Charlotte 49ers men's basketball

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charlotte 49ers Men's Basketball
2023–24 Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte
First season1965–66
All-time record792–661 (.545)[1]
Head coachAaron Fearne (1st season)
ConferenceThe American
LocationCharlotte, North Carolina
ArenaDale F. Halton Arena
(Capacity: 9,105)
Nickname49ers
Student sectionNiner Nation
ColorsGreen and white[2]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
Alternate jersey
Team colours
Alternate
NCAA tournament Final Four
1977
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1977
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1977
NCAA tournament round of 32
1977, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001
NCAA tournament appearances
1977, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005
Conference tournament champions
1969, 1970 (Dixie)
1977, 1988 (Sun Belt)
1992 (Metro)
1999, 2001 (CUSA)
Conference regular season champions
1977, 1978, 1988 (Sun Belt)
1995 (Metro)
2004 (CUSA)

The Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team represents the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) in NCAA Division I basketball. Charlotte is a member of the American Athletic Conference (The American), which they joined in 2023 after 10 seasons in Conference USA.[3] Charlotte, which had been a charter C-USA member from 1995, returned to that conference in 2013 after leaving in 2005 to join the Atlantic 10 Conference. The 49ers have also played in the Sun Belt Conference and were a member of the Metro Conference, which merged with the Great Midwest Conference to form Conference USA.[4]

The basketball team has spent the better part of its history in the shadow of the state's four Atlantic Coast Conference teams. However, the 49ers have carved out a niche of their own, making 11 appearances in the NCAA tournament. In their first appearance, in 1977, they advanced all the way to the Final Four—at the time, the deepest run for a first-time tournament participant. They have also earned regular and post-season championships in three different conferences, as well as a victory in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in 2023.

The 49ers play their home games in Dale F. Halton Arena, an on-campus facility that seats 9,105.

History[edit]

Early years (1965–1975)[edit]

UNC Charlotte first fielded an intercollegiate basketball program in 1965. Chancellor Bonnie Cone appointed Harvey Murphy, previously a physical education instructor and head of the physical education program at the university, as the first head coach in school history. Murphy coached the 49ers in the NAIA as a member of the Dixie Conference from 1965 through 1970, winning the conference in 1969 and 1970.

Bill Foster was hired to succeed Harvey Murphy after the 1969–1970 season as the 49ers moved from the NAIA to Division I as an independent. Foster notched two 20-win seasons in 1973–1974 and 1974–1975 before moving on to coach at Clemson. Foster's lasting legacy on the program was bringing in two of the most notable players on the team which would advance to the 1977 Final Four: Cedric Maxwell and Melvin Watkins.

Lee Rose years (1975–1977)[edit]

After Bill Foster left for Clemson, Lee Rose was hired as the head coach in 1975. Rose inherited a team coming off of two 20-win seasons and led them to the NIT championship game in his first year. The following season the 49ers became a charter member of the Sun Belt Conference.

Final Four[edit]

In their first year in the Sun Belt, the 49ers tallied what is still the best season in school history. They swept the regular season and tournament titles, earning the program's first NCAA Tournament berth. The ensuing NCAA tournament run is still one of the most successful ever for a first-time participant. After beating Central Michigan in the first round 91–86, the 49ers dispatched Syracuse 81–59 to advance to the Elite Eight. The 49ers then took out heavily favored Michigan by a score of 75–68 to advance to the program's first and only Final Four—the first time that a first-time participant had ever advanced that far. Charlotte would fall to eventual champions Marquette in the national semifinals 51–49. Their final record was 28–5, still a school record for wins in a season.

Despite the loss of the two leaders of the Final Four team from the previous season, Lee Rose guided the 49ers to a fifth consecutive 20-win season in 1977–1978. Rose would then leave to coach at Purdue for the 1978–1979 season. Rose's .800 winning percentage at Charlotte remains the highest in school history.

