Charlotte 49ers launch a new chapter

I think Mitch sums it up pretty well.

Charlotte 49ers launch a new chapter
Midnight Madness at Halton Arena

DAVID SCOTT

Staff Writer


The 14 banners already hang high on the walls at the Charlotte 49ers' Halton Arena -- among them the blue and gold of George Washington, the light blue and white of Rhode Island, Temple's red and white.

After 10 years in Conference USA, the 49ers men's and women's basketball teams head off into Atlantic 10, the world those banners represent.

"We have no idea what it's going to be like," guard Mitchell Baldwin said before Charlotte's preseason basketball "madness" festivities Thursday night. "It won't be like the Conference USA of old."

The 49ers men, led by All-American candidate forward Curtis Withers and lightning-quick Baldwin, will likely be one of the Atlantic 10's preseason favorites.

"You hear that (current Atlantic 10 teams) have to get ready for you," said coach Bobby Lutz, whose team was 21-8 last season and has played in two straight NCAA tournaments.

"But they only have to get ready for you once. We have to get ready for everybody but Saint Louis," which came along from Conference USA.

Charlotte's new women's coach is former assistant Amanda Butler.

"The biggest difference now," Butler said before the activities, "is that I'll be the one who goes out there and speaks tonight."

Later, Butler addressed the crowd of several thousand students and fans. Then Lutz took the floor.

"My goal, as always," he said, "is to win the league. It's just a different league."

 

Actually, I think coach sums it up better:

We need to learn a dozen new teams/coaches, the A10 teams just have to learn two new teams/coaches.

 

You're right. It's a rainy gloomy day here today. I need to cheer up.