This is why I never bet on sports events.
How in the world, I would have asked you before Friday night, could the Charlotte 49ers ever hope to beat Tennessee?
The 49ers’ roster was severely depleted due to injuries and new coach Alan Major’s dismissal of Shamari Spears, the team’s best and most problem-plagued big man.
I watched the 49ers get absolutely hammered in the second half at Davidson last week, losing by 14 to the Wildcats.
Tennessee, meanwhile, was ranked No.7 and coming off an upset loss to Oakland. Surely the Volunteers would be primed and ready for this one.
No, they weren’t, and stop calling me Shirley.
The 49ers, fittingly, scored 49 points. That was just enough to beat the Vols by one, 49-48, Friday in a game I didn’t attend but wish I had.
Charlotte (5-6) totally outplayed a wilting Tennessee squad down the stretch, paced by playmaking guards Jamar Briscoe and Derrio Green. And Major totally outcoached Tennessee loudmouth Bruce Pearl, keeping the game at exactly the languid pace the 49ers needed to thrive.
The win came at the Charlotte Bobcats’ home arena, where there hasn’t been much excitement this season given the Bobcats’ 9-17 start.
But on this nutty night, some Charlotte fans – 49ers, not Bobcats – got to storm the court.
This was the first signature victory of Major’s very first season at Charlotte, one that the coach no doubt will remember 30 years from now.
It’s the sort of win that can start to make believers of a lot of people – including me.
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30 comments:
Coach Major is doing a fine job. It takes time for a group of kids to understand a new system. They have trouble rebounding, but they are playing better defense with each passing game. This win over Tenn. will hopefully instill some confidence and will help build them as a stronger unit for conference play. I am optimistic about the 49er program under coach Major.
nice...
I think the biggest accomplishment was they won COMPLETELY out-manned. They only have 7 people in the rotation and they are beating a more talented and deep Tennessee squad? Wow thats a great win. Anyone who plays pickup ball knows how much tougher the game gets when your team has won a few and stays on the court for a long time. Great job by Coach Major and the guys.
49-48 "Charlotte shot 30.2 percent, and Tennessee (7-2) didn't do much better at 34.9 percent. The Volunteers, however, were 2 of 17 from 3-point range and made 2 of 17 free throws."
A win over a higher ranked, top-ten team is always fun. But, that score and those percentages (from either team) aren't anything to get overly excited about.
Pure luck. Temporary crackhead high. Dont worry. The coach sux and UNCC 49ers will be lucky to win 10 games this year.
Classic case of a 6th ranked team taking some lowly spoiler type team for granted.
Moral to story is never take anyone for granted even if they are a NOBODY.
Never again.
Vol Man
Vol Man,
I know what you are trying to say, but we are 5-4 against UT all time. We may not be great this year, but we are definitely not a "NOBODY."
Vol Man is just a UT sore loser....UT got outplayed - outcoached down the stretch when it counted
For those who were not at the game Tennessee was gassed and it was clear,Coach Major is doing a prime job and for the record it is Charlotte 49ers not UNCC...If any of you are actually fans of the game and don't just look up the score on ESPN.com you would've saw that Charlotte's defensive tenacity was unmatched by the Volunteers. In Alan Major's system,defense first and the points will follow.
So what did part-time sports writer/part-time janitor Tom Soreheadsen say about this?
Good to hear he was promoted to part-time janitor. Still awaiting him to clean out those restrooms down at the Big Zero. Phewww. Man those are the nastiest ever. Pee and toilet paper everywhere. Yucko. Stop spending so much time at the bus station ok?. Geesh.
Can that moron do nothing right?
And they just got burned by 1800 student Davidson who is ranked
97th?
The Tennessee loss to Oakland made this win less of an acomplishment. Good win for The Mean Green but not all that impressive
So because Tennessee lost to a good under the radar team like Oakland, it removes their wins vs. Villanova and @ Pitt?
If anything Tennessee should have been more focused to play Charlotte due to the loss earlier in the week.
Defense is the great equalizer and we showed it tonight.
What I've noticed with Major's coaching is that the team runs plays more crisply, even when they are down, they know their spots, rotate well, pick, make text book passes, etc. Same with the defensive schemes. Big difference from the Lutz era and the constant freelancing/street-ball tactics. Soon or later, this coaching style will pay off, once he has his own recruits in. They will definitely hit the wall again this season, time and time again, against equal or lesser teams but I like the overall discipline. If he can get all the guys to buy in and play hard for 40 minutes, there should be more great contests in store.
