ESPN's Andy Katz was at Halton for the Bama game

vpkozel · Dec 9, 2004 at 4:32 PM

From today's chat:

Tony (Pelham, AL): Hey Andy, I just about had 3 heart attacks the other day when Alabama won in 3 OT's vs Charlotte. Anyway who do you see is the dominant school in the SEC so far?

Andy Katz: I didn't go that far but I was highly entertained watching the game in person. There isn't a dominant team in the SEC this season. That's what will make the race so competitive. I'd be shocked if any team won either side of the SEC with only one or two losses.
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vpkozel · Dec 9, 2004 at 4:35 PM

More....

Matt, Charlotte: I saw you at the Charlotte vs Bama game. Just wondered if you felt that if was Charlotte's game to lose from the get go or if Bama just played at a lower level for most of the game?

Andy Katz: Charlotte blew a few late-game opportunities and was horrendous from the free-throw line. That team will win plenty of games to get into the NCAAs, but the 49ers have to learn how to finish.
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HighPoint49er · Dec 9, 2004 at 4:42 PM

Comments from Katz...

Curtis Withers' dunk: Charlotte's Withers had a spinning, one-handed flush dunk that might have taken about two seconds. No kidding. This move was not only an NBA move but was also quicker than anyone on the court had ever seen in a game.

Withers said it was his patented move. But that doesn't mean he usually completes it that quickly.

"It was a spur of the moment thing," Withers said. "I don't even remember."

Just how quick was it? Ask the opponent.

"I was standing under the basket and I had a foul to give, so I was going to whack him but before my mind said 'reach out and snatch the ball,' he was already up at the rim," Shelton said. "That was a big-time move, on a big-time play, from a big-time guy."

A Detroit moment: The Charlotte fans are known to be a hard lot. Halton Arena is boisterous and the fans are passionate about the 49ers. But they weren't too pleased with the officiating during the triple-overtime game.

Charlotte got called for two technical fouls, one on coach Bobby Lutz for leaving the coaching box. (Lutz had a point that Alabama's coaches, notably assistant Orlando Early, should have been tagged for the same thing. Early was the sixth man on the court at times). The other was on Withers for hanging on the rim too long.

The fans weren't thrilled with a few calls late in the second overtime and then it got ugly. One fan hurled a box of Nerds. Yes, those pesky candy pieces that when they land on the court from the upper deck can be a menace for the cleanup crew. Lutz had to grab the microphone and ask the fans not to throw anything on the court or those fans would get tossed.

Free throws will cost Charlotte: The 49ers were 10-of-26 in a loss to Rutgers at home. They weren't much better against Alabama, missing 15 attempts from the line (23-of-38). The hardest one to figure is 3-point shooter Brendan Plavich. He shoots 54 percent on 3s but was 28.6 percent from the line entering Saturday's game. Plavich shot only 3s (5-of-14) against Alabama and was 1-of-4 at the line.

"It's all mental," Lutz said. "I don't have an answer. We know we're not a great free-throw shooting team so we've got to find a way to win games despite that."
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Lots to take away from wild weekend, ESPN.com

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ESPN's Andy Katz was at Halton for the Bama game

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ESPN's Andy Katz was at Halton for the Bama game

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