49ers Add National Champion Syracuse; Complete Non-Conference Slate
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July 28, 2003
Halton Arena -
The Charlotte 49ers have added a game at National Champion Syracuse to highlight their non-conference schedule and add to their already difficult road slate. Although conference dates still have to be added, the 49ers roster of opponents is now complete and includes nine games against 2003 NCAA Tournament teams and two against 2003 Final Four participants.
"Once again we have a very difficult schedule," said 49ers head coach Bobby Lutz. "The road games are very demanding. Going to play Syracuse will be a good early test for our team to see where we rank, nationally. Southern Illinois is a consistent NCAA Tournament team and most people don't realize how difficult a game that is and then you have Alabama at Alabama. If anything our road schedule is too tough. It will prepare us for Conference USA and that's what we look for (in a non-conference schedule)."
The 49ers will play at Syracuse, Wed., Nov. 26, kicking off a string of four straight road games over 11 days.
The non-conference schedule begins with consecutive home dates with George Washington (Fri., Nov. 21) and North Carolina A&T (Mon., Nov. 24).
The trecherous four-game road swing begins at Syracuse and travels through UNC Asheville (Nov. 30), Alabama (Dec. 3) and Old Dominion (Dec. 6).
The 25th annual Battle for the Hornet's Nest will pit the 49ers and Davidson at Halton Arena, Thursday, Dec. 11. Charlotte leads the Hornet's Nest series with Davidson, 16-8, and the overall series, 22-9, although Davidson won last year's matchup. Two days later, Dec. 13, Charlotte hosts the Mountaineers in a rematch of last year's setback at Appalachian State.
"We have a great opening game with George Washington at home and Davidson and Appalachian are two local teams that beat us last year," Lutz said. "Our home schedule is very good and will be even better with the Conference USA schedule. Our conference home schedule is very tough."
Following a break for final exams, the 49ers travel to Rhode Island (Dec. 23), before returning home to host Delaware State, Tuesday, Dec. 30. The non-conference schedule will conclude at Southern Illinois (Jan. 2).
The 49ers will play four non-conference teams that finished last season with Top 100 RPI's, including Top 50 schools Syracuse (2), Alabama (45) and Southern Illinois (42), all of whom advanced to the NCAA Tournament, last year. Rhode Island finished last season with an RPI of 87. UNC Asheville is the other non-conference opponent that went to the NCAA's last year.
"If we win games and take care of business, it's a schedule that will put us in contention for an at-large bid at the end of the year -- and that's what we strive for," Lutz noted.
The 49ers C-USA schedule includes home dates with three 2003 NCAA teams: 2003 Final Four participant Marquette, Cincinnati and Louisville as well as in-state rival East Carolina, traditional foe South Florida, Saint Louis, Tulane and UAB.
Within conference play, the 49ers will play road games at Cincinnati, East Carolina, Saint Louis, DePaul, Houston, 2003 NCAA participant Memphis, Southern Miss and TCU.
Dates for the C-USA schedule will be released by the conference office in August.
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