Joseph Uchebo watches teammate Andrien White knock down a free-throw. Photo by Maria Saenz.
Dear Niner Nation,
Charlotte men’s basketball is on the come up. Despite their record (7-14), these young 49ers are giving those connected to Charlotte a reason to cheer. Fresh off a three-game winning streak, the 49ers will blackout Halton Arena on Saturday, Feb. 6, welcoming Conference USA rival Old Dominion.
What makes this game so special?
First, this is a rematch. Charlotte nearly ended the Monarchs 32 home-game winning streak in their first matchup on Jan. 2. Nearly 7,000 fans came out to watch the game on the road. Halton Arena has been the setting for such a crowd this season, especially the Davidson game. The atmosphere was electric. Charlotte has won two straight at home and with the game scheduled for a blackout, Niner Nation is sure to be in rage mode.
In college basketball, the crowd makes a huge difference and can even define a program. Think of the Cameron Crazies of Duke. Niner Nation could have the same impact. In fact, the student section was alive and well in the early 2000s. It’s time for the student section to come back to life and there is no better way to do so than in a rematch.
As for the game itself, the 49ers are emerging as one of the hottest teams in C-USA. Mark Price is orchestrating an exciting brand of basketball as Charlotte ranks second in conference play, scoring on average 80 points a night. They’re doing so in all sorts of ways: knocking down three-pointers and scoring in the paint almost at will. Their offensive production ranks them fourth in the conference in field goal percentage.
Another reason to come out to Halton Arena is to witness history. Joseph Uchebo has led Charlotte miraculously on one knee all season. The senior is eighth in the nation in rebounding, averaging 11 per game, and has recorded two 20-rebound performances this season. Uchebo could set the single-season mark for consecutive double-doubles. The senior has seven right now.
Lastly, Saturday will boast a fun matchup to watch. Charlotte is sporting one of the best backcourts in the conference and they will have a job to do, defending C-USA’s leading scorer Trey Freeman, averaging 21 points per game. The combination of Jon Davis, Braxton Ogbueze, Curran Scott and Andrien White make up the majority of the 49ers production. It’ll be interesting how Charlotte combats the dynamic guard from Old Dominion. One thing is sure, the two backcourts will provide plenty of fireworks next weekend.
On the eve of the Super Bowl, the 49ers will have the opportunity to take another step into prominence. To Niner Nation, it’s time to start paying more attention to the Charlotte 49ers basketball program as a return to the glory days could come sooner than expected.