Jan. 23, 2009
ORLANDO (UCFAthletics.com) - After collecting victories over Rice and Southern Miss, the UCF men's basketball team (12-6) hopes its momentum continues when it hosts Marshall (9-9) Sunday at 2 p.m. Both programs stand at 2-2 in the league standings.
UCF is currently in a three-game homestand, as it will clash with SMU on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Jermaine Taylor's journey up the national scoring chart took him from 10th to seventh after he dropped 31 in the 73-61 win over Southern Miss Jan. 21. The senior now is averaging 23.6 points per game.
Tickets for the game are available at Ticketmaster.com. On Sunday, the UCF Arena box office will be open before the contest. UCF students are admitted free with a valid school ID.
The contest will air on the UCF-ISP Sports Network and 740 AM in Orlando. Marc Daniels will provide the call from the UCF Arena. Pregame coverage will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Live video and statistics will be available at UCFAthletics.com.
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.
About Marshall
? The Thundering Herd made national headlines in their previous outing on Jan. 21 against SMU in Huntington. The Mustangs had a chance to break a 50-50 tie with a few ticks left on the clock but watched as Derek Williams' shot was off target. Markel Humphrey secured the rebound and eventually heaved an estimated 75-foot miracle attempt that rattled through with no time left to give Marshall the 53-50 win.
? The Herd finished 37.0 percent from the field with Chris Lutz leading the way with 12 points. The difference was in the assist/turnover ratio, as SMU had 10 assists compared to 16 turnovers, while Marshall posted 15 assists and just 10 turnovers (the Herd outscored SMU, 10-0, in points off turnovers).
? Marshall also defeated East Carolina in C-USA play, though falling to Memphis and Tulsa.
Series Information
? The all-time series with the Thundering Herd is tied, 3-3. The Knights are 2-1 against Marshall in Orlando. Last season, the squads split a pair of games, with both teams winning at home. In the meeting at the UCF Arena on Feb. 6, Jermaine Taylor totaled 34 points on 14-of-23 shoting in a 77-63 UCF victory. He scored his 1,000th career point during the contest. The host Thundering Herd returned the favor on Feb. 23, posting a 71-66 win over the Knights, who were led by 20 points from Mike O'Donnell.
? All six series meetings have come since both of the programs joined Conference USA in 2005. The squads will meet in Huntington, W.Va., on Feb. 28.
? In two games against Marshall in 2007-08, Taylor averaged 22.0 points on 50.0 percent shooting.
Last Time Out
? Taylor Young dished out nine assists and had no turnovers, while Jermaine Taylor (31 points) once again completed his evening with over 30 points as the Knights toppled Southern Miss at home, 73-61, Jan. 21.
? The Knights hit 56.0 percent of their shots from the field, with Taylor going 13-for-23 and Kenrick Zondervan posing 5-for-6 totals.
? Overall, UCF had a season-high 21 assists on 28 field goals made.
Up Next for the Knights
? UCF will conclude its three-game homestand Wednesday against SMU. The contest will be televised in Orlando on Bright House Sports Network. The Mustangs have a 1-2 edge in the all-time series and the programs will be meeting in Orlando for the second time.
Connections
? UCF's P.J. Gaynor and Marshall's Shaquille Johnson both hail from Jacksonville and were teammates on the AAU level for the Lee Bulls. Gaynor attended Mandarin High School, while Johnson went to Lee High School.
Conference USA Success
? When UCF entered Conference USA prior to the 2005-06 campaign after dominating the Atlantic Sun Conference, members of the media who cover the league expected that it would take years for the program to be competitive in C-USA. Kirk Speraw and the Knights have proved the doubters wrong.
? Since joining the league, the Knights have won 29 conference contests, good for fourth among the 12 C-USA programs during that span. In all three of its campaigns in C-USA, UCF has finished in the top five in the final regular-season standings.
? UCF entered C-USA with five other programs and has won the most games among the new schools. With the move to C-USA from the A-Sun, the Knights have faced the biggest increase in competition. Rice, SMU, Tulsa and UTEP joined C-USA from the Western Athletic and Marshall came to the conference from the Mid-American.
Hometown Love
? After a pair of games on the road, the Knights are certainly happy to be at home. UCF's young squad has excelled at the UCF Arena this year. The team is averaging 81.2 points per game at home, compared to 61.4 points away from Orlando. In 10 home contests, the Knights are shooting 51.4 percent overall and 40.9 percent from deep.
