GAME NOTES in PDF Format

Nov. 12, 2009

Halton Arena - Bobby Lutz opens his 12th season as the Charlotte 49ers head coach Friday night as Charlotte hosts UNC Asheville at Halton Arena (WBCN Radio, 1660 AM: Matt Swierad). Lutz, the 49ers all-time winningest coach, will vy for win #200 as the 49ers top man. He holds a 199-146 record in his 11-year tenure as head coach. By starting his 12th season he passes icon Jeff Mullins (182-142; 11 years) for the longest run as 49ers head coach in school history.

Charlotte has been picked to finish 7th in the Atlantic 10 Conference in a preseason poll of the league's coaches and selected media. Senior guard DiJuan Harris was a preseason 2nd team all-Atlantic 10 choice and red-shirt freshman shooter Shamarr Bowden was named to the A-10's preseason all-Rookie team.

DEPTH: Charlotte has a 16-player roster for 2009-10 boasting better depth than a year ago. That depth will be tested in the season opener. Junior An'Juan Wilderness, a two-year starter, is out 2-4 weeks with a left calf strain. Freshman Gokhan Sirin (NCAA: participation with professional club team) and junior Shamari Spears (team rules violation) will both serve single-game suspensions.

Injury Update:
Shamarr Bowden (shoulder) probable
An'Juan Wilderness (strained calf) out
DiJuan Harris (ankle sprain) day-to-day

Season Openers
Now in its 45th season, Charlotte is 30-14 all-time in season openers, including a 10-1 record in season openers under Lutz. The 49ers are 19-8 in season openers at home (7-1 under Lutz) and 32-12 all-time in their first home game of the season (9-2 under Lutz).

BIRTHDAY WISHES:
DiJuan Harris' birthday falls on the date of the season-opener, Friday, Nov. 13. He will turn 23. His day-to-day status may not allow him to celebrate it the way he would like -- but then again, maybe it will. Senior Ian Andersen celebrates his 22nd birthday, Dec. 6, the day after the 49ers game at Louisville while freshman Chris Braswell turns 20, Dec. 18, two days before a road game at Winthrop.

New Faces:
Several new faces fill out the 49ers 16-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.

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.

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.

Charlotte (0-0) vs. UNC Asheville (0-0)
Charlotte is 7-4 all-time vs. UNC Asheville in a series that dates back to 1965. Charlotte has won the last five meetings, including four during Lutz's tenure. UNCA's last win came Nov. 28, 1983 (56-57 at 49ers Mine Shaft). Charlotte is 6-3 at home vs. the Bulldogs.

Series Numbers:
Charlotte leads 7-4 (H: 6-3; A: 1-1)
Lutz vs. UNC Asheville: 4-0 (H: 3-0; A: 1-0)
at Halton Arena: 3-0; At Mine Shaft: 2-1; At Old Coliseum: 1-1; At Garinger High: 0-1

Notes: This will mark the sixth time that the 49ers have met UNC Asheville in the season opener. Charlotte is 3-2 in the previous five season-openers vs. the Bulldogs. The last time the 49ers opened the season against UNC Asheville: Jeff Mullins' first season as head coach (W, 92-68 on Nov. 22, 1985 at the Mine Shaft)

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