Nov. 1, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - In 2006-07, UCF was the top shooting team in Conference USA. The Knights paced the league in field goal, 3-point field goal and free throw percentage.
UCF ranked in the top-50 nationally in field goal (47) and 3-point field goal percentage (39.4). With several sharpshooters in the mix this year, the Knights hope to continue their accuracy in 2007-08.
Three of the Knights' top shooters from last year - senior guards Mike O'Donnell (Largo, Fla./Largo) and Mike Battle (Waldorf, Md./Southern Maryland Christian) and junior guard/forward Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) - are all back.
O'Donnell ranked second in C-USA from deep (43 percent) as a junior last year. The point guard connected on 68 treys. Taylor was also accurate from 3-point range last season. He shot 41.4 percent and hit 63 triples.
A 3-point specialist, Battle made 17 treys in limited action last season. Freshman forward Cordell Pope (Birmingham, Ala./Parker), considered the best shooter on the team by some inside the program, will give the Knights other weapon from deep.
The bevy of shooters gives O'Donnell plenty of options on the court.
"If I am driving down the lane, I do not know how many times I am going to rise up and dunk on somebody," the six-foot O'Donnell said. "For me to drive and get close to the basket and I know that I have three or four guys out on the perimeter who can knock it down... is really helpful for me."
The Knights will open the regular season at the new UCF Arena on Nov. 11, hosting Nevada. The squad will play 16 regular-season contests at home this year.
UCF has a pair of exhibition games at home before starting the regular season: Nov. 3 versus St. Leo and Nov. 6 against Florida Southern. Admission is free to both games.
Season tickets are currently available by calling 407-UCF-1000. One lucky season ticket holder will get to drive home from the new UCF Arena in a brand new 2008 UCF edition Mazda CX-9, courtesy of Classic Mazda, the presenting sponsor of this year's season ticket drive. UCF fans who purchase two season tickets be automatically entered into a drawing to win the Mazda CX-9.
Single-game tickets are also on sale now.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel, log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out www.ucfphotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Notes: On Thursday afternoon, the Knights practiced inside the Education Gym on campus... The new UCF Arena is being used for a concert for Fall Out Boy.