Dec. 6, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Throughout his career with the Knights, senior guard Dave Noel (Boynton Beach, Fla./Boynton Beach) has been known as UCF's defensive stopper. When the team needs to shut down an opponent's high-scoring perimeter player, Noel gets the assignment.
This year has been no different. In the Knights' season opener against Nevada, Noel's defense helped his team post a win over one of the nation's top programs. Noel did a solid job defensively on Nevada's Marcelus Kemp, a preseason candidate for the Naismith Award, which is presented to the top player in the country.
He guarded Kemp for most of the game and although Kemp scored 19 points in 37 minutes, nothing came easy on the offensive end for the Wolf Pack star. Noel limited Kemp to 8-of-22 shooting from the field and a 1-of-8 showing from deep.
This year, Noel has been showing off a well-rounded game. While maintaining his defensive intensity, he is having a career year on the other end of the ball.
Noel currently ranks third on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game. He is shooting 50 percent overall and 45 percent from deep.
Noel's teammates are quick to recognize the improvements that he has made to his all-around game.
"He has made huge strides. He was a very lethal scorer in high school," senior guard Mike O'Donnell (Largo, Fla./Largo) said. "When he came here, I think Dave was a little unsure of his duties because he was playing point guard. When we moved him to two guard, I think he got a lot more relaxed."
In 2006-07, Noel averaged 9.1 points. In his first year (2005-06) with the Knights after transferring from UNC-Wilmington, he averaged 2.8 points as O'Donnell's backup at point guard.
UCF will meet Ole Miss on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the new UCF Arena. Single-game tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and at the UCF ticket office at Bright House Networks Stadium.
Season tickets are still available by calling 407-UCF-1000.
Notes: UCF and Ole Miss will be meeting for the first time on Saturday... The Holler-Classic Automotive Group is serving as the game sponsor. The first 2,500 fans at the new UCF Arena will receive a UCF pennant, courtesy of Holler-Classic.