Charlotte,NC – For the first time since February, the Charlotte men’s basketball team played a game inside Halton Arena. Charlotte won 76-65 behind Jahmir Young’s 30 points which led all scorers.
The charity exhibition contest against the Georgia Bulldogs benefitted the Jamir Niner Student Pantry which provides food to Charlotte students who struggle with food insecurity. It was the second exhibition game played against the Bulldogs in Charlotte over the last three seasons.
The Niners got off to a slow start as the team struggled to find it’s offense. Charlotte eventually locked down defensively, forcing Georgia into a flurry of turnovers which led to easy transition baskets. Charlotte took a 36-34 lead into halftime and never looked back as they gave fans a glimpse of what to expect heading into the 2021-2022 season.
Charlotte opens the regular season on November 9, 2021 at 7 p.m. at home against Monmouth.
In the meantime, here’s five takeaways from the Niners’ exhibition victory.
1. Charlotte’s defense will keep them in ball games.
Defense has been a staple in Charlotte under Ron Sanchez, finishing in the top 5 in the league over the last two seasons. Midway through the second half, the Niners had forced Georgia into 15 turnovers while scoring 16 points off those turnovers. Charlotte plays defense as if every possession matters. The defensive rotations are smooth and the team limits its opponents to very few second chance opportunities. This isn’t a team that will sit back and let you run your offense. Georgia found this out late in the first half as its offense began to sputter and Charlotte shut down all of its good looks at the basket.
2. Jahmir Young is still the team’s best player
Leading the way with 30 points on Sunday afternoon, Jahmir Young continues to be a headache for opposing teams’ backcourts. Young has the unique ability to let the offense come to him without forcing bad shots. Teammates typically like to find him when the offense starts to struggle and he consistently makes things happen for himself and for others. If this continues, Young will be a legitimate candidate for Conference USA Player of the Year.
3. Clyde Trapp Jr. is what we expected
Clyde Trapp Jr. is as advertised. He has a complimentary game to Young that will keep him on the floor playing heavy minutes this season. Trapp provided some much needed intensity on Sunday as he brought a roar to the crowd with an array of dunks during the game. Despite finishing the game with 14 points, the energy he brought to both ends of the floor was invaluable.
4. Charlotte still dealing with injuries
Last season’s third leading scorer Brice Williams and Ohio State transfer Musa Gallow both sat out Sunday’s exhibition game due to injuries. Ron Sanchez told media members that both are still working with trainers and a timetable on their return has not yet been established.
5. Charlotte’s three point shooting must improve
Charlotte went 6-26 from behind the arc on Sunday despite having some wide open looks. The Niners finished 13th in the league in scoring last season, averaging just over 63 points per game. While its top 5 defense was able to keep them games, the lack of scoring contributed to its overall 9-16 record. Sanchez told media this is something he is not too concerned about early on. He mentioned that he was mainly focused on the team’s ball movement and believes the shooting will improve as players adjust to the offense.
