With the completion of both the men's and women's basketball teams' seasons, Charlotte 49ers athletics director Judy Rose said she is turning her attention this week to getting the men's team back on track.
After finishing 14-16 in 2006-07, the 49ers finished 20-14 in 2007-08 with eight new players and lost in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. With all but one starter returning this season, there were big expectations but they never materialized. One of the team's two point guards quit the team; talented freshman shooting guard Shamarr Bowden suffered a season-ending injury before the season started; and Charlotte lost forward Charles Dewhurst to a season-ending injury in January.
Charlotte finished the year 11-20 and 5-11 in the Atlantic 10 Conference and lost in the first round of the conference tournament. The 49ers did manage a home victory over nationally ranked Xaiver, which is still playing in the NCAA Tournament.
"Am I pleased with this past season? Heavens no. How could I be when you're 11-20? Were there some adversities that were faced? Were there some injuries? Absolutely," Rose said. "But every team has some adversity every year and we should be able to overcome those.
"It's no secret that I think we should finish in the top level of the Atlantic 10 every year. We came into the Atlantic 10 primarily for basketball, especially with the success we had in Conference USA. It's never lived up to that billing to be honest about it. A lot of our fans blame it on the Atlantic 10. I don't blame it on the Atlantic 10. Lots of teams are successful in the Atlantic 10 and getting the caliber of athletes they need. So, we have to step up and be competitive in this league."
Rose said there should be no doubt as to the program's overriding goal.
"Our goal is not to be in the NIT. Our goal is to get back to NCAA play. Granted, we'll take the NIT over nothing. We are working hard to get our arms around the issues that are keeping us from being successful and get back on that path which our fans expect."
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27 comments:
We need to do SOMETHING to get back on track. The young kids don't even know what good Niner basketball is. They think a 20 win season and an NIT bid with a one and done is success. It's gotten bad.
Maybe the coaching staff just needs a little bit of new blood.
I've said it before - a number of times - and I'll say it again: it's time for both Lutz AND Rose to go....go....go....Come on Chancellor Dubois....get them the hell out of here and let's get back on track..
I know this is off topic, but it needs to be somewhere in charlotte.com -- the Niners Baseball Team beat the UNC Tar Heels today in baseball, at Chapel Hill
As alum of UNC-Charlotte I think they need to get rid of Lutz and Rose. Recruit "top notch" players. Move another conference. Just start all over?
stepup is an understatement.
the Men's team should be, worst case, 4th in the conference. I have doubts that Lutz will get them to that point.
next year is going to be BIG!!!
Nice tap dance Judy ! We have to step up......duh !!! I've read this three times and can't find your solution or suggestions anywhere ! And the A-10 will only be good when and if CHARLOTTE gets good again !
Rose is a big part of the problem. She's clueless. Why else would she keep Bobby Lutz around for so long. She doesn't know how to go out and look for another quality coach. Charlotte should be an attractive position for an up and coming coach. The school is growing, getting a football team, and it's based in a beautiful southern, growing, prosperous city. Get someone in here that knows a thing or two about sports administration, then get a new coach.
First thing: go and practice free throws!!
Most people have no clue about all those NCAA bids the Niners received from the early 90s until the mid 2000's. It's time the Niners stepped it up again.
I doubt the Observer wants to mention this, but the Charlotte baseball team defeated UNC in Chapel Hill today 2-1. I know it's off topic but I doubt it gets mentioned tomorrow since Charlotte won. Charlotte's baseball team also defeated a good Winthrop team on Tuesday which was also not in the Observer.
Bobby Lutz is a first class person and deserves a position at Charlotte U. However it's a new season. Football is in the air. A-10 doesn't even have a football conference. It's time for a new conference and new coach. Lutz deserves a Rosey position.
It's time for the ROC (Ridge to Ocean Conference. Consisting of teams like Towson ST, Richmond, Liberty, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Middle TN, Kennesaw, and Georgia St. (Non-football schools Charleston College & N. Florida). Build a tradition and waite on the USA -C to come calling after the Big East takes some of their teams.
Are you telling me the Observer shelved the 49er win over Carolina because the 49ers beat the Observer's favorite team? I noticed the Observer also refused to print anything about the Niners win over Winthrop on Tuesday.
This would be a great newspaper if I lived in the Triangle.
Baseball is the only sport you crybabies will beat the Tar Heels in.
I love how everyone says we have to improve recruiting. Yes, let's get right on that. We have no TV presence. As long as that remains the case, we won't be able to recruit.
Judy loves to answer her own questions....
Heres a question for you Judy. What did Bobby do to earn that 5 year extension you just gave him?
A10 needs to get a TV contract to recruit. The current one is HORRIBLE! Bobby is a class act and deserves to coach at UNCC but also should be under fire for the poor results this past season. You have to win the winable games (the easy away games) which lacked intensity. One more year or else. We have some great prospects coming in, just have to close the deal. By the way the A10 is a horrible conference but what else is there right now?
Bobby is terrible, he has an inferiority complex and that is why we always lose to in state teams (ex. NC state in the tourney) All he does is get upset and apologizes for how crappy a job he is doing. I know community colleges that can beat Charlotte. If we continue to support Bobby he will drag us down and we will soon be a D II team.
Forgot when we won NC State's inaugural tournament?? I didn't.
The A10 is the best basketball conference in the country outside of the 6 BCS conferences. We aren't getting into a BCS conference. The A10 is the best conference we can be in, the lack of natural rivals kills us, but they have a decent TV package (which we haven't been good enough to get on very often) and always seem to get a team into the second weekend of the NCAA tournament.
There's no better option and the league gets multiple at-large bids more often than not, we can be successful in the A10, we have just severely underachieved or fielded really bad teams the past 4 years. That comes from recruiting and coaching. With Bowden, Spears and Braswell playing next year, the lack of talent excuse isn't going to fly, it is put up or shut up time for the men's program.
You finish fourth in the league in two of the past four years and you consider that poor seasons. You Charlotte fans really can't be pleased. Stop the Tar Heel envy.
I think we can start by getting rid of Rose. After all she had some say in our move to the A10 which as been a disaster for the program. "What other option did we have?" Who knows but the A10 definitely isn't the right one.
To 8:05 PM
If you think 'ex. NC State in the tourney' means NC States tournament, you my friend really do suck. I am pretty sure it is clear to everybody who does not own a 1987 Chevy Truck and flies the Confederate flag like i am sure you do that I was refering to when charlotte was a 7 seed and they lost to number 10 seed NC state in the NCAA Tournament.
You made the dumb "we always lose to in-state teams" statement. I was showing you how wrong you were. Get your head out of your ass. Also beat Wake last year.
if you are satisfied with non tourney in state wins, i now know why the 49ers will never be anything. i don't know how many times i hear people talk about the time we almost beat UNC. big f'ing deal
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