UNC Charlotte Basketball Predictions
Posted by Jack Jones - Google+
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2010-11 Results:
Overall: 10-20 (Home 7-7 Road 2-11 Neutral 1-2)
Atlantic 10: 2-14
Conference Tournament: Failed to qualify for the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament.
Postseason: None
Alan Major guided Charlotte to a 10-20 record last year and 2-14 in the Atlantic 10. The 49ers finished thirteenth in the Atlantic 10 Conference and will look to improve this year. They didn’t qualify for the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament. All of this year’s starters saw action in the starting lineup last year. The problem is Charlotte lacks depth behind the starting five and will count on several newcomers to spell the starters.
The 49ers were ninth in the Atlantic 10 in scoring with 66.6 points per game and eleventh in defensive scoring allowing 71.0 points per game. With four returning starters and their top player off the bench return looking for Charlotte to take a step forward this season.
Returning Starters
Derrio Green
James Briscoe
Javarris Barnett
Chris Braswell
Other Returning Players
Colby Lewis
Ray Morgenstern
Lamar Bradbury
Newcomers
DeMario Mayfield
Mike Thorne
Ilija Ivankovic
Victor Nickerson
Pierria Henry
Terrence Williams
Head Coach
Alan Major
Key Losses
The 49ers will be without Shamari Spears who was removed from the team for disciplinary reasons after averaging 17.0 a game and 33 minutes a game in limited action last year.
An’Juan Wilderness and Charles Dewhurst also graduated having averaged 6.6 and 1.9 points respectively.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent |
| Thu, Oct 20 | BASKETBALL MADNESS |
| Sat, Oct 22 | FAN DAY |
| Thu, Nov 03 | BELMONT ABBEY (Exh.) |
| Fri, Nov 11 | NC CENTRAL |
| Tue, Nov 15 | @ Central Michigan |
| Sat, Nov 19 | @ Lamar |
| Tue, Nov 22 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE |
| Sat, Nov 26 | @ Wright State |
| Sat, Dec 03 | @ East Carolina |
| Tue, Dec 06 | @ Radford |
| Sat, Dec 10 | DAVIDSON |
| Mon, Dec 19 | COPPIN STATE |
| Thu, Dec 22 | MIAMI |
| Wed, Dec 28 | @ Arkansas |
| Sat, Dec 31 | @ Memphis |
| Wed, Jan 04 | RICHMOND * |
| Sat, Jan 07 | @ Saint Joseph’s * |
| Wed, Jan 11 | @ Massachusetts * |
| Sat, Jan 14 | SAINT LOUIS * |
| Wed, Jan 18 | KENNESAW STATE |
| Sat, Jan 21 | @ George Washington * |
| Wed, Jan 25 | TEMPLE * |
| Sat, Jan 28 | XAVIER * |
| Wed, Feb 01 | @ La Salle * |
| Sat, Feb 04 | @ Fordham * |
| Sat, Feb 11 | RHODE ISLAND (Homecoming) * |
| Wed, Feb 15 | @ Dayton * |
| Sat, Feb 18 | @ Richmond * |
| Wed, Feb 22 | GEORGE WASHINGTON * |
| Sat, Feb 25 | ST. BONAVENTURE * |
| Wed, Feb 29 | DUQUESNE * |
| Sat, Mar 03 | @ Xavier * |
| A-10 Championship First Round | |
| Tue, Mar 06 | TBA |
| A-10 Championship | |
| Fri, Mar 09 – Sun, Mar 11 | TBA |
| *Conference Game | |
2011-12 Preview
Last year Charlotte got out to a decent start going 9-9 before losing 10 of its last 11 games. It failed to earn a berth in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament.
Second-year coach Alan Major will have more to work with this year. While the 49ers are not likely to make it to the NCAA tournament they will look to try to become an average team in the Atlantic 10.
With the addition of new players the 49ers should be able to take a step in the right direction. Charlotte has a solid freshman class coming in that is mixed between perimeter and low-post players. The 49ers will also feature the addition of transfers DeMario Mayfield from Georgia and Ilija Ivankovic from a junior college. Major will have a full team to work with.
Backcourt
Derrio Green and James Briscoe will return once again in the backcourt. Green averaged 13.0 ppg and 3.8 assist last year. Green’s performance last year calls for improvement after having only shot 27% beyond the arch. He also launched 207 three-point shots which is not acceptable for a player with such a low shooting efficiency.
Briscoe is an effective scorer who played the point last year since the 49ers lacked a true point guard. He is an excellent scorer and averaged 12.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game a year ago. When he creates his own plays he seems to be a better scorer. He shot 35.4 % from three-point range last year and is a decent free throw shooter (79.8%). Briscoe loves the gym and has continuously worked to get better.
Luke Voncina was not eligible last season. This year he is eligible and should provide the 49ers depth behind Green and Briscoe. He is tall for a point guard at six-foot-four and weighs 195 pounds. He was a member of the Slovenia Junior National Team.
Frontcourt
Braswell and K.J. Sherrill will be the main forces in the 49er front court. Last year Braswell averaged 11.1 points per game and continuously improved as the season went along. He is crafty around the rim and is always on the ball. He is decent from the line having shot 71% last year. Additionally he has good hands, good vision, and passes well.
K.J. Sherrill will team up with Braswell after being limited to 20 games a year ago. Sherill is athletic and showed promise last year while scoring in double figures three times.
Ilija Ivankovic a junior college transfer will look to add depth to Charlotte’s front court. Last year he played at Santa Fe College but one cannot be too impressed since he average only 4.3 ppg and 4.0 boards per game. Though at 250 pounds, he should provide the 49ers with strength inside.
Mike Thorne a three star recruit according to ESPN will also come off the bench. He comes out of Trinity Christian in Fayetteville North Carolina. Overall he was rated as the 27th best center and received interest from Maryland and Clemson. Look for him to get some experience this year before challenging for a spot in the lineup next season.
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