Charlotte will be back in action less than 20 hours after topping Hofstra. |
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GAME NOTES: Charlotte vs. North Texas
Nov. 12, 2006
Halton Arena -
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TODAY'S GAME
Charlotte 49ers (1-0) vs. North Texas (1-0)
Nov. 12; 1:00 p.m.
Halton Arena (9105)
Charlotte, N.C.
The Coaches:
Bobby Lutz, Charlotte
Career: 336-187 (18th year)
at Charlotte: 155-96 (9th year)
Johnny Jones
Career: 79-94, 6 years
at North Texas: 64-78, 5 years
Series play: Charlotte leads, 1-0
Dec. 29, 1974 W, 86-69 in the consolation game of the All-College Tourney in Oklahoma City.
Notes:
The 49ers have gotten off to a 2-0 start twice in head coach Bobby Lutz's first eight seasons: 1999-00 (NIT) and 2000-01 (NCAA) and advanced to post-season play both times ... the 49ers have gone 1-1 in their first two games in each of the last five years ... North Texas won its season opener, 85-47 vs. Cameron University ... North Texas is nicknamed the Mean Green, a popular moniker for the 49ers in the seventies and eighties ... North Texas, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, was 14-14, last year ... North Texas is located in Denton, Texas.
The Game:
The Charlotte 49ers, the 2006 Atlantic 10 runner up, opened up the 2006-07 season with an 88-82 victory over top 25 contender Hofstra, thanks to primetime efforts from tri-captains De'Angelo Alexander, Leemire Goldwire and E.J. Drayton. But Charlotte has little time to celebrate. In a scheduling quirk, today's contest with North Texas comes less than 20 hours after the conclusion of Saturday's win.
Alexander and Goldwire both scored 26 points and Drayton added a double-double. Alexander hit 5-of-7 threes, Goldwire, who matched his career-high hit 12-of-12 free throws, including 10-of-10 in the final 67 seconds and Drayton pulled down 13 rebounds to go with 13 points. For Alexander, a preseason candidate for the Wooden National Player of the Year Award and Goldwire, who set a school record, last season with 39 consecutive free throws, the performances may have been expected. For Drayton, who was a medical red-shirt last season and is trying to fill the shoes of three-time first team all-conference choice Curtis Withers, this year, the performance was impressively encouraging. It was his first career double-double.
The 49ers finished last season with a 19-13 record that included a 1-1 mark in the NIT -- the school's seventh post-season bid in head coach Bobby Lutz's eight seasons at the helm.
Player of the Year Candidate:
Senior All-America candidate De'Angelo Alexander has been selected as one of the nation's Top 50 candidates for the Wooden National Player of the Year Award. As a Top 50 selection, Alexander is a Wooden Award pre-season all-America. Alexander led the 49ers with a 17.0 scoring average, adding 6.1 rebounds. He led the A-10 in three-pointers made (96; 3.0/gm) while shooting .429 from long range (3rd in the A-10). He is the league's top returning scorer. A first-team all-Atlantic 10 selection, last year, Alexander is a preseason first-team all-A-10 choice, as well. This is the third straight year that a 49er has made the Wooden Award Candidate list. Curtis Withers was on it the last two seasons.
Preseason A-10 Honors:
The Charlotte 49ers are picked fourth in the A-10 Preseason Poll, as selected by coaches and media. Defending A-10 Tournament champion Xavier is picked to win the league. UMass (2nd) and Saint Louis (3rd) are also picked ahead of the 49ers, who return two starters from last season's A-10 runner-up squad. De'Angelo Alexander is a first team selection on the preseason all-Atlantic 10 teams. Junior Leemire Goldwire is a third team selection and is tabbed on the preseason all-Defensive Team. Freshman David Booker was named to the preseason all-Rookie Team.
The Long Rangers:
Each of the last eight years -- which neatly corresponds with Bobby Lutz's tenure as head coach -- the 49ers have boasted the league leader in three-pointers made. Last year, leading scorer De'Angelo Alexander led the A-10 with 96 threes (3.0/game). Alexander ranked third in the league with a .429 three-point pct. Backcourt mate Leemire Goldwire was third in the league with 84 threes and Charlotte ranked 3rd in the A-10 with a .369 three-point field goal pct. A list of the league leaders over the last eight years follows:
2006 De'Angelo Alexander (94, 3.03)
2005 *Brendan Plavich (114, 3.9)
2004 Brendan Plavich (97, 3.3)
2003 Demon Brown (137)
2002 Jobey Thomas (110)
2001 Jobey Thomas (94)
2000 Jobey Thomas (81)
1999 Diego Guevara (80)
* Led the nation in three-pointers made per game
(Charlotte was a member of Conference USA
during the years of 1999-2005)
Home at Halton:
The 49ers have won at least 10 home games in eight of the 10 seasons at Halton Arena. Charlotte was 9-6 last year. The 49ers have advanced to post-season play in nine of the 10 years (7 NCAA; 2 NIT) at Halton. Overall the Niners are 104-28 (.787) in 10+ years at Halton.
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