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Written by Austin Fackler
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Orlando, FL - In UCF’s home opener against the Mercer Bears, the Knights were looking to build on what was their best season in over a decade, in the Knights first year under head coach Johnny Dawkins the team went 24-12 and for the first time in five years earned a postseason berth participating in the 2017 National Invitation Tournament.
Their first game of the 2017-2018 campaign would not be easy as Mercer came out strong playing tough defense to go hand in hand with solid offense. In the end the Knight would be too much for Mercer, as UCF picked up the 88-79 win despite losing star BJ Taylor late in the 2nd half. Here is how it all went down. For Mercer, it was Senior Guard Ria’n Holland that got the Bears off to a hot start, leading the team to a 24-22 advantage half way through the first quarter. That was when the Knights turned up the intensity, going on a 15-11 run to claim the lead with 4:30 to go in the first half. With just under a minute remaining in the first half Mercer’s Jordan Strawberry hit a big three that gave the Bears the lead 47-44, after B.J. Taylor converted a pair of free throws that cut Mercers lead to 47-46 at halftime. Taylor lead the Knights in scoring in the first half with 10 points and 4 assists, however, the story of the first half was Mercer’s Ria’n Holland, who lead all scorers with 21 points while shooting 50 percent from the field which included five three pointers. Coming out of halftime, the Knights turned up the defensive intensity protecting the rim racking up 6 blocks and 7 steals. UCF was able to force Mercer to take poor shots, which allowed the Knights to get easy fast break opportunities, a category in which they outscored Mercer 13-0. Those fast break points helped the Knights extend their lead early in the second half to 8. The defense only intensified for UCF as the game went on, forcing five turnovers in a four-minute span, the Knights open up a 16-point lead mid-way through the second half. After starting point guard B.J. Taylor went out mid-way through the second half Mercer saw it as an opportunity to make a comeback. They started to cut into the lead getting it down to as low as 6 points in the final minutes, however the Knights lead was too much to overcome as UCF took their home opener by a final score of 88-79. After the Knights head coach Johnny Dawkins was asked how he felt his team played he responded by saying, “It was a great first game, “We knew Mercer was very good. They've been battle tested. So we knew it was a game that we would have to win that they weren't going to give us the game.” UCF will now look ahead to their matchup with Gardner-Webb next Tuesday in Orlando, FL. Gardner-Webb lost their first game of the season in a rout to No. 13 Miami on Friday night.
Written By: Yan Popkov
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(Orlando, FL) Its that time of the year ladies and gentlemen UCF Basketball is back! The UCF Knights will lace up their sneakers and be back on the court this upcoming Friday November 10th to face off against The Mercer Bears at the CFE arena.
The Knights will be led by Johnny Dawkins who took over the Head Coach position last season and shocked the world by doubling the Knights previous regular season record by coming into a team who only finished with 12 wins and turning it into 24. He went on to take them to the NIT Final Four for the second time ever in UCF history and ended up finishing 4th in the AAC after previously being projected to finish 8th. Due to last years’ success, there is now a lot of excitement surrounding the team and are currently projected to finish 3rd in the conference. The hype is definitely warranted, their redshirt-junior point guard B.J. Taylor (who was sidelined in his second year) came into the 2016-2017 season and turned heads by averaging 17.4 PPG 4.0 RPG and 3.5 APG. That is the most points a player from UCF has averaged since Jermaine Taylor’s 26.2 PPG back in the 2008-09 season. Hopefully, Taylor’s leadership skills at the point guard position can take this team even further than their projected finish. But let’s not get ahead of our selves here we still do have a whole season to play, and unless your name is LeBron James than no man can do it alone. That is where we bring in Tacko Fall, the legendary 7-6 Center who was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, as well as being named a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award for best center in the nation last season. Fall almost averaged a Double-Double last year for the Knights with