The matchup: Charlotte (6-2) at Hofstra (1-5)
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Mack Sports Complex
TV/Radio: MASN/WRHU (88.7 FM)
Key players: Hofstra – Antoine Agudio, Sr., G (27.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.8 apg); Charles Jenkins, Fr., G (12.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg); Nathaniel Lester (7.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg); Charlotte – Leemire Goldwire, Sr., G (20.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.1 apg); An’Juan Wilderness, Fr., F (10.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.3 apg); Charlie Coley, Jr., F (7.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
All-time series: Charlotte leads 3-1
Current streaks: Hofstra lost 4; Charlotte won 3
Last time out: Hofstra lost to Stony Brook 77-74; Charlotte beat Southern Illinois 71-56
The skinny on Charlotte: It's been an impressive start for the 49ers. They've already posted wins over Davidson, Wake Forest, and Southern Illinois. They've showed they are extremely stingy, holding their last five opponents under 40 percent shooting. And that's not a good thing for the Pride considering Hofstra's shooting woes. Leemire Goldwire can catch fire at any time from the perimiter, so he bears some serious watching. In Charlotte's win over Davidson, he drained 4-of-4 three-pointers in the final four minutes to help the 49ers pull it out. The 49ers, although they're 1-2 in neutral court action, haven't been tested on the road so far. This will mark their first true road contest of the season, but that shouldn't matter too much the way they've been playing.
Outlook: Hofstra coach Tom Pecora pointed the finger at himself after the Pride's latest unflattering loss. Good thing Mike & the Mad Dog had the Mitchell Report to discuss all day Thursday otherwise they might've had a little fun poking at Hofstra's loss to Stony Brook. Seriously, the players need to take a close look at each other. They seem to expect Antoine Agudio, who's leading the nation in scoring, to rescue them in every game. When Agudio has an off night, as he did against the Seawolves, no one else seems capable of stepping up. If Hofstra is going to turn around this dreadful start, then others are going to need to start contributing regularly ASAP. Bottom line: No more "atta boys" or "we're getting there." Everyone knows Hofstra is chock full of youth. But it's time the players learn from some of those mistakes and get this thing turned around immediately before conference play starts in another 2 1/2 weeks.
RODERICK BOONE