The 49ers will play at least seven games against 2008 NCAA Tournament foes, including Davidson.

July 3, 2008

Halton Arena - The Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team has released its home and away opponents for the upcoming 2008-09 season. The schedule is highlighted by seven contests with 2008 NCAA Tournament teams and an appearance in ESPN's Anaheim Classic, which includes three NCAA and two NIT teams among its eight-team field. In all, the 49ers slate will include at least 12 games against 2008 post-season teams - six of which will be played at Halton Arena.

Charlotte advanced to the 2008 NIT, the eighth post-season trip in head coach Bobby Lutz's 10 seasons. The 49ers finished tied for fourth in the Atlantic 10 and reached the A-10 semifinals, while posting a 20-14 record -- the fifth 20-win season under Lutz. Charlotte returns four starters and nine of its top 10 players from last season.

"We have assembled another challenging schedule for 08-09," said Lutz. "Our non-conference schedule is rigorous both at home, on the road and at the ESPN Classic in Anaheim."

Charlotte's home slate includes three games against NCAA Tournament teams: Clemson, Winthrop and Xavier and three more against 2008 NIT teams: Dayton, 2008 NIT Finalist Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

"The non-conference home schedule is highlighted by (NCAA teams) Clemson and Winthrop, but also includes Tulsa, UNC Greensboro and Old Dominion. Playing at Davidson, Maryland, Southern Illinois and Appalachian State speaks for itself and will undoubtedly prepare us for league play."

Charlotte's non-conference road schedule includes Davidson, which advanced to the 2008 NCAA Elite Eight and both Maryland and Southern Illinois, who made the NIT field. The 49ers have three Atlantic 10 road games against 2008 NCAA participants: Saint Joseph's, Temple and Xavier.

The Anaheim Classic field includes NCAA teams Baylor, Cal-State Fullerton and St. Mary's as well as NIT quarterfinalist Arizona State and Providence, UTEP and Wake Forest.

The full non-conference home schedule is Clemson, Long Island, UNC Greensboro, Old Dominion, Tulsa, Winthrop and Youngstown State. The non-conference road games are at Appalachian State, Davidson, Maryland and Southern Illinois.

Charlotte's A-10 home games will be against Dayton, Fordham, George Washington, La Salle, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond and Xavier. The A-10 road games are at Duquesne, George Washington, Richmond, St. Bonaventure, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis, Temple and Xavier.

"Our A-10 schedule is even more demanding with defending champ Xavier and top 4 finisher Richmond as well as perennial power GW as our double games," Lutz added. "There is no doubt that this schedule will be fun for our players and fans. It is aggressive but will allow us to play our way into the post-season."

Dates are tentatively set for all the non-conference games except Davidson, which is still being finalized, and Southern Illinois, which could land on Dec. 5th or 6th. The Atlantic 10 dates have not been announced by the league office.

2008-09 Charlotte 49ers Men's Basketball Schedule

November
Fri. 14 UNC GREENSBORO Halton Arena
Sun. 16 OLD DOMINION Halton Arena
Wed. 19 at Appalachian State Boone, N.C.
Sat. 22 CLEMSON Halton Arena
Thurs.-Sun. 27-30 at Anaheim Classic Anaheim, Ca.
(Arizona State, Baylor, Cal. State-Fullerton, Providence, St. Mary's, UTEP, Wake Forest)

December
Fri/Sat. 5/6 at Southern Illinois Carbondale, Ill.
Sat. 13 WINTHROP Halton Arena
Sun. 21 YOUNGSTOWN STATE Halton Arena
Tues. 30 LONG ISLAND Halton Arena

January
Sat. 3 at Maryland College Park, Md.
Sat. 10 TULSA HALTON ARENA