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UNCC AD says 2010 season critical one for men's basketball
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Published: July 15, 2009
CHARLOTTE - Coach Bobby Lutz of UNC Charlotte spoke confidently this week about his improved front line, increased depth and determination to erase the memories of the worst season of his career.
His athletics director expects that turnaround -- quickly.
Frustrated with the 49ers' 11-20 record last season and the inability to match their Conference USA success in the Atlantic 10, Judy Rose indicated that Lutz faces a "critical year" in 2009-10.
"We've had time to adjust to this league," Rose said. "It's time for us to step up and be one of the better teams."
While Rose said she hasn't demanded that Lutz reach a certain number of wins or other benchmarks, Lutz is feeling pressure again as he prepares for his 12th season at his alma mater.
Questions about Lutz's future were supposedly answered in March 2008, when he was given a new five-year contract after first being denied an extension. Then came last season's injury-plagued disaster that included a 5-11 mark in the Atlantic 10 and dwindling home crowds. UNCC went 0-8 in league road games and was bounced from the first-round of the conference tournament.
UNCC fans were used to being mentioned as one of the heavyweight teams of the old Conference USA. Lutz won the league tournament in two of his first three seasons and guided UNCC to the NCAA tourney in five of his first seven years.
They haven't been since, a streak that's reached four years and has coincided with the 49ers' move to the A10.
Rose believes that recruiting in the new league, featuring schools that many in the South were unfamiliar with, hurt recruiting.
"That carried over because of the level of athlete that we ended up attracting was not the level it takes to be competitive in that league," Rose said.
UNCC finished second in its first A10 regular season in 2005-06 and made the NIT, but has only one NIT appearance and two losing seasons since.
Meanwhile, interest has waned and fans have been slow to identify with the A10.
"When our fans complain about the A10, I say to them, ‘What have we done since we've been in the A10?' We haven't lived up to our billing," Rose said.
"Some of them are probably saying, ‘What happened to that Charlotte team we thought we were bringing in?'
"This past year we were 12th. That's a far cry from being first, second or third almost every year we were in Conference USA. We don't need to complain. Right now we're part of the problem."
Lutz is trying to change that. Shamari Spears, a 6-6 transfer from Boston College, will be eligible this fall. Shamarr Bowden, a 6-3 guard who missed all of his freshman season with a broken kneecap, is healthy. Chris Braswell, a 6-8 power forward, is a highly regarded freshman.
They'll have to step in quickly because UNCC loses two key seniors from last season: top scorer Lamont Mack and top rebounder Charlie Coley.
"We sure will miss Lamont and Charlie, but I think we're going to have more low-post scoring presence than we've had in a very, very long time," Lutz said. "My goal has always been top four of the league, whatever league you're in.... Despite last year, that's going to be our goal this year. I think it's realistic to think that we can make that happen."
Restless fans -- and Rose -- are expecting it.
"We have what we need to be successful," Rose said. "We had what we needed in Conference USA and look who we were competing against: Louisville, Memphis, Cincinnati, Marquette.
"What has changed is who we are playing against. But excuse me, Xavier, very good. Dayton, very good. Temple, very good. We need to be in that mix."
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