rworkman09

JT Thompson, if he stays healthy, should help our inside game out a lot. Freshman Willie Clayton and RS Freshman Mike Thorne should also help Braswell out inside.

Word has it Sophomores Williams and Nickerson have both made big strides in their games this off seasons.

My concern is mostly three point shooting. We don't really have any established three point shooters on the team.

We're not a league title contender, but I think we'll go out of the A10 better than we've been in the last 3-4 years.

Most Charlotte posters have already migrated to the most active CUSA board. There just isn't much interest in the A10 any more since we're leaving and also because our basketball team has been bad for so long.

We'll be around more once basketball play starts up, but the CUSA board is a lot more active with a lot more spirited conversation as we'll be in a conference with other programs that are in our geographic region and of similar make-up. We have history with ECU, ODU, UAB, and SMU. Our history with A10 programs has been what most would call a down period in Niner history. Outside of the soccer team's national championship run last season, we haven't really done much that is notable on a national level since coming to the A10, so enthusiasm for the program has definitely been tempered.

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Charlotte 49ers Message Board

antboy

Bonnies will be intriguing. Nicholson had help last year. We'll see how much defenses tried to stop/slow Nicholson, opening up the lanes for guys like Kloof and Conger. But they were a better team at the end of last year once Kloof got comfy (e.g. they win those Illinois and NCstate games if they happen later in the season).

As for Charlotte, I've given up defending Charlotte's potential. They have disappointed so many recent years, it's hard to argue with people picking the team near the bottom even if I disagree. Until Charlotte surprises on the positive side, it's going to be impossible to convince others otherwise.

Here's the case for Charlotte, ignoring the recent history: transfer Thompson from VT is healthy. Braswell should compete for first team (as long as his foot heals), Mayfield for 3rd team or so. Our pg Henry was a frosh last year and made all-rookie team, now has experience and is also healthy again. As rworkman said, Williams and Nickerson have supposedly greatly improved their huge weakness of jumpshooting, 3 new freshmen post players. 3pt shooting is the obviously glaring weakness.

The biggest thing though is that the roster seem more settled. I think we know now that Major was blowing up the roster and rebuilding from scratch. He should've blown it up right away, took the awful first season, but avoided turmoil. Instead, he did it in slow-motion, so the last two years have been a classic coaching transition of a declining program. If he's going to rebuild it, should start to see signs this year.

Run49er

I think the Niners have the potential to have a decent season as the A-10 era comes to an end for Charlotte. Not gonna be easy to transition to the mid-major, one-bid hoops world of Conference USA 3.0 that lies ahead, but that's what UNC Charlotte's admin has opted for.

BTW, not sure about a history with SMU, but that's not going to matter anyway since Larry Brown & Co. are headed to the Big East. Did enjoy the rivlaries with ODU and UAB, though can't say the same about ECU. Anyway, now that Charlotte has decided that football is the engine that will drive Niner athletics, we'll see where that leads us.

rworkman09

I meant USM.

Also I left out Tulane.

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Charlotte 49ers Message Board

TheCobra

No disrespect to all you Billikens out there, but I think STL is overrated. Rothstein says they have all the tools. What exactly are those tools?

They have Mitchell, who is good. They also have McCall and Jett, who are athletic, offensively-challenged guards, Dwayne Evans, a slightly above-average inside-out forward and a bunch of shooting big men. I think they will be good, but I don't see the top of the A10.

In true homer fashion, I think Dayton is better than 11. Kevin Dillard is one of the best players in the A10 and the rest of the conference has never played against Josh Benson as a go-to player. Supporting players like Oliver, Kavanaugh, Sanford, MDB and Dyshawn Pierre will step up when they need to. I don't see STL as having more talent that UD.

Am I hopelessly and blindly ignorant to my own squad's deficiencies?

Flyer75

If UD finishes 11th, Archie can kiss his dreams of the big lights good bye. Even with the likes of Jimmy Binnie, Andres Sandoval, Mark Jones and co. we never finished 11th. Are there questions on this team? Yes. Are there questions on every team in this league? Yes. The only team I see as a clear cut favorite over everyone else is VCU. They should be picked number one right now. It wouldn't surprise me if Dayton finished 2nd-8th.

AdamtheFlyer

SLU is very similar to UD in talent. Good, not great. The main difference is, they were better last year and return a lot. What does that mean? Who knows, but it's a sure fire way to be picked high. The actual two biggest things they had going for them were Majerus and a great home court. Without the former, I wonder about the latter. I also think replacing Conklin will be a very tall task. I think I had them 3rd-4th before the Majerus news. Now? Probably the same range, but with a lower ceiling and floor.

