for its three-point shooters. In each of head coach Bobby Lutz's seasons at the helm, a 49er has led the conference in three-pointers made. This year, De'Angelo Alexander ranks tied for 1st in the league with 81 treys (Jermaine Anderson, Fordham). Alexander ranks third in the league with a .429 three-point pct.
The 49ers are equipped with other dangerous perimeter threats, as well: notably Leemire Goldwire and Marcus Bennett. Goldwire is 4th in the A-10 with 72 3FG made and he's shooting .456 (26-57) from long range in the last seven games. Bennett (45-116; .388) erupted off the bench at Fordham, hitting 7-of-10 treys for a career-best 29 points. He's been in double figures in 8 A-10 games with a .408 3FG% in league play. Alexander (T1st) and Goldwire (4th) rank in the A-10's top five in 3FG made while Alexander (3rd) and Bennett (10th) rank in the top 10 in 3FG%.
REBOUNDING: Charlotte leads the A-10 in rebounding (37.8) and is 2nd with a +4.4 rebounding margin. It has outrebounded its opponent 17 times (nine by double-figures), including 10 of 15 A-10 games. Charlotte is 15-3 when it ties or wins the boards; 3-7 when it gets outrebounded. Curtis Withers leads the league; ranks 8th in the NCAA at 10.9 rebounds. The last 49er with double-digit boards: Jarvis Lang, 10.1, 1993-94.
35 League Wins in 3 years: Charlotte has won 35 league games in the last 3 years, posting one regular-season and two runner-up finishes. Charlotte went 12-4 to win the 2004 C-USA regular-season title; 12-4 to place 2nd in the 2005 regular-season and is currently 11-4 and assured of at least a tie for 2nd in the A-10.
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