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Lutz likes look of men's team; Meier has high hopes for women
CHARLES CHANDLER
Staff Writer
Late nights don't usually thrill Charlotte 49ers men's basketball coach Bobby Lutz, but he gave a thumbs-up to Midnight Madness as late Friday night turned to early this morning.
"Believe me, I value sleep, but as long as our students come out and have a good time, this is well worth it for me," Lutz told a group of student government leaders before practice officially started for the 49ers men's and women's basketball teams.
Moments later, Lutz was at courtside in Halton Arena, raising his fist and smiling to acknowledge students chanting "Bobby, Bobby, Bobby!"
he 49ers have high hopes this season and have been ranked in the preseason top 25 by at least two magazines.
Per NCAA rules, practices were allowed to begin at 12:01 a.m. today. The 49ers had an estimated 3,000 fans, mostly students, to show up for a night that included eight-minute intrasquad scrimmages by the men's and women's teams.
Preseason All-American Curtis Withers, senior Eddie Basden and junior college transfer Chris Nance scored six points apiece in the men's exhibition.
The highlight was an alley-oop pass from Basden to Withers for a resounding slam dunk.
Courtney Williams (six points) and Whitney Hoey (five) were the leading scorers for the women. Perhaps the most dynamic women's player was guard Sakellie Daniels, who had three assists and two points.
Notes
Newcomer E.J. Drayton, a junior college transfer, beat Withers to win the men's dunk contest. Five 49ers participated in the contest, with Drayton and Withers making it to the finals.
On his winning dunk, Drayton bounced the ball high, cupped it in the air and slammed it through the goal. Withers missed two dunk attempts in the final round.
Drayton, a 6-8 junior, is a Charlotte native who played at Colby Community College. He's expected to be the 49ers' top reserve this season.
• Be on the lookout for hook shots from 7-foot sophomore center Martin Iti. He didn't show much offense last season, but has been working to develop a hook. He made one of two in the men's scrimmage.
• Women's coach Katie Meier said she had set the lofty goal of going undefeated at home this season. She said she believed that was a path that could lead to the Conference USA championship and a berth in the NCAA women's tournament.
Meier said she believed her team was "gutsy, courageous and inspirational."
"This team will not let you down," she said. "I just believe that about them."
The women's team earned a bid to the National Invitational Tournament last season.
• Lutz said he felt much more comfortable going into this season than usual because the 49ers got an early start together by going to Canada for three scrimmages. Because of the trip, the 49ers men's team already has had 10 practices together.
Though NCAA rules prohibit practice starting before mid-October, Lutz said, teams are allowed to take pre-practice international trips once every four years.
"We kind of have an early measure of where we are," Lutz said. "We learned a lot about ourselves. We played teams that had been practicing for a month. We won quite easily, but we should have won because we were better."
• Lutz said guard Mitchell Baldwin is recovering well from a broken hand suffered four weeks ago. Lutz said Baldwin took off his cast and did some shooting on the Canada trip and could start limited practice Sunday.
• Rings were presented to the members of last year's men's team to honor the Conference USA regular season championship.
Lutz likes look of men's team; Meier has high hopes for women
CHARLES CHANDLER
Staff Writer
Late nights don't usually thrill Charlotte 49ers men's basketball coach Bobby Lutz, but he gave a thumbs-up to Midnight Madness as late Friday night turned to early this morning.
"Believe me, I value sleep, but as long as our students come out and have a good time, this is well worth it for me," Lutz told a group of student government leaders before practice officially started for the 49ers men's and women's basketball teams.
Moments later, Lutz was at courtside in Halton Arena, raising his fist and smiling to acknowledge students chanting "Bobby, Bobby, Bobby!"
he 49ers have high hopes this season and have been ranked in the preseason top 25 by at least two magazines.
Per NCAA rules, practices were allowed to begin at 12:01 a.m. today. The 49ers had an estimated 3,000 fans, mostly students, to show up for a night that included eight-minute intrasquad scrimmages by the men's and women's teams.
Preseason All-American Curtis Withers, senior Eddie Basden and junior college transfer Chris Nance scored six points apiece in the men's exhibition.
The highlight was an alley-oop pass from Basden to Withers for a resounding slam dunk.
Courtney Williams (six points) and Whitney Hoey (five) were the leading scorers for the women. Perhaps the most dynamic women's player was guard Sakellie Daniels, who had three assists and two points.
Notes
Newcomer E.J. Drayton, a junior college transfer, beat Withers to win the men's dunk contest. Five 49ers participated in the contest, with Drayton and Withers making it to the finals.
On his winning dunk, Drayton bounced the ball high, cupped it in the air and slammed it through the goal. Withers missed two dunk attempts in the final round.
Drayton, a 6-8 junior, is a Charlotte native who played at Colby Community College. He's expected to be the 49ers' top reserve this season.
• Be on the lookout for hook shots from 7-foot sophomore center Martin Iti. He didn't show much offense last season, but has been working to develop a hook. He made one of two in the men's scrimmage.
• Women's coach Katie Meier said she had set the lofty goal of going undefeated at home this season. She said she believed that was a path that could lead to the Conference USA championship and a berth in the NCAA women's tournament.
Meier said she believed her team was "gutsy, courageous and inspirational."
"This team will not let you down," she said. "I just believe that about them."
The women's team earned a bid to the National Invitational Tournament last season.
• Lutz said he felt much more comfortable going into this season than usual because the 49ers got an early start together by going to Canada for three scrimmages. Because of the trip, the 49ers men's team already has had 10 practices together.
Though NCAA rules prohibit practice starting before mid-October, Lutz said, teams are allowed to take pre-practice international trips once every four years.
"We kind of have an early measure of where we are," Lutz said. "We learned a lot about ourselves. We played teams that had been practicing for a month. We won quite easily, but we should have won because we were better."
• Lutz said guard Mitchell Baldwin is recovering well from a broken hand suffered four weeks ago. Lutz said Baldwin took off his cast and did some shooting on the Canada trip and could start limited practice Sunday.
• Rings were presented to the members of last year's men's team to honor the Conference USA regular season championship.