Post-Rose years (1978–1985)[edit]

Mike Pratt after providing radio color commentary for a Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
Mike Pratt. Charlotte head coach from 1978–1982

Following Rose's departure, Mike Pratt, an assistant under Rose at Charlotte, was named the head coach for the 1978–1979 season. In his first and only head coaching job, Pratt could not maintain the success of the program under Rose, compiling a 56–52 record over four seasons with no postseason appearances. The best year under Pratt was the 1978–1979 season in which the 49ers earned a 16–11 record and a second place Sun Belt finish. Pratt was dismissed following the 1981–1982 season.

Following Pratt's dismissal, the 49ers hired Hal Wissel as head basketball coach. Wissel was previously a successful coach at many levels, but his tenure would be the least successful in the Charlotte's history at the Division 1 level. After three seasons and a 22–62 record, Wissel was dismissed following the 1984–1985 season.

Jeff Mullins years (1985–1996)[edit]

Following Wissel's dismissal, Jeff Mullins was hired as both head basketball coach and athletic director. Mullins guided the 49ers through multiple conference changes and kicked off the most successful, sustained run in school history.

Mullins inherited a last place Sun Belt team and things didn't improve in his first season with an 8–20 record. However, in just his second year he guided the 49ers back above .500 for the first time in five seasons, leading them to an 18–14 record in 1986–1987. Led by Sun Belt Player of the Year Byron Dinkins, Mullins coached the 49ers to the Sun Belt regular season and post-season championships and the program's first NCAA tournament berth since their Final Four run. Seeded 13th, the 49ers lost to 4th seed BYU in the first round of the Southeast Regional by a score of 98–92.

The following season the 49ers finished second in the Sun Belt and earned an NIT berth. In their final two seasons in the Sun Belt, Mullins led the 49ers to a 30–28 record with no postseason appearances.

Metro Conference (1992–1995)[edit]

Prior to the 1992–1993 season the 49ers moved to the Metro Conference. In their four seasons in the Metro Conference, the 49ers never finished lower than 4th in the standings, won one regular season conference title, and one post-season conference title. The success was rewarded with two NCAA Tournament berths, in 1992 and 1995, losing in the first round both times.

Conference USA[edit]

After the 1994–1995 season, the 49ers joined Conference USA. In what would be Mullins' last season, Charlotte went 14–15 in 1995–1996, finishing tied for 6th in the league. Mullins retired following that season as the all-time winningest coach in school history with 182 wins and also had more postseason appearances than all previous coaches combined.

Former on-the-court star and longtime assistant coach for the 49ers Melvin Watkins took over as head coach for the 1996–1997 season. Watkins had two successful seasons as the Charlotte head coach, leading the team into the second round of the NCAA tournament in both years. He left to take the head coaching job at Texas A&M in 1998.

Bobby Lutz years (1998–2010)[edit]

Bobby Lutz. Charlotte head coach from 1998–2010

After Watkins left for Texas A&M, Charlotte named Bobby Lutz its new head coach. Lutz was an assistant under both Watkins and Jeff Mullins at Charlotte. Lutz accepted the head coaching job at Gardner–Webb in 1995 only to resign two weeks later to accept the assistant job at his alma mater on Mullin's staff.

Lutz's run of success in Conference USA is arguably the best sustained stretch in Charlotte basketball history. The 49ers reached the NCAA Tournament in 5 of the 7 years they were in Conference USA under Lutz.

In his first season, Lutz guided the 49ers to a 10–6 record in CUSA. Seeded fifth in the conference tournament, the 49ers won four games in four days, taking out three of the top four seeds in the process to win the CUSA conference tournament for the first time. This earned Charlotte a 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. They defeated Rhode Island in the first round before falling to 13-seed Oklahoma in round two.

The 1999–2000 season would be defined by the passing of Charles Hayward in September 1999. Hayward lost a two-year battle with Leukemia, he would have his jersey retired.[5] Charlotte would play to a 17–16 record and earn an NIT berth.