As far as Dayton, it would be very disappointing if they finished 11th. Certainly possible given how good the league will be this year, but I think that's unlikely. They'll be a pretty good team. I don't see any glaring weaknesses, they should do everything pretty well. The key is to find another big strength to pair with Dillard. If one of the transfers and/or Benson can step up to the level of near all-league caliber, I like their chances.

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bprichard

An 11th place finish would definitely push me over the edge in terms of my drinking problem. Anyway, it's just one man's opinion. I'd like to see a pleasantly surprising year for a change though. Middle of the pack finishes are getting frustrating. One thing I'd like to see is an actual big time scorer. We haven't had one since Roberts. The Stanley, Marshall, Roberts run of legitimate scorers was nice. I don't see anyone on the roster to give the ball to in a final play situation. Dillard driving to the rim is a decent option, but given the way referees swallow their whistles in game deciding situations, I'm not entirely comfortable with it.

However, this is the deepest the A10 has been in my memory, so it's going to be very interesting to see how things shake out. Dayton has a great home court advantage, and I don't see them dropping enough home contests to end up so low. I'm cautiously optimistic.

bdance

Nice to see Cady Lalanne get a mention. From what little we saw of him last year, he looked like he could eventually turn into an all conference caliber player. Not mentioned in that blurb was another key guy returning from injury, my favorite on the entire UMass roster, Sampson Carter. If he's healthy he'll more than make up for the loss of Farrell.

Fifth place and an invite to the Big Dance? We'll take it, it's been way too long!

Knobby

Cady has been playing full speed in pick up games. I would find it hard to believe that he would be allowed to do that if he wasn't 100%. That is one giant question mark answered (at leat for today). Now we have to see if Morgan can get back up to speed quickly. Assuming no more key injuries, I really think Morgan and Riley will be the key to this team's overall success. If they are not getting respect from the defense, Chaz will see a lot more doubles and pressure, keep him open and everything will flow nicely.

Adam, I agree 11th for Dayton would be a dissapointment. All kidding aside, Dayton should be at least 2 wins better than X in conference this year.

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bdance

I'll never be a Riley fan. If he's a key to success then the Minutemen are doomed. I don't think he is. They absolutely need a healthy Morgan though. I'm also thinking it's about time for Vinson to make an All Conference team.

Free Quebec

No matter how you parse it, it's lame to omit all of GW's freshman from both lists. People who follow the league know better.

Patricio Garino seems likely to be the best player on the team, and will be one of the best all around players in the league within two years. Kevin Larsen will be the best low post scoring freshman in the league this year, and one of the better true post scorers period.

Those guys would qualify for "under the radar" because they are from other countries and didn't play AAU ball (one year of American Prep School ball on top 10 national programs each) so they don't show up those top 100-type lists. But they will both easily be among the top 10 impact freshman in the league this year. You can mark it down.

But then the other one is Joe McDonald. You'd rank him as a top 10 impact player even if you only knew these two facts: he will be GW's starting PG from day 1 and he was runner up for Washington, DC All-Met player of the year in HS last year. I mean, if nothing else, just the opportunity he'll have to have the ball in his hands much of the game ought to get him on that list.

I suspect GW will be considerably better than many give them credit for, though in a tough A-10 that might not translate into that many wins. But either way, to doubt that at least 3 of GW's freshmen won't be among the top impact or under-the-radar freshmen in the league is to show that not a lot of thought or knowledge went into the list.

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ace93

Agreed. I was just saying it was not a top 20.

Knobby

I am not a Riley fan either, but if he can be good to above average for 16 - 20 minutes a game, that takes a ton of pressure off the other 4 on the floor.

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Free Quebec

The tools are three things you are missing: A great defense, very few turnovers, and an offense that is better than the sum of its individual parts. While they may miss Conklin inside, the offense is very efficient.

I think last year when they drew Memphis, the media was dismissive because they have few offensive stars, but it's easy to forget how efficient a basketball team they are.


As for Dayton, they may be better than 11th (especially if Benson can pick up where he left off), but there are about 12 or 13 solid teams in the league this year (including GW) and there's going to be a very decent team finishing 11th. I have no idea if Dayton should be picked higher (probably) but it's exceedingly difficult to decide who to bump lower.

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A Wall St. banker, a tea party guy, and a union guy all sit down a table with 12 cookies.

The Wall St. banker takes 11 cookies, turns to the tea party guy and says, "That union guy wants a piece of your cookie."