Wilderness' starting spot solid

It looks like Charlotte 49ers senior forward An’Juan Wilderness has his starting spot back for the rest of the season, which continues after a week off Saturday at Rhode Island.


Wilderness was supplanted in the 49ers’ starting lineup by sophomore K.J. Sherrill in a victory Feb. 2 against Xavier. That was probably understandable. Sherrill had produced a career-high 24 points and 13 rebounds in a loss to La Salle four days earlier. Charlotte was floundering, and a lineup change had the potential to shake things up.

Wilderness had started all the games he had played in (he was suspended for the first game of the season for violating team rules).

But after Sherrill scored just four points and had four rebounds against Xavier in 33 minutes, Wilderness was reinstated as a starter last Saturday against George Washington. He responded with his first career double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

That was enough for 49ers coach Alan Major to say earlier this week that Wilderness would be in the starting five from here on out

“An’Juan has done a great job for us all year long,” said Major. “You look at your seniors for leadership in the stretch run, and at this point we’re going to stay with him. He’s got seven (regular-season) games left in his career. He’s given us a tremendous effort.”

Wilderness has been steady for the 49ers this season – as he has been for most of his career -- averaging 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds. Sherrill averages 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds. Put them together and that’s pretty good production from that position.

And playing time is not an issue along Charlotte’s short-handed front line. Center Chris Braswell (26.7 minutes per game), small forward Javarris Barnett (28.2), Wilderness (29.6) and Braswell (22.0) all log plenty of minutes.

“It’s not a matter of playing time,” Major said. “They’re all going to get their minutes.”

-- -- Milestone evening coming to Charlotte on Wednesday, when the 49ers play Dayton in what will be the 200th game all-time at Halton Arena. Charlotte is 150-49 in 15 seasons at Halton. Before Halton, Charlotte played its home games either at what’s now Bojangles’ Coliseum or, before that, the Mine Shaft on campus.


-- Proof that Derrio Green and Jamar Briscoe have become more and more interchangeable in the backcourt. Green, technically the team’s starting shooting guard, leads the team in assists at 4.3 per game. Point-guard Briscoe, who has made six-of-13 3 pointers in the last three games, averages 3.1 assists.