The 2000–2001 seasons saw the arrival of Rodney White who would become the top scoring freshman in the country and be named ESPN's National Freshmen of the Year.[6] Led by White, Charlotte would win its second CUSA Tournament Title in three years and earn a 9 seed in the NCAA tournament with a 22–11 record. Charlotte would defeat Tennessee in the first round of the Midwest Regional before falling to #1 seed Illinois in the round of 32. White would leave Charlotte for the NBA draft and be selected 9th overall by the Detroit Pistons.

Over the following three seasons the 49ers would earn two additional NCAA tournament bids, in 2002 and 2004, earning #9 seeds and being eliminated in the first round both years.

The 2004–2005 season would see the 49ers return to the top 25 behind eventual CUSA Player of the Year Eddie Basden, he would also win CUSA Defensive POY for the second straight season. The promising season would take a turn for the worse in the last few weeks. The 49ers lost a game on senior night at Louisville which would determine the regular season conference champion. They followed that with a loss on an emotional senior night at South Florida. They then drew a Memphis team in the CUSA tournament who had under-performed all year but caught fire at the end of the season. Charlotte was bounced from the first round of the CUSA tournament and had their season ended in round 1 of the NCAA tournament by NC State.

Atlantic 10[edit]

Following the exodus of many of the top basketball programs from CUSA to the Big East in 2005, Charlotte was left as a non-football school in an increasingly weak basketball conference despite having the second best record in CUSA history at the time, trailing only Cincinnati. Charlotte eventually joined the Atlantic 10 for all sports along with fellow CUSA member Saint Louis. Lutz was not able to sustain the level of success he achieved in CUSA. Over the course of six seasons in the A10, Lutz's record was 83–75, compared to his record of 135–83 in CUSA. The 49ers earned two NIT bids under Lutz in the A10, going 1–2 in those tournaments. The 49ers fell apart to end the 2009–2010 season. With eight games to go in the regular season, they were 18-5 and in first place in the A10, and appeared well on their way to an NCAA bid. However, they went 1–7 the rest of the way, and didn't even receive an NIT bid. Lutz was dismissed following this collapse.[7]

Lutz had more wins (218) and NCAA tournament appearances (5) than any other coach in Charlotte history. His firing was met with mixed emotions among students and fans.[8]

Alan Major years (2010–2015)[edit]

On April 12, 2010 Alan Major was announced as the new head coach of the Charlotte 49ers. The coaching search targeted assistants at successful high-level programs, Major was a member of Thad Matta's staff at Ohio State which included a national title game appearance. Throughout his career Major has a history of helping highly skilled big men develop into great NBA prospects. He coached two future #1 overall draft picks in Michael Olowokandi and Greg Oden while at Pacific and Ohio State, respectively. He also came in with A10 experience having been as assistant under Matta at Xavier.

Major's first season was headlined by the dismissal of one senior big man, Shamarri Spears, in the Fall and another, Phil Jones, not qualifying academically for the Spring semester. The early season schedule was highlighted by a 49–48 victory over #7 ranked Tennessee and a 2OT win at Georgia Tech. Following Jones being ruled ineligible, the team was left with just 8 scholarship players for the remainder of the season and would struggle in conference play, finishing with a 2–14 league record and failing to make the A10 conference tournament for the first time. The three-year postseason drought had been the longest for the program since Jeff Mullins took over in 1985.

The 2011–2012 season saw less off-the-court drama, although individual players were benched for disciplinary reasons, but there was little improvement in terms of wins and losses. The 49ers would finish with a 13–17 record, 5–11 in conference play. This was an improvement of Major's first year and earned them an A10 tournament spot, a first round loss at St. Joe's. Chris Braswell would average 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and be named to the A10 All-Conference Third Team. Pierriá Henry was among the nation's leaders in steals and earned a spot on the A10 All-Rookie Team.[9]

Alan Major. Charlotte head coach from 2010–2015

The 2012–2013 season resulted in an improved 21–12 record and a berth in the NIT. The season was successful overall, but the 49ers lost four games in a row in February/March which removed them from NCAA tournament consideration. This was followed by a miraculous first round A10 tournament victory over Richmond in which Pierriá Henry took 11 free throws in the final 4.7 seconds of game time to overcome a 3-point deficit. Richmond was called for three technical fouls, one non-shooting foul and one shooting foul in that time.[10] The 49ers followed this with a blowout loss to St. Louis in the 2nd round. In the NIT the 49ers were eliminated in round 1 at Providence.

