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[Fudd]

Per WH:

http://www.basketballforum.com/atlan...charlotte.html

Charlotte
The key to Charlott's success this year will depend on the following: Does Alan Major get a handle on this head coaching thing quickly; does Chris Braswell take the next step into becoming a dominant player; does Jamar Briscoe grab the reins at point and provide leadership and some scoring punch; and does Charlotte find a consistent scoring threat at wing forward. We know what Spears and Green will bring. It's the other things that will be crucial.

Should be very interesting to see the new-look Niners, with an emphasis on defense and a more disciplined offense that Major promises.

NONCON SCHEDULE

W - GARDNER-WEBB
W – SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
L - George Mason (Charleston Classic)
W - East Carolina (Charleston Classic)
W - South Carolina Upstate or Coastal Carolina (Charleston Classic)
L - At Oregon State
W - RADFORD
W- At East Carolina
W - WINTHROP
W - At Davidson
L - TENNESSEE
W- WRIGHT STATE
W - At Mercer
L - At Ga Tech

10-4 nonconference


The Niners get an easy start with a rebuilding Gardner-Webb (new coach), and then in a strange scheduling quirk, play South Carolina State the next day. Both are home games against weak opponents, but I still don't like back-to-back games.

The third game is critical. Hard for me to take a rookie coach over Jim Larranaga, especially when he's returning all five starters from a 20-win team. Losing that game, however, would put Charlotte onto a low RPI path. If the team beats Mason, Charlotte would get a date with NC State next (and a beatable Wolfpack team at that).

Oregon State doesnt have more talent than Charlotte, but it's a long flight just a few days after the 3-game event in Charleston. Niners return for home cookng and should get on a streak. Normally I pick Charlotte to lose at Davidson, but this time I think the Niners have the better team and will pull it out. Tennessee is young but very talented. Niners will have a better chance than last year, but I don't think they have enough backcourt depth to handle the VOls' press.

Wright State loses Brad Brownell, and that should make Charlotte's job easier. Mercer is not as good as they were a few years ago. Ga TEch is very beatable. Not great size, but they do have a potent wing attack. I'd like to think that charlotte beats either Tenn or Ga tech, but I go conservative.

BONUS:

A-10 PREDICTION: 9-7. (18-11 overall)

I don't like the Niners' unbalanced sked. Xavier and Richmond are two of the top four teams in the league and GW is rising. Charlotte also has to play SJU, Bonaventure, Duquesne, Rhode Island, Temple and St. Louis on the road.

Of course, Charlotte is the biggest unknown in the league with the coaching change. Major and Lutz are nothing alike. So this is quite a guess.

	Xavier XAVIER MUSKETEERS Dayton's biggest rival dating back to the early 1900s. Founded in 1831, Xavier University is a Jesuit, Catholic university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its three colleges offer 78 undergraduate majors, 43 minors and 11 graduate programs to 6,646 total students, including 3,961 undergraduates. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities nationwide. Xavier's nickname is the Musketeers and are fellow A10 Conference members.

	Temple TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple College became Temple University in 1907. Located in Philadelphia, Temple is a comprehensive public research university with 34,000 students, 8 campuses, and 300 academic degree programs. Notable alumni include Bill Cosby and Daryl Hall. Temple's nickname is the Owls and are fellow A10 Conference members.

	Richmond UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND Founded in 1830, the private liberal arts university in the Commonwealth boasts 2,800 students in 57 majors within its picturesque 350-acre campus. The Robins School of Business is one of the Top-20 business schools in the country. Nickname is the Spiders and are fellow A10 Conference members.

	Rhode Island RHODE ISLAND The University of Rhode Island was chartered as the state's agricultural school in 1888. The school became the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1892. Located in southern Rhode Island, URI is a quintessential New England campus - rural in feeling yet close to the city of Providence, the state's capital. Linked to the city, the beaches, and nearly every corner of the state by both rail and public transit, the campus is easily accessible from Boston and New York URI currently offers 100 majors in seven degree-granting colleges. There are more than 12,000 students on the Kingston campus, about 3,000 in Providence, and a complement of about 700 faculty. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Rams.

	St Joseph's ST. JOSEPH'S Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1851, Saint Joseph's University advances the professional and personal ambitions of men and women by providing a demanding, yet supportive educational experience. One of only 139 schools nationwide with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation, Saint Joseph's is home to 4,200 full-time undergraduates and 3,100 graduate, part-time and doctoral candidates. Located in urban Philadelphia, SJU is a fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Hawks. Athletic claim to fame is is the Hawk mascot, a university student on full scholarship who wears a Hawk uniform and flaps his wings continuously for an entire athletic event. School spirit slogan is "The Hawk Will Never Die."

	Duquesne DUQUESNE Duquesne University is a private, coeducational university, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania located on 48 secluded acres, on a bluff above downtown. Founded in 1878 as a Catholic college by the Order of the Holy Spirit. It is the only Spiritan institution of higher education in the world. Duquesne offers 10 schools of study and 100 degree programs to 6,000 undergraduates and 3,800 graduate students. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Dukes.

	Charlotte CHARLOTTE UNC Charlotte is one of a generation of universities founded in metropolitan areas of the United States immediately after World War II in response to rising education demands generated by the war and its technology. Now a research intensive university, UNC Charlotte is the fourth largest of the 16 institutions within the University of North Carolina system and the largest institution in the Charlotte region. The university comprises seven professional colleges and currently offers 18 doctoral programs, 62 master’s degree programs and 90 bachelor’s degrees. More than 900 full-time faculty comprise the university’s academic departments and the 2007 fall enrollment exceeded 22,300 students. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the 49ers.