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The Charlotte 49ers' 20-win season and berth in the National Invitation Tournament may have helped the program turn the corner last season, but apparently earned the 49ers few accolades in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll released Tuesday.
In voting by the media and men's basketball coaches, Charlotte, with four starters back this season, was picked to finish fifth. Xavier was picked first with 44 of 61 first-place votes, followed by Temple, Dayton and Saint Joseph's.
The 49ers placed just one player – senior forward Lamont Mack – on any of the all-conference and league defensive teams. Mack, who averaged 12.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season, was named preseason second-team all-conference.
“I think, if you look, most preseason polls are based on the past year, and Lamont was our second leading scorer, and Leemire (Goldwire) was the dominant scorer for our team, and Lamont really had a great finish,” said Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz.
“With so many good teams in our league and so many good players, it's difficult to get one of the 15 spots (on the all-conference teams). I certainly believe Lamont could be a first-team pick, but this is just a prediction – and what happens on the court will dictate that.”
After a 14-16 finish in 2006-07, the 49ers rebounded last season, finishing 20-14 and tied for fourth in the league with a 9-7 record. Lutz also received a contract extension.
“I think we have a number of guys who are good. I don't know how many would make all-league because we're so balanced that sometimes those guys get lost in the shuffle a little bit,” Lutz said. “I don't think we really worry about individual honors.”
Xavier (30-7, 14-2) returns a pair of starters from last year's team, which captured its second consecutive A-10 regular season title. The Musketeers also put three players on the preseason rookie team.
Charlotte's women's team was picked to finish third in the A-10 preseason poll behind Xavier and George Washington. Xavier received 15 of the 16 first-place votes.
“We've had a really good fall. Everybody just looks so comfortable with each other right now,” said Charlotte coach Karen Aston, now in her second season.
“We've come really close to the (NCAA Tournament) the last three years. We're obviously striving to take that next step. It's a big step for our program.”
Charlotte senior center Danielle Burgin was the only 49ers player named to any of the all-conference or league defensive teams. She was named second-team all-conference.