contributions of 10.9 PPG 9.5 RPG & 0.6 APG. He was second in the AAC in rebounding due to those 9.5 boards a game. With his height and his skill, I can only see an improvement this upcoming season. The sky is the limit, and it looks like he’s pretty much up there anyway so fans should keep their fingers crossed for a break out year. Another interesting player to watch is Aubrey Dawkins, and if you think that name sounds familiar don’t worry you are not going crazy, you read that name right. Dawkins is the son of Head coach Johnny Dawkins, He transferred from the University of Michigan but unfortunately had to sit out last season due to transfer rules. But this year he will be ready to go and some things to note about his playing days in Michigan are that he was named Michigan’s “Sixth Man of the Year” by producing five double-digit performances off the bench, he shoots 50 percent from the field and 44 from beyond the arc. He is also clutch at the line shooting 87 percent. That can really come in handy during those close games and is definitely something any head coach would want on his roster. This season the must-see “War on I-4” will happen a few weeks after the New Year’s celebrations die down. On January 20th & February 14th The UCF Knights will face off against The USF Bulls. As of now, South Florida Leads the series 22-13, but because UCF has won four straight games against USF fans can expect that gap to get shrink in the near future. The last time these two rivals went head to head was March 2nd in Tampa where Matt Williams scored 20 PTS and set UCF’s career and single-season records for made 3 pointers. Taylor, also added 17 PTS (12 of them being from beyond the arc) & contributed with 4 dimes as well. UCF came out on top with a narrow win with the final score being 59-56 UCF. The rivalry games will be exciting to watch since I am sure USF still has a bitter taste in their mouths after a close loss like that. Other notable games to mark on your calendar are: SMU on December 27th at 9 P.M. Moody Coliseum & February 17 at 11 A.M. CFE Arena Memphis on January 3rd at 7 P.M. CFE Arena & February 11 at 4 P.M. FedEx Forum Cincinnati on January 16th at 7 P.M. CFE Arena & February 6th at 7 P.M. BB&T Arena Wichita State on January 25th at 9 P.M. KOCH Arena & March 1st at 7 P.M. CFE Arena Houston February 3rd at NOON CFE Arena
UCF Men's Basketball Communications
UCF will take on Nebraska in the first round, Nov. 23 at ESPN Wide World of Sports
ORLANDO, FL. (UCFKnights.com) – ESPN Events has revealed the bracket for the 12th annual AdvoCare Invitational, which will be played Nov. 23, 24 & 26 at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. UCF will take on Nebraska in the first round of the tournament, Thursday, Nov. 23 at 6 p.m. The first ever meeting between the Knights at the Cornhuskers will stream on WatchESPN and the ESPN app, with the winner taking on either 2016 NCAA Sweet 16 participant West Virginia or Marist. UCF will play either the Mountaineers or the Red Foxes on Friday, Nov. 24. The winners bracket contest is scheduled for 5 p.m. on ESPN2, with the consolation bracket game set for 7:30 p.m. on WatchESPN. Sunday’s Championship Game is slated for a 9:30 p.m. tip on ESPN2. Other participants in the tournament include Oregon State, St. John’s, Missouri and Long Beach State. UCF will take on Missouri in a non-bracketed game of the AdvoCare Invitational at CFE Arena on Nov. 30. Additional information, including travel packages, can be found on the AdvoCare Invitational web site. Date | Time | Game |Network Thu, Nov. 23 11:30 a.m. | Missouri vs. Long Beach State | ESPN2 2 p.m. | St. John's vs. Oregon State | ESPNU 6 p.m. | UCF vs. Nebraska | ESPN3 8:30 p.m. |West Virginia vs. Marist | ESPNews Fri, Nov. 24 11 a.m. | Semifinal #1 | ESPNews 1:30 p.m. | Consolation #1 | ESPN3 5 p.m. | Semifinal #2 | ESPN2 7:30 p.m. | Consolation #2 | ESPN3 Sun, Nov. 26 Noon | 3rd Place Game | ESPNU 2 p.m. | 5th Place Game | ESPNU 7 p.m. | 7th Place Game | ESPN3 9:30 p.m. | Championship Game | ESPN2 SEASON TICKETS Season tickets for the 2017-18 campaign are on sale now. Fans looking to purchase new tickets can call (407) 823-1000 or click here: www.ucfknights.com/jointhefamily to secure them today. GET THE APP Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news. -ChargeOn-
UCF Men's Basketball Communications
ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – Head Coach Johnny Dawkins has announced an addition to the UCF men’s basketball program, signing George Washington transfer Collin Smith. Smith will sit out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules and be eligible to play in 2018-19 as a redshirt sophomore.