Following the 2012–13 season, Darion Clark announced he was leaving the program.[11] Clark saw a total of seven minutes in the 49ers' two A10 tournament games, a large drop from his regular season average. In late April forward E. Victor Nickerson also announced he was transferring, leaving Charlotte with only 6 scholarship players on roster.

Return to Conference USA[edit]

The 2013–2014 season, in which the 49ers would rejoin Conference USA and claim the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Championship by beating a ranked Michigan team; ended with a late season 6 game losing streak in conference play, and the 49ers finishing with a 17–14 record and a second round exit from the C-USA Tournament.

Having taken a medical leave of absence following the 2013–14 season, Coach Major would take another such leave during the second half of the 2014–15 season. Assistant Head Coach Ryan Odom would coach the team for the remainder of the season. Following the conclusion of the 2014–2015 season it was announced that Major would step down as head coach. His record as 49ers head coach was 67 wins to 70 losses with the program attaining an overall record during his tenure of 75 to 81. Significant milestones included winning the 2012 Great Alaska Shootout and 2013 Puerto Rico Tip-off tournaments and victories over #7 ranked Tennessee, #10 ranked Butler, and previous National Championship runners-up, #14 ranked Michigan.[12]

Mark Price years (2015–2017)[edit]

On March 25, 2015, former NBA point guard and NBA Charlotte Hornets assistant coach, Mark Price was offered a five-year contract to become the 49ers head coach, which he accepted.[13] Price was fired on December 14, 2017 after a 30-42 record in 2 1/2 seasons at Charlotte and was replaced by assistant coach Houston Fancher.[14]

Ron Sanchez years (2018–2023)[edit]

On March 19, 2018, Ron Sanchez was named the 12th head coach in Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball program history. Sanchez was a former volunteer assistant at Indiana before going to Washington State. Sanchez was hired by Dick Bennett, and remained on the staff when Bennett’s son Tony took over. Sanchez accompanied Tony Bennett to Virginia in 2009 as an assistant and was promoted to associate head coach in 2015.[15]

On June 6, 2023, Sanchez resigned to rejoin Bennett's staff at Virginia as associate head coach.[16][17] Coincidentally, Sanchez left less than a month before Charlotte's move from C-USA to The American became official.

On June 15, 2023, associate head coach Aaron Fearne agreed to lead the team as interim head coach for the 2023-24 inaugural AAC season.[18]

Aaron Fearne (2023-present)[edit]

The American[edit]

On July 1, 2023 all Charlotte 49ers athletics programs joined the American Athletic Conference.[19]

Interim coach Aaron Fearne picked up his first win when the 49ers when they took down Maine. [20] The 49ers won their first game in American Conference play when they defeated number seventeen ranked Florida Atlantic. [21] It was Charlotte’s first win over a ranked team since 2013 and first ranked win over a team at home since 2010. [22]

On February 12, 2024, Fearne was received a contract to become the official head coach of the Charlotte basketball program. [23]

Team record[edit]

