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September 12th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Charlotte
49ers
Overall Rank:
#60
Conference
Rank: #4 A-10
2005-06:
19-13, 11-5, 2nd
2005-06
postseason: NIT
 Charlotte
put together an average season last year based on their
standards. With three starters gone and an inexperienced
frontcourt, this may be Coach Bobby Lutz’s toughest coaching job
in years.
Who’s Out:
The
absence of Curtis Withers and Chris Nance leaves some major
holes in the paint, especially in the rebounding department.
Withers, who averaged 16.1 points and 11.3 rebounds as a senior,
was a monster on the glass. Nance tacked on 4.2 points and 4.7
boards and complimented the skills of Withers quite nicely.
Seldom used forward Tripp Miller has also run out of
eligibility. On the perimeter, the losses don’t look much
better. Point guard Mitchell Baldwin started 31 games and
averaged 4.5 points and 4.4 assists. Sixth man Marcus Bennett
provided a consistent spark off the bench and ranked fourth on
the team in scoring with 8.7 points per contest.
Who’s In:
Yet, for
every loss there is a newcomer ready to fill in. Point guard
Carlos Williams is likely to step right into a starting role.
Ranked as one of the best junior college point guards in the
nation, Williams has the ability to do just that. The 6-1,
190-pounder is a tremendous passer and if he can adjust to the
level of play quickly, the 49ers will be in good hands. The
biggest questions are up front where David Booker hopes to have
some answers. Booker can help out a little on the glass, but
isn’t expected to make a huge impact as a freshman. E.J.
Drayton returns after receiving a medical redshirt and only
playing in seven games for the 2005-2006 campaign. Two years
ago the 6-8 forward averaged 8.7 points and 4.6 rebounds and his
experience should get him a starting nod. The depth on the
wings will not be a problem with the addition of Sean Phaler, Charles Dewhurst and Ian Andersen. Phaler, a
former UCLA recruit and New Mexico player, is a tremendous
scorer. Even at 6-9, the Anaheim Hills, California product has
the ability to knock down the long ball with ease and smoothly
work his way through traffic. He may be relegated to the bench
this year, but he will contribute right away. Wilderness can
use a little improvement on his jumper, but the freshman has a
knack for getting to the basket and has the body to battle in
the A-10 immediately. Dewhurst is another athletic wing who has
good size and will battle for minutes. Andersen gets lost in
the list, but he is a smart player and a hard worker who can
contribute on the defensive end this season. What the 49ers
really need is a quality big man to provide some depth up
front. And the late pickup of Phil Jones will provide just
that. The 6-10, 255 pound center is a true post player and
doesn’t have any problems finishing under the basket. Jones
averaged 19.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.3 blocks at Laurinburg
Prep in North Carolina last year and some quality minutes off
the bench this year will greatly help out Charlotte.
Who to Watch:
A
49er has led its conference in three point field goals the last
eight years. With De’Angelo Alexander and Leemire Goldwire, you
can put your bet down that a 49er will lead the league again for
the next two years. Alexander was the honoree of that award
last season, draining 3.0 long balls per contest. The 6-6 wing
averaged 17.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest en route to
first team all A-10 accolades. Goldwire knocked down 2.6 three
balls as a sophomore last year, good enough for third in the
conference. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida native averaged
13.4 points and a team high 1.8 steals and is becoming a leader
both on and off the court for Charlotte.
Final
Projection:
Returning
seniors Antwon Coleman and Courtney Williams are expected to
help fill in for Withers under the basket. Coleman is a solid
rebounder and averaged 3.6 points and 3.4 boards off the bench
last season. At 6-7 and a slimmer 265 pounds, he uses his body
well to get grab some rebounds and, with a little less weight,
it is hoped he can keep up with Charlotte’s up-tempo style. The
players departing look bad and will keep preseason expectations
relatively low, especially in what looks like a tougher A-10,
but Charlotte has plenty of talent to make a run at the NCAAs.
The only questions are up front and if a big man or two perform
better than expected, Charlotte could be dancing. If not, the
opposing defense will guard the perimeter and that would be
trouble for Alexander, Goldwire and 49er fans everywhere.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NIT
Projected
Starting Five:
Carlos Williams,
Junior, Guard, DNP last season
Leemire Goldwire,
Junior, Guard, 13.4 points per game
De’Angelo
Alexander, Senior, Guard, 17.0 points per game
E.J. Drayton,
Senior, Forward, 3.6 points per game
Antwon Coleman,
Senior, Forward, 3.6 points per game
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