March 2, 2005
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The UCF men's basketball team opens play at the 2005 SunTrust Banks Atlantic Sun Championship on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. with a quarterfinal game against Mercer at the Curb Event Center. The Golden Knights are seeded second at the event, while Mercer (16-11) is No. 7.
UCF LOOKING FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE TITLE UCF enters the A-Sun Championship with its first regular season conference crown in program history. The Golden Knights (21-8 overall) concluded the league schedule with a 13-7 mark, sharing first place with Gardner-Webb. Gardner-Webb won the tiebreaker over UCF and earned the top seed in the tournament.
Head coach Kirk Speraw's squad claimed last season's championship title, giving UCF its first crown since 1996. Overall, the Golden Knights have claimed three postseason titles, but never two in a row.
This year, the team faces Mercer in quarterfinal action. UCF and the Bears split the regular season series, with each squad winning on its home court. The Golden Knights enter the evnet with a five-game winning streak. The team has posted victories in nine of its last 10 contests.
ON THE AIR All of UCF's games at the conference championship will air live on the UCF ISP Sports Network and its flagship station, 740-THE TEAM (AM). Marc Daniels will provide the call from courtside.
UP NEXT The UCF-Mercer winner will face the No. 3 Belmont/No. 6 Georgia State winner in the semifinals at 9:15 p.m. on Friday. That game will air live on CSS (Comcast Sports South). Saturday's title game is slated for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast to a national audience on ESPN2.
UCF EVENTS IN NASHVILLE Golden Knight fans in Nashville are encouraged to attend the pregame parties organized by the UCF Alumni Assocation.
Thursday, March 3:
Sam's Sports Bar & Grill
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. The UCF Alumni Association will host a pregame party for the Atlantic Sun Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee. We will meet at Sam's Sports Bar & Grill (located at 1803 21st Avenue).
Friday, March 4:
Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt
5 - 7 p.m. If UCF wins on Thursday, the group will host a reception at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University in the Longitude Lobby Lounge.
Saturday, March 5
Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt
10 a.m. - Noon If UCF advances to the title game, the group will host another reception at the Nashville Marriott from 10 a.m. - Noon.
(all times listed for alumni assocation events are Central)