Nov. 4, 2009

Halton Arena -

Complete Release in PDF Format

Bobby Lutz opens his 12th season as the Charlotte 49ers head coach with an exhibition game against crosstown foe Johnson C. Smith, Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. The 49ers have a slew of new faces including probable starters Shamari Spears, a 6-6 junior power forward who transferred from Boston College and Derrio Green, an explosive 6-2 sophomore combo guard.

In addition, the 49ers return three starters from 2008-09: senior point guard DiJuan Harris, senior shooting guard Ian Andersen and junior wing An'Juan Wilderness. Also back are probable starters RaShad Coleman, an athletic senior wing, and 6-10 junior center Phil Jones, who spent some of his summer playing with the Virgin Islands National team in the FIBA americas Championship.

Lutz, already the 49ers all-time winningest coach, is one win shy of becoming the first coach in school history to register 200 career victories. He is beginning his 12th season at the helm of the 49ers, passing icon Jeff Mullins (11 years) for the longest running tenure of any 49ers head men's basketball coach.

New Faces:
Several new faces fill out the 49ers 17-man roster, including an incoming class that includes sophomore Derrio Green, freshman frontcourters Chris Braswell and KJ Sherrill and long-limbed shooter Gokhan Sirin. In addition, two 49ers who were with the team last year: Boston College transfer Shamari Spears and red-shirt freshman Shamarr Bowden will make their 49ers' debuts this season.

Preseason Talk:
Charlotte was picked to finish 7th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 in a preseason poll of the league's coaches and selected media. Senior DiJuan Harris was a preseason second team all-Atlantic 10 choice while Shamarr Bowden was named to the A-10's preseason all-Rookie team.

Sked Strength (AP/ESPN USA Today polls listed):
Charlotte will play four teams that are concensus preseason top 25 teams (#10/#11Tennessee, #19/#23 Louisville, #21/#22 Dayton and #22/#20 Georgia Tech) with a possibility of playing a fifth (#9/#8 Duke) in the NIT Tip-Off. Two other foes, Xavier and Old Dominion are receiving votes.

Charlotte (0-0) vs. JC Smith (0-0) - Exh.
Charlotte and J.C. Smith have met twice in regular-season
Dec. 8, 1988 - Charlotte W, 98-71 @ New Coliseum
Jan. 23, 1992 - Charlotte W, 82-80 (ot) @ New Coliseum

Notes:
Former JC Smith star Curly Neal starred for the Harlem Globetrotters while recent 49er grad Charlie Coley recently signed with the Globetrotters. JCSU went 23-8 last year and won the CIAA Tournament. Charlotte went 11-20.

The Coach:
Bobby Lutz, Charlotte (all-time winningest coach)
Career: 380-237 (21st year)
at Charlotte: 199-146 (12th year)

Injury Update:
Shamarr Bowden (shoulder) out (could return 11/13)
An'Juan Wilderness (strained calf) probable

On Point:
Senior DiJuan Harris ranked 4th in the NCAA in assists and 6th in the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio, last year. He set a school-record for minutes played but will get welcome relief this season from newcomer Derrio Green.