Aug. 13, 2010
="" alt="Knight Head" border="0" class="imported"> Read John Denton's Knights Insider | ="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported">Follow us on Twitter | ="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported">Get social with the Knights on Facebook
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
Click here to order your season tickets for the 2010-11 campaign
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Members of the UCF men's basketball team rarely took a day off this summer. The Knights were frequently found inside the weight room and on the court inside the UCF Basketball Practice Facility. According to junior guard A.J. Rompza (Chicago, Ill.), team members have no regrets about spending the entire summer on campus.
Rompza says that the time in Orlando helped the squad's 10 returnees get to know a large group of newcomers.
"I thought it was really good for us all to be here, not just to work out and play every day," he said. "We got to develop a new relationship with the new guys. We had everybody really get along with each other."
Being on campus allowed the Knights to focus on making strides in the weight room. The time working out has apparently been well spent.
"I think we have made a huge improvement already. We are way ahead of where we have been in past years as far as strength and conditioning," junior guard Isaac Sosa (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) said. "We are way ahead."
Both Rompza and Sosa feel that UCF's hard work (and bonding) over the summer will pay off during the upcoming campaign.
Official practices will begin on Oct. 15, and the summer efforts could help the Knights quickly get acclimated to playing under new head coach Donnie Jones.
"Any time that you have time to work on the stuff that you know is coming along, it is always great to have a head start," Rompza said.