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LINCHPIN: Revamped 49ers will lean on Harris
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Published: November 6, 2009
After a down season and only 11 victories, Coach Bobby Lutz will have a lot of new faces at UNC Charlotte.
One familiar face, however, will be that of senior guard DiJuan Harris. He ranked among the top 10 in the nation in assists (7.9 a game) and assists-to-turnover ratio (2.93:1) last season and will be expected to help lead a team that has eight newcomers.
"We're a little young," said Lutz, who will be starting his 12th season with the 49ers. "We're going to be a new team. We're much deeper, more athletic and can shoot the ball better. If our new guys mature well, we should be in the mix."
The two starters who exhausted their eligibility were top scorer Lamont Mack (15.2 ppg) and top rebounder, Charlie Coley (6.8 a game).
The 49ers were picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic 10 in the preseason poll of league coaches. Last season, they finished 12th.
Also returning as starters are guard Ian Anderson, the team's top shooter last season and the program's ninth-best 3-point shooter (167 career 3s), and forward An'Juan Wilderness, a former A-10 all-rookie selection.
Center Phil Jones, who saw significant time last season, also returns after averaging 10 points and shooting 47 percent from the field.
The 49ers had their share of injuries and transfers last season, and they contributed to the 11-20 finish.
Newcomers who could make immediate impacts this season include forward Shamari Spears, a transfer from Boston College and former star at Salisbury High, and highly recruited Chris Braswell.
K.J. Sherrill, a 6-7 freshman and cousin of former N.C. State player Scooter Sherrill, should add frontcourt depth.
Braswell, a 6-9, 235-pounder from Capitol Heights, Md., attended Hargrave Military last season and averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds. He was rated the 58th best prospect in the country by scouthoops.com.
Lutz hopes that forward Shamarr Bowden, who suffered a broken kneecap last preseason, can stay healthy. Bowden showed early promise last season, averaging 14 points in a tour of Canada before he was injured.
Another newcomer, point guard Derrio Green, will give Harris a chance to rest more. Harris set a school record for minutes played last season, with 1,146 (37.0 pg). Green, a junior-college transfer from Gulf Coast Community College, chose UNCC over Georgia and George Washington.
Also on the roster is Colby Lewis, a 6-2 freshman guard from Forsyth Country Day who averaged 13.7 points last season.
The 49ers have been to the postseason eight times in Lutz's 11 seasons, with five trips to the NCAA Tournament. And last season, despite the struggles, they had impressive wins over Mississippi State, Xavier and Dayton.
This season, Lutz has at least one luxury -- the steady leadership of Harris.
"He had a phenomenal year," Lutz said. "He wasn't able to defend like he did two years ago. We will be able to let him go defensively.
"He can create havoc."
jdell@wsjournal.com.
727-4081
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