Sept. 24, 2009
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - College basketball fanatics in the Orlando area should circle Dec. 29 on their calendars. On that day, the UCF Arena will host three contests as both the UCF men's and women's squads will be in action.
Head coach Joi Williams' team will begin the day by hosting a Notre Dame program that went 22-9 in 2008-09 and participated in the NCAA Tournament. Next up is the opening contest of the UCF Holiday Classic. Buffalo and Jacksonville's men's teams will meet at 4 p.m. The Knights will then conclude the tripleheader and day one of the tournament by hosting Liberty.
The UCF Holiday Classic field is clearly the most impressive since the tournament's start in 2004. Buffalo, Jacksonville and Liberty all played in the postseason last year. UCF's first opponent, Liberty, recorded a 23-12 mark and participated in the inaugural CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Buffalo played in the College Basketball Invitational and went 21-12. The Knights' former Atlantic Sun rival, Jacksonville, earned a spot in the National Invitation Tournament and finished the campaign 18-14.
On Dec. 30, the UCF Holiday Classic will conclude with the consolation and championship games.
Both of UCF's basketball programs will meet Notre Dame this year as head coach Kirk Speraw's squad is slated to travel to Indiana to meet the Fighting Irish on Dec. 6.
UCF's season opener is Nov. 13 versus Massachusetts at the UCF Arena. Speraw's team will play 15 home games this year and season tickets are currently available by calling (407) UCF-1000 or by visiting UCFAthletics.com. Season tickets start at just $79.
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: Oct. 16 will mark the first day of official practice for the Knights... The team is currently lifting weights several times per week. The squad is also continuing individual workouts twice a week.