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NAIA) (1963–1970)
1963–1964 Irv Edelman 5–5 4th
1964–1965 Irv Edelman 9–1 1st
1965–1966 Harvey Murphy 6–17 4–6 4th
1966–1967 Harvey Murphy 7–21 7–5 3rd
1967–1968 Harvey Murphy 5–17 3–9 6th
1968–1969 Harvey Murphy 12–10 9–5 T–2nd
1969–1970 Harvey Murphy 14–16 10–4 T–2nd NAIA District Playoffs
Independent (Division I) (1970–1976)
1970–1971 Bill Foster 15–8
1971–1972 Bill Foster 14–11
1972–1973 Bill Foster 14–12
1973–1974 Bill Foster 22–4
1974–1975 Bill Foster 23–3
1975–1976 Lee Rose 24–6 NIT Runner-Up
Sun Belt Conference (Division I) (1976–1991)
1976–1977 Lee Rose 28–5 5–1 1st NCAA Final Four
1977–1978 Lee Rose 20–7 9–1 1st
1978–1979 Mike Pratt 16–11 6–4 2nd
1979–1980 Mike Pratt 15–12 9–5 4th
1980–1981 Mike Pratt 10–17 3–9 6th
1981–1982 Mike Pratt 15–12 3–7 5th
1982–1983 Hal Wissel 8–20 5–9 6th
1983–1984 Hal Wissel 9–19 2–12 8th
1984–1985 Hal Wissel 5–23 1–13 8th
1985–1986 Jeff Mullins 8–20 1–13 8th
1986–1987 Jeff Mullins 18–14 6–8 T–6th
1987–1988 Jeff Mullins 22–9 11–3 1st NCAA First Round
1988–1989 Jeff Mullins 17–12 10–4 2nd NIT First Round
1989–1990 Jeff Mullins 16–14 6–8 5th
1990–1991 Jeff Mullins 14–14 6–8 6th
Metro Conference (Division I) (1991–1995)
1991–1992 Jeff Mullins 23–9 7–5 2nd NCAA First Round
1992–1993 Jeff Mullins 15–13 6–6 T–4th
1993–1994 Jeff Mullins 16–13 7–5 T–2nd NIT First Round
1994–1995 Jeff Mullins 19–9 8–4 1st NCAA First Round
Conference USA (Division I) (1995–2005)
1995–1996 Jeff Mullins 14–15 6–8 T–6th
1996–1997 Melvin Watkins 22–9 10–4 3rd NCAA Second Round
1997–1998 Melvin Watkins 20–11 13–3 2nd NCAA Second Round
1998–1999 Bobby Lutz 23–11 10–6 T–3rd NCAA Second Round
1999–2000 Bobby Lutz 17–16 7–9 T–5th NIT First Round
2000–2001 Bobby Lutz 22–11 10–6 2nd NCAA Second Round
2001–2002 Bobby Lutz 18–12 11–5 3rd NCAA First Round
2002–2003 Bobby Lutz 13–16 8–8 5th
2003–2004 Bobby Lutz 21–9 12–4 1st NCAA First Round
2004–2005 Bobby Lutz 21–8 12–4 2nd NCAA First Round
Atlantic 10 Conference (Division I) (2005–2013)
2005–2006 Bobby Lutz 19–13 11–5 2nd NIT First Round
2006–2007 Bobby Lutz 14–16 7–9 9th
2007–2008 Bobby Lutz 20–14 9–7 T–4th NIT First Round
2008–2009 Bobby Lutz 11–20 5–11 12th
2009–2010 Bobby Lutz 19–12 9–7 6th
2010–2011 Alan Major 10–20 2–14 13th
2011–2012 Alan Major 13–17 5–11 11th
2012–2013 Alan Major 21–12 8–8 T–8th NIT First Round
Conference USA (Division I) (2013–2023)
2013–2014 Alan Major 17–14 7–9 T-5th
2014–2015 Alan Major 14–18 7–11 11th
2015–2016 Mark Price 14–19 9–9 7th
2016–2017 Mark Price 13–17 7–11 7th
2017–2018 Mark Price, Houston Fancher (Interim) 6–23 2–16 14th
2018–2019 Ron Sanchez 8–21 5–13 13th
2019–2020 Ron Sanchez 16–13 10–8 T–4th
2020–2021 Ron Sanchez 9–16 5–11 5th East
2021–2022 Ron Sanchez 17–14 10–8 4th East
2022–2023 Ron Sanchez 22–14 9–11 5th CBI Champion
American Athletic Conference (Division I) (2023–present)
2023–24 Aaron Fearne 19-12 13-5 3rd
Total: 891–748 (.544)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[24]

Postseason[edit]

NCAA tournament results[edit]

