Oct. 29, 2008
The UCF men's basketball team is gearing up for another strong season as the squad will battle for the Conference USA title. The Knights finished fourth in conference last season behind champion Memphis, UAB and Houston. Tony Davis helped lead the Knights to nine conference wins, and he is one of four returning upperclassmen on a team that will feature seven true freshmen when the Knights open up their season on Nov. 16 against North Carolina A&T at the new UCF Arena.
Davis, a junior from Sarasota, finished first in total rebounds on the team by grabbing 172 boards on the year. He also led the Knights in blocked shots with 36. Davis was recently peppered with some quick questions to see how the team was preparing for the season, and how offseason workouts were progressing.
Being your third year here now, what has improved most about your game over that time?
"I've improved all-around on everything. I am trying to add a couple pounds. I've put some weight on in the offseason by working out."
With the team losing five seniors last season, have you seen your leadership role increase?
"I've had to step up and take someone's spot from last season. We only have two seniors in Jermaine (Taylor) and Kenny (Zondervan), so now it is my year to step up as well."
How have offseason workouts been going?
"I have just improved my strength bench wise. I know I have to play down low. The offseason has been going kind of slow since we have all new guys. It is what I expected."
Are you looking forward to stepping into the starting lineup this season?
"Definitely. I have been looking forward to that because that is what I have been playing for. I will most likely be starting at the four (power forward). Not until I got to UCF had I played down low. I had to change my role."
What is the atmosphere like when playing in front of the home crowd at the new UCF Arena?
"It is just a rush of adrenaline. There is nothing like a home crowd. It's just a feeling you cannot explain until you go out there in front of everybody. There is definitely a big difference playing in the new UCF Arena than the old one."
What has been the toughest transition to make from high school to college basketball?
"The physicality of the game has been the toughest transition. Everyone is much stronger, and very athletic. In high school, you have some guys who are just on the team, but on this level everyone is good or they wouldn't be here."
How are you able to balance a full course load and basketball throughout the semester?
"That is just your whole life right there. Just like some people who take classes and have a job, well this is our job. It is classes first, and then we go to work on the courts."
Which freshman do you see being able to contribute to the team right away?
"At first it was A.J. (Rompza), but now I have my eyes open. Each day, each freshman is showing something else that they can do, and each one is stepping up. Right now it is a toss up."
What kind of impact has head coach Kirk Speraw had on your life?
"He has made me into a better off-court person. When I first got here, I was just a crazy, wild freshman, but he is teaching me more than basketball. He is teaching stuff for when I get out of school."
What is your favorite sport besides basketball?
"Football is my favorite sport other than basketball. I played in high school at wide receiver and safety until I broke my wrist senior year, but basketball is definitely my number one sport."
- Eric DeSalvo