The lowdown
2000-01 record: 22-11; 10-6 in C-USA (2nd in American)
Final Ranking: NR
Postseason: Lost to Illinois 79-61 in second round of NCAA Tournament.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. How do they live without Rodney White? Who will be their go-to scorer and top rebounder? Will they have a star?
2. Can the 49ers continue to be one of the top shooting teams in C-USA? Will Jobey Thomas and Demon Brown continue to tear up the 3-point line?
3. Will Cam Stephens get any help inside? Can any of the host of newcomers contribute immediately?
Three Key Facts
1. Talk about a sharp-shooter. Jobey Thomas is C-USA's all-time leader in 3-pointers with 236. And as a team, the 49ers were second to only Duke last season in 3-pointers made as a team with 305. Oh, and Thomas also set a C-USA standard for free throw percentage, hitting 90.9 of his attempts last season (80 of 88).
2. Head coach Bobby Lutz owns a 9-1 mark in the C-USA postseason tournament and has guided the 49ers to two titles in three seasons at Charlotte. Lutz is 62-38 overall and the 49ers have reached the postseason in each of his seasons in charge, advancing to the second round of the NCAAs twice. He is 13-5 overall in March.
3. The 49ers lost ESPN.com's Freshman of the Year Rodney White early to the NBA. White was chosen No. 9 overall by the Detroit Pistons -- the highest ever by a Charlotte player.
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: The 49ers are still one of the toughest outs in Conference USA. That being said, there's a good chance they?ll be on the bubble again and a possible NCAA Tournament team.
Worst case: They dig themselves too big a hole and end up missing the tournament by a game or two.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Jobey Thomas
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Sr.
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G
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6-4/190
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PTS: 14.0 | REB: 2.8 | AST: 1.2
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Demon Brown
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Jr..
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G
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6-1/195
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PTS: 11.7 | REB: 2.5 | AST: 3.8
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Cam Stephens
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Sr.
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F/G
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6-8/240
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PTS: 7.8 | REB: 7.8 | AST: 1.0
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Key Losses
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Rodney White
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F
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6-9/230
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PTS: 18.7 | REB: 6.5 | AST: 1.5
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James Zimmerman
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F
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6-5/200
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PTS: 9.1 | REB: 6.0 | AST: 2.6
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Charlotte Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Curtis Nash
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G
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6-5
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Dallas/Hill JC
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Mitchell Baldwin
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G
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6-2
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Rural Hall, N.C./R.J. Reynolds H.S.
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Eddie Basden
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G/F
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6-5
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Upper Marlboro, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt
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Chris Sager
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G
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6-4
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Waukesha, Wis./Wisc.-Green Bay
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