A Rivalry for Charlotte?

By Justin Ritchie

Since Cincinnati was our “pseudo-rival” for seemingly no other reason than that we hated them because we had no other team to hate, we need to find some other team to hate with a passion. Why not Richmond, George Washington, or Dayton? Because of the Atlantic 10’s schedule, Charlotte is scheduled to play these teams twice every season. This means there is a chance for revenge if you happen to lose and there are reasons to hate each of them. Let’s break it down one team at a time.

Richmond Spiders
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Last Meeting: Richmond 63, Charlotte 56 (Jan. 28, 2006)

This could grow into a good one based on location alone, if only their fans were as rabid as ours. Maybe this is due to the fact that Richmond is rebuilding and they really suck this year. But give them a break, their top players got declared academically ineligible at the beginning of the season and first year coach Chris Mooney has the team looking like they might even be NIT worthy. Plus, Coach Lutz’s Achilles heel is clearly the Princeton offense. If one compiled our record vs. the Princeton during Lutz’s tenure, we would be close to winless. In the 05-06 season alone, Richmond, Northwestern, and Wyoming have destroyed us with the slow and patient play they are so.. uh… bad at executing. It could grow into a rivalry simply because it transcends the Spiders and Niners, its about clashing philosophies.

George Washington Colonials
Location: Washington, D.C.
Last Meeting: George Washington 83, Charlotte 69 (Jan. 21, 2006)

Ah yes, the Colonials. They are really good this year, cracking the Top 10 in the Coaches and AP polls for the first time since the late 50s. Perhaps they will be good in the future as well. I think Hobbs is doing a pretty good job with the team and they might just be good in the future. Hobbs and Lutz run similar systems. The Run-N-Gun style can be especially fun to watch if both teams are having good seasons, and the games might attract national TV exposure, so why not?

Dayton Flyers
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Last Meeting: Charlotte 73, Dayton 65 (Jan. 7, 2006)

The Birthplace of Aviation VS the First State in Flight. It is a rivalry that would date back to the early part of the 20th century. Why not extend that wondrous fight between Ohio and North Carolina on to the basketball court when the Niners take on the Flyers on a regular basis.

Hopefully we’ll love to hate someone in the A10. But outside of the conference we’ve got great material for hatred like Davidson and Wake Forest. Public schools love to hate on private schools, and vice versa. In pre game talks, academics are bashed, backgrounds are hated, and the true result is decided upon the basketball floor. Charlotte will find a rival eventually. Finding a rival takes history, and if Charlotte basketball lacks anything it’s just that, history.