2018 Charlotte 49ers Men’s Basketball Preview

Charlotte, NC – The Charlotte 49ers Men’s Basketball team had their Basketball Madness Thursday night in Dale F. Halton Arena. The 49ers look to bounce back after a 6-23 (2-16, C-USA) record last season. First time head coach, Ron Sanchez, will be under the helm for the 49ers after being an assistant coach at Virginia under Tony Bennett for 9 years. 

“I’m really excited for this,” said Sanchez. “This is a dream come true for me. I can’t be more thankful for this university giving me a chance. There’s no other place I would rather be right now.” 

Sanchez has brought in Bennett’s famous pack-line defense to fix the 49ers defensive problems. Averaging 79.9 points per game, the 49ers ranked last in the C-USA in points allowed last season.

“It’s actually a very simple defense to run,” said senior center, Jailan Haslem. “I just like what it stands for. No man is gonna be stranded. No man is gonna be left behind…This year, there’s no isolation ball. If someone gets by you, then there’s a man in the gap.” 

Haslem alongside senior guard Jon Davis will be the leaders of the 49ers this season. Davis and Haslem are the only two seniors on a team with 8 underclassmen.  

Coach Sanchez believes that freshman guard Brandon Younger, freshman guard Malik Martin and freshman forward Dravon Mangum will have a big impact this season. 

“However, our roster is so thin, everyone is gonna play,” said Sanchez. “We need everyone.” 

“The guys [the underclassman], they work incredibly hard,” said Haslem. “They listen. They’re attentive and they’re gonna do really well.” 

Davis was named 2018 Preseason All-Conference USA. His 20.3 points per game scoring average was the third highest in the C-USA last year. However, his scoring numbers are the least of his concerns. 

“Whatever is necessary for us to win,” said Davis. “If I have to average 25 points a game for us to win. If I have to average 5 points a game for us to win. As long as we win games, I’m not worried about individual statistics at this point.” 

Davis’s goal for the season is to win the Conference USA and make it to the big dance in March. 

The 49ers will play in this year’s Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, Hawai’i with their first matchup against TCU on December 23. The 49ers have their season opener against Chattanooga in Halton Arena on November 6. 

 

All pictures by Lance Bradshaw