The 49ers have appeared in the NCAA tournament 11 times. Their combined record is 7–12.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1977 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
National 3rd Place Game
Central Michigan
Syracuse
Michigan
Marquette
UNLV
W 91–86OT
W 81–59
W 75–68
L 49–51
L 94–106
1988 #13 First Round #4 BYU L 92–98OT
1992 #7 First Round #10 Iowa State L 74–76
1995 #7 First Round #10 Stanford L 68–70
1997 #7 First Round
Second Round
#10 Georgetown
#2 Utah
W 79–67
L 58–77
1998 #8 First Round
Second Round
#9 UIC
#1 North Carolina
W 77–62
L 83–93OT
1999 #5 First Round
Second Round
#12 Rhode Island
#13 Oklahoma
W 81–70
L 72–85
2001 #9 First Round
Second Round
#8 Tennessee
#1 Illinois
W 70–63
L 61–79
2002 #9 First Round #8 Notre Dame L 63–82
2004 #9 First Round #8 Texas Tech L 73–76
2005 #7 First Round #10 NC State L 63–75

NIT results[edit]

The 49ers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) seven times. Their combined record is 4–7.

Year Round Opponent Result
1976 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
San Francisco
Oregon
NC State
Kentucky
W 79–74
W 79–72
W 80–79
L 67–71
1989 First Round Connecticut L 62–67
1994 First Round Duquesne L 73–75
2000 First Round Ole Miss L 45–62
2006 Opening Round
First Round
Georgia Southern
Cincinnati
W 77–61
L 80–86
2008 First Round Nebraska L 48–67
2013 First Round Providence L 66–75

CBI results[edit]

The 49ers have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) once in 2023, winning the tournament. Their combined record is 4–0.

Year Round Opponent Result
2023 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
Western Carolina
Milwaukee
Radford
Eastern Kentucky
W 65–56
W 76–65
W 63–56
W 71–68

Coaches[edit]

Current coaching staff[edit]

Name Position
Aaron Fearne Head coach
Conner Henry Associate Head Coach
Vic Sfera Assistant coach
Kevin Smith Assistant coach

[25]

Head coach history[edit]

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1963–65 Irv Edelman 2 14–6 .700
1965–70 Harvey Murphy 5 44–71 .383
1970–75 Bill Foster 5 88–38 .698
1975–78 Lee Rose 3 72–18 .800
1978–82 Mike Pratt 4 56–52 .519
1982–85 Hal Wissel 3 22–62 .262
1985–96 Jeff Mullins 11 182–142 .507
1996–98 Melvin Watkins 2 42–20 .677
1998–2010 Bobby Lutz 12 218–158 .580
2010–15 Alan Major 5 75–81 .481
2015–17 Mark Price 3 30–42 .417
2017–18 Houston Fancher 1 3–17 .150
2018–2023 Ron Sanchez 5 72-78 .480
2024-Present Aaron Fearne 1 4-4 .500
Totals 14 Coaches 62 Seasons 922-789 .539
An asterisk (*) denotes a season currently in progress.[26]

List of Charlotte 49ers men's basketball head coaches [27]

Notable players[edit]

Retired numbers[edit]

Cedric Maxwell has his #33 retired by Charlotte
No. Player Career Ref.
4 Byron Dinkins 1985–1989 [28]
DeMarco Johnson 1994–1998
13 Eddie Basden 2002–2005 [29]
23 Jarvis Lang 1990–1991; 1992–1995 [30]
32 Melvin Watkins 1973–1977 [31]
33 Cedric Maxwell 1973–1977 [32]
34 Henry Williams 1988–1992 [33]
45 Charles Hayward 1997–1999 [34]

Conference Player of the Year winners[edit]

Conference Player Season
Sun Belt Cedric Maxwell 1976–1977
Sun Belt Byron Dinkins 1987–1988
Metro Jarvis Lang 1994–1995
Conference USA DeMarco Johnson 1997–1998
Conference USA Eddie Basden 2004–2005

Professional players[edit]

The following Charlotte basketball players appeared in at least one game in the NBA:

Home venues[edit]

Halton Arena, the 49ers home venue since 1996.

