Dec. 8, 2009
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF will not play a game until Saturday, but this is a big week for the Knights. Head coach Kirk Speraw is expecting that his team will give a good effort in practice each day, and match that effort in the classroom.
Final exams at UCF begin Tuesday. Instead of studying opponent scouting reports, the Knights will be preparing for their tests.
After returning from Notre Dame late Sunday night, Speraw gave his team the day off from practice Monday. The squad will reconvene this afternoon at the UCF Practice Facility.
On Saturday, UCF will host Bethune-Cookman at 5 p.m. at the UCF Arena. The team should start its gameplan for the Wildcats on Thursday. Before that happens, Speraw wants the Knights to work on the details that will make UCF a better team.
"We've got to take advantage of these practice days," he said. "It is a tough week with exams and everyone will be tired and focused on their finals. They need to be. That is a pretty important week from that standpoint. Hopefully they will come for our 90 minutes to two hours every day, locked in mentally on basketball."
UCF is off to a 6-2 start this season. The Knights are 4-0 at the UCF Arena in 2009-10.
A special "Pick Your Starting Five" ticket plan is currently available for UCF home contests at the UCF Arena. The plan allows fans to select tickets to five games of their choice for as little as $45. To purchase the "Pick Your Starting Five Plan" today, call (407) UCF-1000 or visit 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.
Notes: After making 5-of-8 attempts at Notre Dame Sunday, freshman forward Keith Clanton (Orlando, Fla.) is now shooting 55.6 percent from the floor on the year. Clanton is averaging 9.1 points and 6.9 rebounds... UCF and Bethune-Cookman will be meeting for the first time inside the UCF Arena. The squads last played in 2006.