Dec. 19, 2009

Halton Arena -

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The Charlotte 49ers (8-1), winners of six straight, travel to Winthrop (5-4) Sunday at 4:00 p.m. (WBCN Radio, 1660 AM - Matt Swierad) for a non-conference matchup. At 8-1, Charlotte is off to its best start since opening the 1991-92 season with an 11-1 mark. Charlotte has won three straight road games during the current six-game win streak, including an impressive 22-point, 87-65 victory at #20/#18 Louisville, Dec. 5. That win helped the 49ers move the 49ers into the receiving votes section of the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls.

Charlotte's last six-game win streak came in 2004-05, when Charlotte went a perfect 7-0 in February on its way into the national rankings and onto the NCAA Tournament. Charlotte also won seven straight in 2001-02 (Jan. 12-Feb. 2) on its way to that NCAA Tournament. Charlotte won eight straight in head coach Bobby Lutz's first season (1998-99). That win streak included four wins in four days to capture the 1999 Conference USA Tournament and the NCAA first round victory over the Lamar Odom-led Rhode Island Rams.

Charlotte (8-1 ) v. Winthrop (5-4)
Charlotte owns a 1-0 record all-time vs. Winthrop -- with the two teams meeting for the first time, last season. Charlotte scored a 70-53 victory at Halton Arena, Jan. 31, 2009.

Series vs. Winthrop:
Charlotte leads, 1-0 (H: 1-0)

The Coach:
Bobby Lutz, Charlotte (all-time winningest coach)
Career: 388-238 (21st year)
at Charlotte: 207-147 (12th year)
Win #200 - Nov. 13 2009, 86-70 vs. UNC Asheville
1st 49ers head coach to reach 200-win plateau

Injury Report: none

A-10 Leaders:
Assists: T1st - DiJuan Haris, 5.6 apg
Scoring (team): 1st - Charlotte, 82.7 ppg
Scoring margin (team): 1st - Charlotte, +12.8
Rebounding (team): 1st - Charlotte, 43.7 rpg

RECEIVING VOTES:
Charlotte is receiving votes in the Dec. 14 AP (24 votes; T36th) and ESPN/USA Today Coaches (14 votes, T37th) polls. Following its 22-point victory at #20/#18 Louisville, the 49ers received votes in both the AP (18 votes; T36th) and ESPN/USA Today Coaches (7 votes; T38th) polls, Dec 7.

ON THE OFFENSIVE:
In the current six-game win streak, Charlotte is averaging 87.3 points with a .497 FG% and a .368 3FG%. They have scored 80 or more points in each of the wins with an average margin of victory of 22.1 points. Eight players have scored in double digits at least once during the win streak.

DEPTH:
Eleven different 49ers have scored in double figures in at least one game, four different 49ers have posted a game with 20 or more points and seven have had multiple double-digit games. Ten 49ers are averaging at least 10 minutes per game and 14 have already hit the scoring column. In the win over East Carolina, the 49ers first 13 baskets came from nine different players and the first five three-pointers came from five different players.

DEFENSE:
Each of the last five opponents have shot under 38%. Overall, opponents are shooting .384.