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Conference USA Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2020-2021 season

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 06: Charles Bassey #23 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts in the second half while taking on the Washington Huskies during their game at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on November 6, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 06: Charles Bassey #23 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts in the second half while taking on the Washington Huskies during their game at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on November 6, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Conference USA Basketball
Conference USA Basketball Charlotte 49ers Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Charlotte 49ers

The 2019 Charlotte men’s basketball program (16-13 overall, 10-8 in conference) had quite a few unknowns last year, as third-year Head Coach Ron Sanchez, had many unsolved mysteries that were going to play out throughout the season. Not only, did those unknowns pleasantly worked out.

The 49er’s also doubled their win total from the previous year.  Statistically, Charlotte was not very spectacular in both the offensive and defensive categories, but they were not all that bad as well. There were several stats that jump out, third in scoring defense (64.7 ppg), third in rebounding defense (31.4), second in defensive rebound percentage (.763).

You would expect “defense”, as Coach Sanchez comes from the Tony Bennett coaching tree at Virginia where they play the pack line defense, which resulted in the 49er’s being able to hold opponents to 60 points or less in 10 games. So, in 2020, there is excitement in Charlotte, as they return two starters, who by the way are superstars.

Heading this year’s 2020 Charlotte team are a couple of preseason CUSA all-conference players in 6-4 senior Jordan Shepherd and 6-1 sophomore Jahmir Young, as voted on by the media and coaches. They make up one of the best backcourts in the CUSA.

Shepherd (14.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, and 4.1 apg) playing in his first season in Charlotte after transferring from Oklahoma scored double figures in 22 games, scored 20+ points in four games, dished out 114 assists, which placed him fourth in the CUSA, and was third-team all CUSA. In the 2020 – 2021 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, Coach Sanchez is quoted as saying “I’m hoping his experience from last year will help him have a bigger role and more success”.

Young (12.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 1.6 spg), A DeMatha (DC) product was not only CUSA Freshmen of the Year, Third Team CUSA, but was placed on the Freshmen All- American list. He was CUSA Freshmen of the Week eight times as well. In the 2020 – 2021 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, Coach Sanchez is quoted as saying “He shows up for work every day, but I need him to become more vocal. That’s the next step in his development”.

The returning cast includes 6-9 senior Milos Supica (5.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg), 6-7 sophomore Brice Williams (2.3 ppg and 1.5 rpg), 6-7 redshirt freshman Calen Stone-Carrawell, 6-8 junior Luka Vasic, who is working towards coming back after a season-ending injury last year and 6-10 Anzac Rissetto.

The 49ers also landed 6-5 graduate transfer from Dayton Jhery Matos (2.2 ppg and 1.7 rpg) and 6-5 transfer from Washington State Marvin Cannon (3.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg). Coach Sanchez also has a very impressive incoming freshman class that should contribute immediately.

According to 247 sports composite team rankings, the 49ers had the best recruiting class in the CUSA for the incoming 2020 class.  They are 6-8 freshman Jared Garcia from Connecticut St. Thomas More, 6-1 freshman Caleb Byrd (26.5 ppg) from Georgia Newton High School, 6-6 freshman Jackson Threadgill from Davidson Day in North Carolina and 6-10 freshman Aly Khalifa from Egypt.

Superstar guards plus young talent equals success. Coach Sanchez has created a defense-first culture, which is not always highlight film material, but it gets you wins. In the 2020 – 2021 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook Coach Sanchez was quoted as saying “When the two more recognized players on your team are bought into that the coach is preaching, everybody else has to follow”.

Scary thought CUSA, Shepherd, and Young can also play some defense. If the younger players can buy into the culture and if they can gel with the older players who understand the system and have some chemistry, this team could be scary good.