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Scouting Charlotte at Xavier!!
By
Andy Mac Williams,
1/12/2010
The Charlotte 49ers are one of three A-10 teams that Xavier plays twice -- home and home (also Dayton and Fordham). Last season in late January, X blitzed Charlotte 69-47 at Cintas, leading 31-13 at the half, out muscling them 48-28 on the boards. Three weeks later the 49ers pulled the upset at Halton Arena 65-60. Only Jamel McLean played well for XU. C struggled last season (11-20 overall, 5-11 in the A-10). When they were home and healthy and making 3 point shots, they were dangerous (wins over X,Dayton, UMass, GW and Fordham in Charlotte -- 0-8 in league road games). This season so far they are much improved and much more physical (11-4, 1-0 in the A-10 with a 57-54 victory over St. Bonnies).
That includes a win at Louisville. The losses are at Duke, at Old Dominion, home Georgia Tech and at Tennessee. Coach Bobby Lutz has retooled his front line adding BC transfer Shamari Spears (17P-5R) 6-6 245 and frosh bull Chris Braswell (6-8,235) from Hargrave Military (David West). Braswell is averaging around 10 pts and 10 rebounds. He goes especially hard to the offensive glass.
The new long range threat is JC transfer Derrio Green (12PPG, 31 vs GaTech). Ian Anderson is still around to launch the long ball. He killed X at Charlotte last season. Hot shot frosh Shamarr Bowden had been playing on the perimeter but he's just decided to transfer.
Senior point guard Dijuan Harris can really move (10PPG-4.5 assists). Mark Lyons would be a help in containing him but he's out at least until Dayton on Saturday. 6-10 Phil Jones is a legit big body inside. Two veteran forwards work in and out of the line-up-Charles Dewhurst who made key Free throws vs St Bonaventure and An'Juan Wilderness who loves to drive, scored 15 vs X at Charlotte but has been slowed by injury.
CU is attacking the basket more this season. They have made more FTs (275) than their opponents have attempted (252). A plus in that category usually indicates a pretty good team. Charlotte averages 76 PPG and allows 70. They shoot a very good 74% from the line but a poor 30% from three.
Team rebounding was minus 3 last season. This year it's plus 3.5-major progress. CU is better and much more feisty inside but Xavier's sheer size should pose problems. The Terrell Holloway-Dijuan Harris PG match-up will be a treat to watch.
After two impressive road wins to open A-10 play (at LaSalle and at GW), X needs to hold serve at home.
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