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They know what we're going to do, and we know what they're going to do.
Who can battle the predictability better?
Charlotte will take the court against Davidson for the 51st time in program history on Tuesday at John M. Belk Arena. The last time the two programs clashed in Davidson, it was Jackson Threadgill's 3-pointer at the overtime buzzer that completed a double-digit comeback win for the 49ers. Sprawling bodies across the floor battling for the ball before the highlight shot may speak even more to the rivalry's intensity.
There are plenty of feelings around securing the Hornets' Nest Trophy, even if there are only a few surprises left between the teams whose arenas are separated by just a half-hour drive up Interstate 77.
"It means a lot to win a game like that, you have that history with each other," guard and Durham native Nik Graves said. "You win those bragging rights for the city when you beat Davidson. And those wins can be even harder since they know you so well."
Charlotte is on the winning side of history.
Last year's 50th-anniversary meeting between the two teams went to the Wildcats, but it's the 49ers who have captured wins in 31 of the clashes that date back to 1979, including a rivalry-best nine-game win streak between 1986 and 1993.
Single digits separate three of Charlotte and Davidson's last five meetings. In the last two decades, the two programs have needed overtime thrice, including 2005's double-overtime thriller led by Marcus Bennett's late 3-pointer to give the hosting 49ers a win.
The last trip to Davidson was an inflection point for Isaiah Folkes, and one he hopes can do the same for a new present-day roster.
Stakes are high enough in what he deems a "war for the city." But their power can stretch further than just one game.
"You could feel the rivalry, you saw it on the face of their fans," Folkes said. "Sophomore year, that win and how we fought back from a deficit to win in overtime, really lifted us up and showed us how to fight through some of that adversity. It was the type of game that can teach you about yourself and the team — what type of dog you have in you. We needed that and it was huge for us the rest of the season."
The buzzer-beating win carried on.
After beating Davidson on the road two years ago, Charlotte won each of its next three games — one over Detroit Mercy in overtime — and five of its next six. And come March, the 49ers captured the program's first-ever postseason tournament title.
"There are a lot of people who have been watching these two programs play for a long time," coach Aaron Fearne said. "When you watch that, you become invested in it, especially with some of the wild games we've played against one another. For some guys, this will be their first time experiencing it, but the guys who have been through it know how important it is."
A win over Livingstone gave Charlotte a reset after losses to Long Island and East Tennessee. A subsequent one over Davidson would deliver a trophy, bragging rights, and a fifth win in eight tries this season.
Folkes has seen the power of a win over the Wildcats.
"You don't want to lose a third one in four games," Folkes said. "It's a rivalry, so you know both teams are already going to come in with fire. We need to have the chip of our shoulder from these last few games, you don't want to lose this one — who knows what a win like this could do for us moving forward."
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