Knee injury sidelines possible Charlotte 49ers starter, but for how long?
Charlotte 49ers guard Luka Vasic recently tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is expected to have surgery soon. It won’t be until after the operation that the severity of the injury will be known or for how long Vasic will be out.
Vasic, a 6-foot-8 sophomore from Serbia, has been expected to challenge for a starting spot next season. He averaged 3.8 points on 40.0 percent shooting from 3-point range in 24 games last season.
Home games early: The 49ers will open their Conference USA basketball schedule with home games against Western Kentucky (Jan. 3) and Marshall (Jan. 5) and conclude with the league tournament in Frisco, Texas (March 13-16).
Charlotte’s final four regular-season games will be part of a new C-USA scheduling concept, in which teams will be divided into three groups in order of their place in the standings through 14 games. Teams will play round-robin games against teams within their groups. By playing only each other, teams in that first group will have a better shot at improving some key metrics — including Rating Percentage Index (RPI) and strength of schedule — and thus raising their profile to the NCAA tournament selection committee.
The 49ers open their regular season at Halton Arena against Chattanooga on Nov. 6.
Complete schedule:
Nov. 6, Chattanooga; Nov. 10, Oklahoma State; Nov. 16, James Madison; Nov 19, Longwood; Nov. 27, at Davidson.
Dec. 1, at College of Charleston; Dec. 6, at Wake Forest; Dec. 9, South Florida; Dec. 18, East Carolina; Dec. 23-25, Diamond Head Classic (Texas Christian in Dec. 23 opener).
Jan. 3, Western Kentucky; Jan. 5, Marshall; Jan. 10, at Florida International; Jan. 12, at Florida Atlantic; Jan. 17, Southern Mississippi; Jan. 19, Louisiana Tech; Jan. 21, Old Dominion; Jan. 24, at Texas-San Antonio; Jan. 26, at Texas-El Paso; Jan. 31, Rice.
Feb. 2, North Texas; Feb. 7, at Middle Tennessee; Feb. 9, at Ala.-Birmingham; Feb. 16, at ODU; Feb. 23, Flex date; Feb. 27, Flex.
March 2, Flex; March 6, Flex; March 9, Flex. March 13-16, Conference USA tournament (Frisco, Texas).
Henry signs pro contract: Former 49ers point guard Pierria Henry has signed with BC UNICS, a team in Russia. Henry was impressive playing for the Boston Celtics in the NBA’s summer league in Las Vegas, averaging 10.0 points, 4.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds. Since leaving Charlotte (where he remains the 49ers’ career leader in assists and steals) in 2015, Henry has played overseas in the country of Georgia, Germany, Israel and Turkey.
DeLuca preseason all-conference: 49ers defensive back Ben DeLuca has been named to the preseason all-C-USA football team. DeLuca’s five forced fumbles led the nation last season.