... and don't call me shirley.
ROFL!!!!
scott also wrote column Lutz needs one more yr
Under the radar team? You UNCC'ers really have a complex.
"under the radar team like Oakland"
If you don't take the time to actually read the comments, you shouldn't be trying to bash on Charlotte. Oh and anyone who calls it UNCC obviously has no idea what they're talking about because everyone knows we've been called the Charlotte 49ers for years.
Yep, been the Charlotte 49ers for a decade now...
Is it "our" fault that we still know you as UNCC. I would say that fault lies with your marketing and sports information department.
Or it could bethat you never do anything significant to gain exposure. I would say Appalachian State has a better following in Charlotte than you guys. I know they have the better basketball coach.
Great win for the Niners, but I didn't like seeing the kids storm the court. It will be interesting to see if this leads to more inspired play or if they have a letdown on Wednesday. Major is doing well. Arguably the 2nd best recruiting class in the A10 next season. I like the new defensive style. Still two many bad shots by Braswell. Would like to see him drive and post a little more. KJ's return is a welcome site. Looking forward to seeing his play after another couple of games. Phil Jones has benifited from Coach Major's teachings. He looks better this season.
December 12th 2010
Davidson 82, UNC Charlotte 68: Guard Brendan McKillop matched a season high with 21 points as Davidson beat visiting UNC Charlotte last night.
McKillop hit seven 3-pointers as the Wildcats connected on a season-high 12 in 29 attempts (41.4 percent).
Davidson (5-4) led 30-29 at halftime but broke the game open with a 12-3 spurt early in the second half. The Wildcats led by as much as 68-49 before the 49ers cut the margin in the final minutes.
Davidson also got 18 points from guard JP Kuhlman, and 19 points and nine rebounds from forward Jake Cohen.
Derrio Green scored 16 points to lead the 49ers (4-6), Chris Braswell had 15 points and nine rebounds and Javarris Barnett scored 14. Jamar Briscoe, who was questionable coming into the game because of an Achilles injury, struggled to 2-of-11 shooting and finished with eight points.
The team has played much better defense, and has had much better ball movement on offense since Spears was suspended. What a win!
Wow - the bashing. Will Charlotte make the NCAA this year - likely not. Was the loss to Davidson deflating - yes in the way the 2nd half played out, but Davidson is a solid team. Was the win over Tennessee a big confidence boost over a somewhat over-rated team - yup. But you have to give the new coach some time and the win is a better deal than a loss would have been. Hope the Niners can return to the excitement of the Conf USA days
Man, I've never seen so many jealous posters...lol. Great game Niners!!! Oh by the way, Charlotte leads Davidson in the All-time series (26-11) Hornet’s Nest Game (began 1979-80), Charlotte leads, 20-10. Y'all can have a little nibble ever once in awhile. GO NINERS!!! Well done.
Yep, there is absolutely no possible way on this planet, Davidson beating us next season at Halton Arena. We have a lot of season left to salvage, but I will be licking my chops next season. Hear me?
Davidson Davidson Davidson Davidson Davidson
On another note the Shrine Bowl game was a 42-10 total slaughter of NC by SC after CO Langley Worst hyped his fav QB for yrs? How did Mallard Creek MWilliams perform? ... huh? Only 3-9 for 42 yds passing and 1 intercep? Other fav LeMay still going to GA after skipping out his last yr?
And a 15 yr old soph QB led Butler 16-0 to a 2nd title?
Rule #1: Never believe the hype
(espec from the CO and their favs)
When you run up scores by 80 pts on weak oppoents padding your stats to get in the record books and get free rides what do you expect?
And LWertz has the incredible nerve to chastize a girls Varsity basketball team who won by 80 pts last week?
The ultimate double standards. He never said a word about football doing this for ages to look good. Shame on you.
Cassandra
Looks like we found a male chauvenist pig who agrees its OK to run up scores by 80 pts so football QBs can look good and get fre rides to big schools and the NWBA? Please.
Girls high school sports win state titles and get college scholarships too dont they or did the media conveniently forget?
Maybe female athletes would also like to run up their statistics to the sky too to look good for the college recruiters and get a free ride and big print in the paper right?
Or maybe not? Get off the girls backs and leave them alone. Cut the double standards on running up scores and stats.
So girls are not permitted to run up scores too? Says so?
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