Sept. 30, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF head coach Kirk Speraw usually uses his team's preseason workouts to work on individual fundamentals with his players. With seven true freshmen on the Knights' roster, this year is different.
Speraw is using the twice-weekly workouts to help his young players get acclimated to UCF's system. According to Speraw, the coaching staff is enjoying the teaching aspects, but showing caution when instructing.
"It is exciting and challenging," Speraw said. "We have to really get a pace to how we put things in and how fast we put things in."
The freshman class includes five guards and two post players. UCF's first day of official practice is set for Oct. 17.
Before that date, Speraw will work to show his young team what it takes to succeed at the Division I level.
"They need to be good listeners and open-minded to the information that they are receiving," Speraw said. "There is a lot of new information. They need to take that information and then compete and practice and play at a Division I intensity level. The sooner they do those things, the sooner our team will come together and make progress from day to day."
UCF's season opener is set for Nov. 16 at the new UCF Arena against North Carolina A&T. The Knights will play 16 regular-season contests in Orlando this year.
Season tickets are currently available at UCFAthletics.com. For information about premium seating, contact the UCF ticket sales office at (407) UCF-1000.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.