Dec. 22, 2009

Norfolk, Va. -

Game Notes in PDF Format

The Charlotte 49ers (9-1), winners of seven straight, stay on the road to face Old Dominion (7-4) Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. (WBCN Radio, 1660 AM - Matt Swierad) for a non-conference matchup. At 9-1, Charlotte is off to its best start under Lutz and the program's best since opening the 1991-92 season with an 11-1 mark. Charlotte has won four straight road games during the current seven-game win streak, including an impressive 22-point, 87-65 victory at #20/#18 Louisville, Dec. 5. That win helped the 49ers to receive votes in the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls.

Against Old Dominion, a team receiving votes in the preseason polls and 61-57 road winners over #11 Georgetown, the 49ers renew old ties with a former member of the Sun Belt Conference. The two played every season from 1983-91 and have met 26 times. Of teams on the 2009-10 schedule, Charlotte has only played Louisville (32 times, 16-16 record) more often. Last year, ODU hit 50% from three-point range to score a 69-68 win at Halton Arena. In the 49ers last trip to Norfolk, Brendan Plavich hit a long three-pointer to give Charlotte a 105-102 double OT victory.

Charlotte (9-1 ) v. Old Dominion (7-4)
Charlotte faces an Old Dominion team that is 5-0 at home and just posted an impressive 61-57 road victory at #11 Georgetown. The Monarchs stingy defense allows just 54.5 points per game and opponents are shooting just 39%. By contrast, Charlotte averages 80.1 points and is shooting 45%. Two of Old Dominion's losses came on the road at A-10 favorites Richmond (67-60) and Dayton (58-50).

Series vs. Old Dominion:
Charlotte trails, 12-14 (H: 8-5; A: 4-8; N: 0-1)
Charlotte and Old Dominion were members of the Sun Belt Conference together and played each other every season from 1983-91 (Charlotte was 8-11 vs. ODU as members of the Sun Belt). Head coach Bobby Lutz is 2-2 vs. ODU, including a wild 105-102 double OT win in the 49ers last trip to Norfolk (Dec. 6, 2003). ODU picked up a 69-68 victory at Halton Arena, last year. Lutz is 1-1 in Norfolk. Charlotte is 4-8.

The Coach:
Bobby Lutz, Charlotte (all-time winningest coach)
at Charlotte: 208-147 (12th year)
Win #200 - Nov. 13 2009, 86-70 vs. UNC Asheville
Career: 389-238 (21st year)

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.

OFFENSE/DEFENSE:
In the current seven-game win streak, Charlotte is averaging 83.0 points with a .485 FG% and a .573 2FG%. They have scored 80 or more points in six of the wins with an average margin of victory of 19.6 points. Each of the last five wins have been by double digits. Each of the last six opponents have shot under 38%. Overall, opponents are shooting .377.

STREAKS AND STARTS:
Charlotte is off to its best start under Bobby Lutz and the program's best since going 11-1 to open the 1991-92 season. This is the 49ers 4th streak of 7 or more wins under Lutz, the last coming in 2004-05, when Charlotte went 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. Lutz's longest win streak is eight (1998-99).

SEASON'S GREETINGS:
Charlotte is 5-0 in December and a perfect 9-0 in the month of December over the last two years. Last year's 4-0 mark included road wins at Mississippi State and Southern Illinois.

ROAD WARRIORS:
Charlotte is 5-1 on the road including a 3-1 mark in "true" road games, with wins at Hofstra, #20/#18 Louisville and Winthrop. Last year, Charlotte was 2-14 on the road.

NEW BLOOD:
Several newcomers have played prominent roles for the 49ers this season, led by junior scoring leader Shamari Spears, who is averaging 17.9 points while shooting .556 from the field. Freshman Chris Braswell leads the 49ers in rebounding (8.8/gm) and has already posted four double-doubles, including a 21-point; 14-rebound outpouring at #20/#18 Louisville. The top eight single-game scoring performances belong to newcomers, including Spears' four 20+ outings, 20-point outings from red-shirt freshman Shamarr Bowden (21 vs. UNC Asheville), freshman Chris Braswell (21 points at #20/#18 Louisville), and sophomore Derrio Green (20 points at #20/#18 Louisville) as well as Green's 18-point outing vs. Yale.

20 FOUR:
Charlotte has had four players score 20 or more points, this season -- and all four are newcomers to the team: Shamari Spears (20+ in 4 straight games), Shamarr Bowden (21 in debut), Chris Braswell (21 at #20/#18 Louisville) and Derrio Green (20 at #20/#18 Louisville).

TOP 25 WINS:
Charlotte's 22-point victory over #20/#18 Louisville is the largest margin of victory for head coach Bobby Lutz over a nationally-ranked opponent. It also marks the third straight year that the 49ers have posted a top 25 win, a first for the 49ers under Lutz:
Top 25 wins in three straight seasons:
2009-10: 87-65 at #20/#18 Louisville
2008-09: 65-60 vs. #16/#17 Xavier
2007-08: 82-72 at #18/#19 Clemson

Sked Strength (AP/ESPN USA Today polls listed):
Charlotte will play five teams that were concensus preseason top 25 teams (#9/#8 Duke, #10/#11Tennessee, #19/#23 Louisville, #21/#22 Dayton and #22/#20 Georgia Tech). Two other foes: Xavier and Old Dominion were receiving votes in the preseason polls. Charlotte is 1-1 thus far vs. top 25 opponents (W, 87-65 vs. Louisville; L, 59-101 at Duke). The next nationally-ranked foe: #22/#15 Georgia Tech, Jan. 2.

DOUBLE-UP:
Freshman Chris Braswell is second all-time with four double-doubles in his rookie season. Of note, former standouts Curtis Withers (2003 Conference USA all-Rookie Team), Rodney White (2001 ESPN.com National Freshman of the Year; 2001 C-USA Freshman of the Year) and Cedric Maxwell all had three double-doubles in their first seasons. The record for a freshman is 15 (Jarvis Lang, 1990-91). Clinton Hinton had seven double-doubles as a freshman in 1984-85, 2nd on the list.