Nov. 28, 2008
CANCUN, Mexico (UCFAthletics.com) - Since arriving at UCF in 2005, senior guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla.) has played for the Knights in 15 different states, ranging from Arizona to West Virginia. With the team getting ready to compete in the Cancun Challenge, Taylor has also left the continental United States on two occasions.
UCF arrived in Mexico yesterday and will play a pair of games at the Moon Palace Resort, starting Saturday against South Dakota State. The contest will now start at 5:30 p.m. Eastern.
With the Knights, Taylor has had the chance to visit various spots in the United States and also traveled to Puerto Rico when the team participated in the San Juan Shootout in 2006. According to Taylor, he is thankful that attending UCF has allowed him to see the world.
"I've gotten to do things that a lot of people don't get the chance to do," he said. "We've gone to San Juan. If I didn't play basketball, I don't think I would have had the opportunity."
The Moon Palace Resort is an all-inclusive hotel, so many players enjoyed room service for breakfast Friday morning. When the Knights travel in the United States, room service is always prohibited for team members.
The hotel, with its ample ocean views, has certainly impressed the Knights. "Spectacular," sophomore forward A.J. Tyler (Palm Harbor, Fla.) said of the Moon Palace Resort. "It is overwhelming. This hotel is so nice. There is so much to do and see. This is a very relaxing place."
After a film and study session in the morning, the Knights had some free time in the early afternoon before practice. Several team members went swimming in the ocean, while others relaxed poolside.
Both of UCF's games in Cancun will be broadcast on the UCF-ISP Sports Network and 740 AM in Orlando. Andy Demetra will have the call from Mexico. Free audio is also available at UCFAthletics.com.
On Sunday, UCF-Morehead State will be televised live nationally on CBS College Sports, starting at 6 p.m. Eastern. In Orlando, Bright House Sports Network will carry the game live.
UCF's next home contest is set for Dec. 6 against cross-state foe USF at the UCF Arena. Season tickets, which begin at just $99, are still available. To order your season tickets, and to learn more about the Fastbreak Club and other premium seating opportunities, 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.
Notes: Senior center Kenrick Zondervan (Hoofddorp, Holland) celebrated his birthday Friday... Demetra, who works for the ISP corporate office in North Carolina, watched the Knights practice and spoke with Taylor and head coach Kirk Speraw following the session... Speraw and associate head coach Mike Jaskulski also chatted with Pete Gillen after practice. On Sunday, Gillen is set to handle color commentary duties on CBS Sports' broadcast of UCF-Morehead State... The Knights are slated to attend the tournament banquet Friday evening.