Smith, who appeared in 34 games and started 17 at center for the Colonials as a freshman in 2016-17, will have three years of eligibility for the Knights. The Jacksonville native was third on the George Washington team in rebounding with 4.4 boards per game and second with 29 blocked shots. “We’re very excited to welcome Collin Smith to the UCF Family,” Dawkins said. “We weren’t certain we were going to add one more piece this year, but Collin was too good to pass up. He will be a versatile post presence for us in 2018-19, and will have a whole year of practice to get even better before his sophomore season as a Knight.” When the Knights went up to Washington, D.C. and fell to George Washington during B.J. Taylor’s absence this past season, Smith started and led the Colonials with eight rebounds and three blocked shots in 22 minutes. The 6-foot-10 big man also had success against a yearly UCF opponent in his first season of collegiate ball, scoring a season high 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, and hitting the game-winning three-pointer at USF on Dec. 3 of 2016. Smith had signed with George Washington out of Bolles High School in Jacksonville, where he led his squad to a 32-3 record and the Florida Class 4A State Championship. He averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, while earning First Team All-State and 4A Player of the Year honors. UCF, which signed three for the upcoming 2017-18 campaign back in November (Myles Douglas, Daniel Lewis, Kani Coles), will have a full roster of scholarship players this season after playing with just seven a year ago. The Knights are coming off of one of their most successful seasons in program history in their first under Dawkins. UCF won 24 games, the second most ever by the Knights, and advanced all the way to the NIT Semifinals in New York City.
UCF Basketball Communications
UCF men’s basketball to play home-and-home series with Missouri
(Orlando, FL.) – On the heels of an impressive first season under head coach Johnny Dawkins, the UCF men’s basketball team is set to host the Missouri Tigers out of the SEC in the first month of the upcoming 2017-18 season. The Nov. 30 contest will be the first meeting between UCF and Missouri in men’s basketball and it will be the Knights’ first time hosting a team out of the SEC in over a decade. It will be just the fourth time ever that UCF has hosted an SEC squad on campus (Georgia, 1994; Auburn, 1997; Ole Miss, 2007). In their first season under new head coach Cuonzo Martin, the Tigers are gaining buzz for 2017-18, as former Cal and Tennessee coach has brought in one of the top incoming freshmen in the country in five-star recruit Michael Porter, Jr. The home-and-home series between UCF and Missouri will send the Knights to Columbia for the 2018-19 campaign at a yet-to-be-determined date. The Nov. 30 game against Missouri is the first home contest revealed for the 2017-18 slate. Previously announced, UCF will play three games in the AdvoCare Invitational Nov. 23, 24 and 26 at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Missouri is also scheduled to play in the AdvoCare Invitational, along with St. John’s, Oregon State, West Virginia, Long Beach State, Nebraska and Marist. The Knights’ 2016-17 season was one of the best in program history, as UCF advanced to the final four of the National Invitation Tournament. With a majority of the integral pieces returning, including Tacko Fall, B.J. Taylor and A.J. Davis, there is plenty of excitement surrounding UCF Basketball heading into the 2017-18 campaign. Season tickets are on sale now. Fans looking to purchase new tickets can call (407) 823-1000 or click here: www.ucfknights.com/jointhefamily. To renew season tickets before the June 15 deadline, click here:www.ucfknights.com/18hoops. GET THE APP Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news. -ChargeOn-
UCF Athletics Communications
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The following is a story told by UCF sophomore Tacko Fall on his experience with the NBA Draft process and his decision to return to the Knights for the 2017-18 season.
Why I Came Back To UCF by Tacko Fall I first dreamt about playing in the NBA when I came over to the United State from Senegal. That's when I knew that if I put the work in, I'd have a chance to make it to that level. At first, it was tough, because I hadn't been playing basketball for long. I didn't know much about it. I knew about the NBA, but I didn't know anything about the process. I didn't even know much about college basketball, so it took some time for me to understand everything, including how much work I would need to put in. We all put the work in last year. Our success as a team meant a lot to me, because that was one of the main reasons I came to UCF. I wanted to do something that no one had ever done here, and what we did last season was really special. When the season ended, though, it was tough. I knew we could have won that last game and I took it pretty hard. It took me a while to get past that, but eventually I talked it over with my family, and we thought it was the best for me to put my name in the Draft and see how things went. The entire process, working out for and meeting with the NBA teams, was a great experience. All the teams were great to me. The workouts went well, and they gave me plenty of feedback. Going through it all solidified that I can play in the NBA. I know I belong. In the workouts, I played against guys older and more experienced than me, so now I have an idea of where I need to be going forward. I know what I need to improve on and that's where we'll start with the rest of the off-season. My goal isn't to just get to the NBA, but to stay there for a long time. My final decision wasn't easy. There are always going to be temptations. When you can really smell it, it can be hard to turn that down, but I knew that I had to look at the bigger picture. I think that's what I did. After talking it all over with my parents and Coach Dawkins, I came to my decision to return to UCF. In coming back, my mind is set on helping UCF make the NCAA Tournament. And I think to myself, while we're there, why not win it? I played against a national champion in one of my workouts and I see that we are right there. We can do it. It's just a matter of putting in the work and all of us doing it together. I want to thank all of the UCF fans for all of your love. I'm excited to be here next season and to do great things for this amazing program. Go Knights Charge On!
