Nov. 19, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - On a day when most Americans are at home with their families, the Knights will be in the national spotlight. UCF's Thanksgiving night game with No. 19 Villanova at the Old Spice Classic in nearby Lake Buena Vista is set to air live on ESPN2.
Tip-off for the game at the Disney's Wide World of Sports is set for 7 p.m.
When UCF and the Wildcats take the floor at the Milk House, the contest will be the only college basketball game on the airwaves.
Professional football games are traditionally aired on Thanksgiving and this year is no different. The only National Football League contest that will conflict with the UCF-Villanova game is Indianapolis at Atlanta.
That contest begins at 8:15 p.m. and will air on the NFL Network, a channel that most Americans do not receive.
The national telecast should help the Knights with recruiting as potential players across the country can watch the game. Members of this year's team are also excited about the broadcast.
"That is real nice knowing that family and friends can see it," said senior guard Mike Battle (Waldorf, Md./Southern Maryland Christian). "It is also a very good showcase for the program."
All 12 games at the tournament will be televised on either ESPN2 or ESPNU. On Friday, UCF will face either George Mason or 20th-ranked Kansas State at 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the tournament are available at all Ticketmaster outlets. Season tickets for UCF home games are available by calling 407-UCF-1000.
Single-game tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and at the UCF box office at Bright House Networks Stadium.
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: Villanova is one of three BIG EAST programs that the Knights will face this season. UCF plays at USF on Dec. 1 and hosts Connecticut on Dec. 28 at the new UCF Arena... The Knights practiced on Monday afternoon inside the new UCF Arena.