The Charlotte 49ers’ basketball schedule is out. Here’s who and when they’ll play
While the temperature cools as the calendar flips to the best time of year, Aaron Fearne and the Charlotte 49ers’ men’s basketball team are looking to heat up.
With college hoops returning in just over a month, the 49ers now know their American Conference schedule for the 2025-26 college basketball season. Entering his second full season in charge, Fearne and his new crop of talent will look to recapture the magic of his first season as head man, when he served as the interim head coach for just over half the 2023-24 season.
Following a 12-game non-conference slate, highlighted by home bouts with Utah State and Davidson, as well as road clashes with Virginia Tech and Appalachian State, the 49ers tip off what hopes to be a bounce-back year in conference play — starting on New Year’s Eve.
“The American is a league with a lot of talent, and we’re happy to know the full schedule ahead of us,” Fearne said in the team’s press release. “I know Niner Nation will make Halton Arena a tough, electric place to play, and I’m excited to have them behind us as we push forward.”
The American was a one-bid league in last year’s NCAA Tournament, with Memphis being the only team to qualify. Charlotte struggled last year, posting an 11-22 record and scoring just three conference victories (3-15). This is a completely new group of 49ers, a challenge that most programs in the American are facing.
Charlotte’s conference slate features home bouts with East Carolina, Wichita State, and UAB, as well as road trips to Memphis to take on the reigning champion Tigers, Florida Atlantic, and a second bout against the Pirates, among others.
With just one starter back from a season ago — guard Kylan Blackmon — Fearne has his work cut out for him. And, making the conference tournament is now harder than ever before.
Conference tournament changes
Beginning this season, the American Conference tournament will feature just the top 10 teams from the league in a new five-day format. The tournament will be held at Legacy Areana in Birmingham, Alabama, from Wed., March 11, through Sun., March 15.
After finishing 13th in the league last season and winning a play-in game to advance for the first time in nine years, Charlotte will need a stark improvement to begin a new postseason winning streak. But with new faces from every level of college basketball, Fearne expects this year’s iteration of the 49ers to have more depth.
“We have a deeper team this year that brings a lot of athleticism and length to the floor,” Fearne said. “We’re excited to see how they handle our matchups this year; we have a lot of great non-conference opportunities to get better before league play in a deep, talented American Conference.”
Women’s schedule
Entering year two, Charlotte’s women’s basketball coach Tomekia Reed is finding her footing.
“This has been a fun team to coach throughout preseason, and they are very excited with the regular season approaching,” Reed said in the team’s press release. “Our team is built for the American Conference that’s filled with players that can shoot the ball very well. We want to take pride in making our open shots and getting stops and rebounds on the defensive side of the floor. We have a long way to go, but I am excited about the direction in which this team is headed.”
Charlotte’s women’s conference schedule features home-and-away clashes against East Carolina, Memphis, Temple, Florida Atlantic, UAB, and the reigning conference champion Rice Owls. The women’s team starts with 12 non-conference bouts and kicks off conference play by hosting the Memphis Tigers on New Year’s Eve.
Reed’s second season in charge tips off on Nov. 3 against Auburn, tipping off a double-header in Halton, followed by the men’s season opener.
Men’s conference schedule
12/31 vs. Memphis
1/3 vs. UAB
1/7 at Rice
1/10 at UTSA
1/17 vs. Tulsa
1/20 vs. Florida Atlantic
1/24 at Temple
1/27 at South Florida
2/1 vs. ECU
2/4 at Tulane
2/7 vs. Wichita State
2/14 at Memphis
2/17 vs. Temple
2/21 vs. North Texas
2/24 at Florida Atlantic
2/28 at East Carolina
3/3 vs. Rice
3/7 at UAB