March 26, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - For the UCF men's basketball team, next season is now underway. Less than two weeks after the Knights concluded the 2008-09 campaign, returning team members began spring individual workouts on Tuesday.
NCAA rules allow teams to practice two hours per week following the completion of the season. All returning players can participate in the practices and all four of the team's coaches can be present. The workouts will end on April 21.
During the sessions, players are grouped by position and work solely on improving aspects of their individual games. All of the workouts will occur on the team's practice court.
"We want to improve everybody's skill level - their ball skills, passing skills, improving their shot technique," UCF head coach Kirk Speraw said. "That is what we will be concentrating on this spring. The individual workouts really allow the guys to focus on areas that need improvement."
During the four weeks of individual workouts, the Knights will lift weights several times per week. After the workout sessions are over, the team usually returns to the gym for pickup games.
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: This past weekend, guard A.J. Rompza (Chicago, Ill.) returned to Illinois to watch some of his former Whitney Young High School teammates take the state Class 4A title. The Dolphins posted a 69-66 win over Waukegan in Peoria in the championship... One week from today, guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla.) will compete at the Vegas.com Slam Dunk Championship at the Final Four in Auburn Hills, Mich. ESPN will air the event beginning at 9 p.m.