? UCF is 9-1 at home this year. The team is enjoying a scoring margin of +15.9 at the UCF Arena. The Knights have scored over 80 points on six occasions in Orlando.
Group Home
? The Knights have enjoyed great success at the UCF Arena since the facility opened in fall 2007. UCF is 21-5 at the venue. Before the team fell to Memphis on Jan. 10, the Knights had won 12-consecutive contests at the UCF Arena.
Return of the Knightmare
? The contest with Southern Miss served as the Knights' first tilt at the UCF Arena since the squad hosted Memphis on Jan. 10 in front of a school record 9,825 fans. The previous high attendance was 7,097 versus Tulsa on Jan. 12, 2007.
? UCF is averaging 4,233 fans this season. That mark ranks third among the 13 Division I programs in the Sunshine State, trailing only Florida (10,690) and Florida State (6,582). The Knights rank ahead of USF (3,748) and Miami (3,685).
Sure Shot
? Since UCF has joined Conference USA, the Knights have annually been among the top shooting teams in the league. This season is no different. UCF ranks first in the conference in field-goal percentage (46.2) and is also tops from 3-point range, shooting 36.7 percent from deep.
? UCF is connecting on 7.4 3-pointers per contest.
? The Knights also lead the conference in field goal percentage (50.0) in league games.
Tough Love
? In three Conference USA games, UCF has made it tough on its opponents on the offensive end. Despite the fact that UCF has faced two of the top conference teams in Memphis and UAB, C-USA foes are averaging just 61.5 points on 39.4 percent shooting.
? From behind-the-arc, league teams are connecting on just 27.6 percent of their attempts versus the Knights.
Conference Confidence
? Tony Davis has excelled for the Knights in Conference USA play. Against league foes, he is averaging 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds. Davis has shot 65.4 percent overall in UCF's four conference contests. In league games, he ranks second in field-goal percentage, seventh in rebounding and third in blocks per game (1.75).
? Twelve of Davis' 18 rebounds in league play have come on the offensive end.
Off the Blocks
? Tony Davis ranks eighth in UCF history with 65 career swats. Jeff Dorschner (1980-82) is seventh on the list with 83 blocked shots. Davis has totaled 14 blocks in 15 games played this season.
Sharing the Rock
? Thanks to A.J. Rompza and Taylor Young, the Knights pace Conference USA in assists, averaging 16.2 a contest. Five Knights have dished out over 20 assists on the year, led by Rompza with 87.
Handle with Care
? UCF's starting shooting guard, Taylor Young, leads Conference USA with a 3.50 assist/turnover ratio. The redshirt sophomore has recorded 63 assists with just 18 turnovers.
? Young has been extra careful in C-USA play. In four games, he has totaled 21 assists without turning the ball over, including a nine-assist, zero-turnover performance vs. Southern Miss Jan. 21.
Pass it On
? A.J. Rompza is third in Conference USA, recording 4.8 assists per game. His 2.18 assist/turnover ratio is good for fifth in the league. He has registered at least five assists 10 times.
On Point
? UCF's starting center, Kenrick Zondervan, rarely shoots, but when the native of Holland does have a field-goal attempt, he is accurate. The senior is shooting 65.6 percent from the floor this year. He has connected on 40-of-61 shots from the field and is averaging 5.7 points per contest. At the free-throw line, he is shooting 81.5 percent (22-of-27).
? Zondervan totaled 12 points in UCF's win at Rice and 10 more vs. Southern Miss Jan. 21. He is averaging 9.5 points in C-USA play. The senior is 8-of-8 at the free-throw line in league contests.
Transfer of Power
? A.J. Tyler, who is in his first year competing for the Knights after transferring from Clemson, is shooting 68.8 percent overall in Conference USA play. The sophomore forward has made 11-of-16 attempts and is averaging 6.8 points in league games.
Welcome Freshman
? One of the youngest members of the UCF squad has been proving that Jermaine Taylor is not the Knights' only offensive threat. Isaac Sosa ranks third on the team in scoring at 8.6 points per game. The freshman shooting guard is averaging 19.3 minutes. He has scored in double figures on six occasions.
Three's Company
? Isaac Sosa has been accurate from 3-point range as a freshman. He is shooting at a 45.3 percent clip from deep, making 34-of-75 attempts. The Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, native is averaging 1.9 triples per game. Because he is averaging less than two 3-pointers, Sosa is not listed among the Conference USA leaders in the category. His percentage would rank first in the league.