Rivalries[edit]

Hornet's Nest Trophy[edit]

Charlotte's 29-year rivalry with the Davidson Wildcats sees Mecklenburg County's only two Division I schools go head-to-head for the Hornet's Nest Trophy. The Hornets' Nest series began in the 1979-80 season. The teams have met 46 times. Charlotte leads the all-time series, 29-17.[35] Although, in recent years Davidson has been the better team.

On November 12, 2019, Charlotte won back the Hornets Nest, winning 71-58, and snapping a 6 game losing streak.

Past rivalries[edit]

Charlotte has had its fair share of intense rivalries. One of the most heated and intense rivalries was with the Bob Huggins-coached Cincinnati Bearcats of Conference USA. Throughout a ten-year period from 1995–96 to 2004–05, Charlotte managed to upset Cincinnati teams ranked #3, #8, #18, #20 in the country. Fueled by "Huggins swallows" pregame chants what became known as the Cincinnati Incident, a brawl broke out between Cincinnati and the Charlotte student section, when a Cincinnati player threw the basketball into the stands.[36] This led to the creation of a 'buffer zone' being implemented behind the visiting team's bench. ESPN commentator Andy Katz provided this explanation on why Charlotte-Cincinnati was one of the juiciest rivalries in the country: "The games are hotly contested usually and the fans in Charlotte don't like Cincinnati. They get up for this game more than any other."[37]

Records[edit]

All-Time leaders[edit]

Points
Rank Player Years Points
1 Henry Williams 1988–1992 2383
2 Jon Davis 2015-2019 2113
3 Lew Massey 1974–1978 2149
4 Chad Kinch 1976–1980 2020
5 DeMarco Johnson 1994–1998 2005
6 Jarvis Lang 1990–1991, 1992–1995 1855
7 Cedric Maxwell 1973–1977 1824
8 Curtis Withers 2003–2006 1750
9 Jobey Thomas 1998–2001 1737
10 Leemire Goldwire 2005–2008 1677
Rebounds
Rank Player Years Rebounds
1 Cedric Maxwell 1973–1977 1117
2 Jarvis Lang 1990–1991, 1992–1995 1047
3 Curtis Withers 2003–2006 1042
4 DeMarco Johnson 1994–1998 926
5 Norris Dae 1968–1972 858
Assists
Rank Player Years Assists
1 Pierriá Henry 2011–2015 555
2 Jon Davis 2015-2019 547
3 Keith Williams 1983–1987 515
4 Byron Dinkins 1985–1989 513
5 Delano Johnson 1989–1992, 1993–1994 496
Steals
Rank Player Years Steals
1 Pierriá Henry 2011–2015 293
2 Eddie Basden 2001–2005 264
3 Keith Williams 1983–1987 236
4 Phil Ward 1978–1982 221
5 Leemire Goldwire 2005–2008 190
6 Delano Johnson 1989–1992, 1993–1994 189
7 Henry Williams 1988–1992 181
8 Jeff West 1985–1989 150
T – 9 Demon Brown 2001–2004 149
T – 9 Jarvis Lang 1990–1991, 1992–1995 149
Blocks
Rank Player Years Blocks
1 Ray Gromlowicz 1983–1987 194
2 Jermain Parker 1992–1995 177
3 Phil Jones 2008–2010 158
4 Jarvis Lang 1990–1991, 1992–1995 103
5 Rodney Odom 1991–1993 94
Games Played
Rank Player Years Games
1 Jobey Thomas 1998–2001 130
2 Leemire Goldwire 2005–2008 125
3-T Mitchell Baldwin 2001–2006 124
3-T Diego Guevara 1997–2001 124
4 Tremaine Gardiner 1995–1997, 1998–2000 123
Three Pointers Made
Rank Player Years Three Pointers Made
1 Jobey Thomas 1998–2001 346
2 Leemire Goldwire 2005–2008 343
3 Demon Brown 2001–2004 341
4 Henry Williams 1988–1992 308
5 Diego Guevara 1997–2001 235

Single game records[edit]

