davidson takes this game pretty seriously. might be a good spot for them.
49ers still frustrated by loss to Alabama
Lutz says team has struggled in practice after emotional loss
JENA JANOVY
Staff Writer
Unlike 10-year-old kids who forget about losing a game if the postgame snack is good enough, this hurt has lingered.
The Charlotte men's basketball team is still physically and emotionally down from a draining 102-101 triple-overtime loss to then-No. 22 Alabama on Saturday, and coach Bobby Lutz said the team had its worst two days of practice this season Monday and Tuesday.
"We've got to be able to put Alabama behind us, and we haven't done that based on the way we've practiced the past two days," Lutz said Tuesday. "... They're trying, but we just haven't responded. It hasn't been a total lack of effort. We just haven't been sharp.
"It was a disappointing loss, but that's what athletics and basketball are all about -- dealing with adversity and how you handle defeat. Do you come back or not?"
Lutz said the 49ers will need to deal with the loss if they hope to win at cross-county rival Davidson tonight at 7 in their battle for the Hornet's Nest trophy.
Davidson coach Bob McKillop said both teams have historical significance in Charlotte's basketball community.
"Davidson in the 60s and early 70s and Charlotte in the 70s, 90s and now 2000," McKillop said. "There's strong tradition now."
Charlotte (3-2) and Davidson (3-3) are veteran teams, each with four returning starters and balanced scoring. Both depend primarily on man-to-man defense, but will mix things up to throw a team off-balance.
The Wildcats, coming off an 84-76 win at Georgia Southern, are led by junior Brendan Winters. A 6-foot-5 forward, Winters averages 16.3 points per game and is shooting 56 percent from the field and 61.5 percent from 3-point range.
"He's a really good player, but they're balanced and they're well-coached and you can't focus on him," Lutz said, noting that Matt McKillop, Ian Johnson and Logan Kosmalski also average double figures in scoring.
Charlotte is led by Brendan Plavich (15.4 points per game) and Curtis Withers (15).
"There's something about the Charlotte-Davidson game that ignites a different fire and we're ready to play it," said Davidson's Jason Morton.
Notes
? Guard/forward Eddie Basden strained a hip flexor in the loss to Alabama and missed practice Monday and Tuesday. He leads Charlotte in rebounds, assists, steals and is third in scoring (14.6 points per game). His status will be a game-time decision tonight.
49ers still frustrated by loss to Alabama
Lutz says team has struggled in practice after emotional loss
JENA JANOVY
Staff Writer
Unlike 10-year-old kids who forget about losing a game if the postgame snack is good enough, this hurt has lingered.
The Charlotte men's basketball team is still physically and emotionally down from a draining 102-101 triple-overtime loss to then-No. 22 Alabama on Saturday, and coach Bobby Lutz said the team had its worst two days of practice this season Monday and Tuesday.
"We've got to be able to put Alabama behind us, and we haven't done that based on the way we've practiced the past two days," Lutz said Tuesday. "... They're trying, but we just haven't responded. It hasn't been a total lack of effort. We just haven't been sharp.
"It was a disappointing loss, but that's what athletics and basketball are all about -- dealing with adversity and how you handle defeat. Do you come back or not?"
Lutz said the 49ers will need to deal with the loss if they hope to win at cross-county rival Davidson tonight at 7 in their battle for the Hornet's Nest trophy.
Davidson coach Bob McKillop said both teams have historical significance in Charlotte's basketball community.
"Davidson in the 60s and early 70s and Charlotte in the 70s, 90s and now 2000," McKillop said. "There's strong tradition now."
Charlotte (3-2) and Davidson (3-3) are veteran teams, each with four returning starters and balanced scoring. Both depend primarily on man-to-man defense, but will mix things up to throw a team off-balance.
The Wildcats, coming off an 84-76 win at Georgia Southern, are led by junior Brendan Winters. A 6-foot-5 forward, Winters averages 16.3 points per game and is shooting 56 percent from the field and 61.5 percent from 3-point range.
"He's a really good player, but they're balanced and they're well-coached and you can't focus on him," Lutz said, noting that Matt McKillop, Ian Johnson and Logan Kosmalski also average double figures in scoring.
Charlotte is led by Brendan Plavich (15.4 points per game) and Curtis Withers (15).
"There's something about the Charlotte-Davidson game that ignites a different fire and we're ready to play it," said Davidson's Jason Morton.
Notes
? Guard/forward Eddie Basden strained a hip flexor in the loss to Alabama and missed practice Monday and Tuesday. He leads Charlotte in rebounds, assists, steals and is third in scoring (14.6 points per game). His status will be a game-time decision tonight.
