The 49ers and leading scorer De'Angelo Alexander will face Xavier, Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the A-10 quarters. |
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GAME NOTES: Charlotte vs. Xavier at A-10 Tourney
March 8, 2006
Cincinnati, Ohio -
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The Game: The Charlotte 49ers (18-11; 11-5 A-10 runner-up) begin play in their first-ever Atlantic 10 Tournament at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. Seeded 2nd, the 49ers receive a first round bye and will face host Xavier in the quarterfinals. Charlotte's runner-up finish in the A-10 is their third straight season with at least a runner-up league finish (2004: Conference USA champs; 2005: C-USA runner-up; 2006: A-10 runner-up). Charlotte has posted a 35-13 record in league play over the last three years.
Charlotte continues to be led by first-team all-A-10 star Curtis Withers, who leads the league with 16 double-doubles, including nine in league play. Withers leads the A-10 in rebounding (11.0) and double-doubles (16) while averaging a double-double of 16.1 points and 11.0 rebounds. He ranks 8th in the NCAA in rebounding and with 999 career rebounds needs just one to reach 1,000. Only two other 49ers: Jarvis Lang; Cedric Maxwell have reached that figure. Withers is currently ranked 8th all-time in scoring with 1702 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 44 career double-doubles are second all-time.
All-ATLANTIC 10: All-America candidate Curtis Withers and junior leading scorer De'Angelo Alexander were both named first-team all-Atlantic 10. Withers easily leads the league with 16 double-doubles (9 in A-10 play) and averages a double-double of 16.1 points and a league-best 11.0 rebounds. Alexander paces the 49ers at 17.3 points per game and leads the A-10 with 88 three-pointers made while shooting .429 from long range. Guard Leemire Goldwire (13.4 ppg; 76 3FGM) wass named honorable mention all-A-10 and to the league's all-academic team (3.0 GPA; Psychology).
Chairman of the Boards: All-America candidate Curtis Withers ranks 8th in the NCAA with 11.0 rebounds per game. He has grabbed double-digit boards 20 times and at least 14 rebounds 11 times, including 15 in the regular-season finale at #7/#6 George Washington. In league play, he averaged 11.3 rebounds with eight games of 14 or more rebounds. He moved past 1998 Conference USA Player of the Year DeMarco Johnson into 3rd-place all-time with 999 career rebounds, 1 shy of 1000. His 11.0 rebounding average is the 49ers fourth-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 1700 career points and 950 career rebounds (Craig Smith, BC; Shelden Williams, Duke; Kenny Adekele, Hartford)
The Long Rangers: Charlotte is 3rd in the A-10 with a .374 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 1st in the league with 88 treys. 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 3rd in the A-10 with 76 3FG made and he's shooting .448 (30-67) from long range in the last eight games. Bennett (46-119; .387) 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 .405 3FG% in league play.
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