Stat Player Date Record Opponent
Points George Jackson 2/8/1975 44 Samford
Free Throws Made Sean Colson & DeMarco Johnson 12/20/1997 & 2/9/1998 16 G. Washington & Tulane
Rebounds Ben Basinger & Cedric Maxwell 12/3/1970 & 2/19/1977 24 Florida Presbyterian & Seton Hall
Assists Sean Colson 2/28/1998 18 Houston
Steals Eddie Basden (twice), 7 other players 2/2/2008 (latest, Charlie Coley) 7 Richmond (latest)
Blocks Lew Massey 12/9/1975 10 Wofford
Minutes Played Phil Ward 1/5/1981 53 Jacksonville
Three Pointers Made Brendan Plavich 11/26/2003 10 Syracuse

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Charlotte 49ers Index".
  2. ^ "49ers Color System". Charlotte 49ers Brand Standards (PDF). June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  3. ^ "American Announces Entrance Agreements With Incoming Members for 2023-24 Season" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  4. ^ [1] Charlotte 49ers Join Conference USA
  5. ^ [2] Remembering Hayward
  6. ^ [3] Charlotte 49ers Freshman Rodney White Named ESPN.com's National Freshman of the Year
  7. ^ [4] Lutz fired after 12 seasons at Charlotte
  8. ^ [5] Charlotte Fires Bobby Lutz: An Emotional Day For 49er Fans
  9. ^ [6] Charlotte 49ers' Henry, Braswell pick up A-10 honors
  10. ^ [7] Charlotte 68, Richmond 63
  11. ^ [8] Basketball, Football Transfer News
  12. ^ [9] C49ers and Alan Major Mutually Agree to Part Ways
  13. ^ [10] Mark Price to coach Charlotte 49ers
  14. ^ Reed, Steve (December 14, 2017). "Charlotte fires basketball coach, former NBA star Mark Price". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  15. ^ Scott, David (March 19, 2018). "Charlotte 49ers find next basketball coach on bench of No. 1 NCAA seed". charlotteobserver.com. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  16. ^ "Sanchez Steps Down as 49ers Head Coach". 6 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Sanchez Returning to Virginia as Associate Head Coach". 6 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Charlotte Tabs Aaron Fearne as Interim Head Coach for 2023-24". 15 June 2023.
  19. ^ "American Athletic Conference Welcomes Six New Members". June 30, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  20. ^ "Graves scores 15 points, leads Charlotte in 69-52 win over Maine in season opener". November 6, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  21. ^ "Patterson and Charlotte take down Florida Atlantic 70-68". January 6, 2024.
  22. ^ "Niners Knock Off #17 Florida Atlantic, 70-68, for First Ranked Win Since 2013". January 6, 2024.
  23. ^ "Aaron Fearne Named Charlotte's 14th Men's Basketball Head Coach". February 12, 2024.
  24. ^ [11] 2010–11 Charlotte Men's Basketball Media guide
  25. ^ [12] Charlotte 49ers
  26. ^ "Charlotte". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  27. ^ [13] Charlotte Men's Basketball Won/Loss History
  28. ^ Byron Dinkins Named Director of Player Development at Charlotte at hoopdirt.com, 10 May 2018
  29. ^ Charlotte 49ers Jersey Retirement: Eddie Basden - Charlotte 49ers, Feb 18, 2009 at charlotte49ers.com
  30. ^ Lang bio at aussiehoopla
  31. ^ Aggies Name Watkins Head Basketball Coach at 12thman.com - 1 Apr 1998
  32. ^ Cedric Maxwell bio at charlotte49ers.com
  33. ^ Niners Legend Henry Williams Has Passed Away, 14 Mar 2018 at charlotte49ers.com
  34. ^ This Week in 49ers History: Charles Hayward, 11 Sep 2020 at charlotte49ers.com
  35. ^ "OrthoCarolina Sponsors Battle for Hornets' Nest Game - Charlotte Athletics". Charlotte 49ers. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  36. ^ "North Carolina Charlotte receives reprimand from league for melee". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  37. ^ "ESPN.com - These eight rivalries have juice". www.espn.com. Retrieved 2023-04-24.

External links[edit]