Written by Adrian Beecher
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Orlando, FL- BJ Taylor scored 27 points, Tacko Fall hit two game-clinching free throws, and the rest of the UCF Men's basketball team did their job to completion as they captured their first ever win over No. 15 Cinccinatti in 9 tries on Sunday at CFE Arena. In the end, the scoreboard showed 53-49, and the fans rushed the court to celebrate just the 4th win ever over a ranked opponent. It was a back and fourth game that only saw on side dominate for the being of the 2nd half, that team was UCF. Here's how it all went down.
UCF won the opening tipoff, and BJ Taylor pulled up a triple that came up short. Then Tacko Fall was called for an over the back foul on the rebound giving the ball to Cincinnati. The Bearcats opening possession didn’t end in great prosperity either as UCF was able to force them into a shot clock violation. In fact neither team was able to find their footing fast as with 3 minutes expired in the game we were still scoreless. Cincy was finally able to break the scoreless affair with Jacob Evans draining two free throws after a blocking foul was called on BJ Taylor. Then it was Tacko Fall getting to the line and making one of two to make it 2-1 with 16:37 left in the half. Following that was a triple from Cincy’s Kevin Johnson to give the Bearcats a 4-point lead. The Knights answered two possessions later as BJ Taylor hit a triple of his own to once again cut it to a 1-point game. Then it was the Bearcats hitting a layup ad a triple to take a 6-point lead before the Knights really got things going. Tank Efianayi hit a triple to start a 15-3 run for the Knights that put them up 19-13 with 7:55 left in the 1st half. Then it was 6 straight points for the Bearcats as they quickly tied the game back up at 19. With 3:09 left to play, Cincinnati had taken a 22-21 lead on UCF. Matt Williams then hit a triple to put the Knights back on top, and Troy Caupin followed suit for the Bearcats with a triple of his own. BJ Taylor accounted for the final 6 points for the Knights ahead of halftime as UCF went into the locker room with a 30-27 lead. In total, Taylor ended the first half with a team-high 17 points. For Cincy, it was Cumberland with 10 points Cincinnati scored the first basket of the 2nd half with a layup by Jacob Evans. The Knights started off the second half where they left off in the first half as BJ Taylor hit a triple to give him 20 points in the game up to this point. Then it was Tacko Fall slamming home a one handed jam to make it 35-29. However, back-to-back triples for Cincinnati would tie this one up at 35. Then it was the Knights going on a 7-0 run, forcing the Bearcats to take a timeout with 13:04 left in regulation. The timeout was not effective out of the break as Tacko Fall blocked Kyle Washington’s shot and then AJ Davis went down and put in a jumper for the Knights. With 11:55 left on the clock, UCF had jumped out to a 46-35 lead on the Bearcats. Things then started to slip away from the Knights a bit as Cincy came back with 7 unanswered points to cut it to a 4 point game with just 7:23 left to play. This was just the start of UCF’s scoring drought. With 2:37 left on the clock Jacob Evans hit a triple for Cincy to make it 48-46 with UCF on top. That marked an 11-2 run by the Bearcats to make it just a one score game. Both teams refused the give up an inch, resulting in a scoreless next two minutes. After that, it was BJ Taylor hitting a triple with just 33 seconds left to make it 51-46 and sending the home fans at CFE Arena into a frenzy. With 13 seconds left Jacob Evans hit another triple to make it just a one score game. A foul by Cincy sent BJ Taylor to the line for the 1 and 1. He missed the shot, and the Bearcats stormed down the court. That’s when Tre Scott missed the ally-oop dunk that would have tied the game up. Tacko Fall gathered the rebound and was fouled. He went to the line with the pressure on a delivered, hitting both free throws to make it a 4 point game with just 2 seconds left to play. This sealed the Knights first win over a ranked opponent since 2011 when they beat No. 4 UConn in the Bahamas. It was a coming out part of sorts as the Knights faithful rushed the hardwood in elation. It was seeing the promises come to fruition and the relief of the hard work paying off all at once. As Senior Matt Williams surfed the crowd and Tacko Fall jumped up and down in the middle of the court towering over everyone, you could see it to be true that UCF Basketball has turned the corner and is on the rise, one to be reckoned with. The signature win for the Knights comes in almost perfect timing you could say as they prepare for their final game of the season and turn their focus to making some noise in the American Athletic Conference Tournament in March. UCF wraps up the regular season on Thursday when they head west on I-4 to face rivals USF. The time those two met was in January, and the Knights ran the Bulls out of town with a 22 point victory. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM with the game being broadcasted on ESPNU. |
UCF's Men's Basketball
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