Jan. 31, 2011
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By Marc Daniels
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - As the UCF men's basketball team battles through its rough road of late, there is a very talented, big, physical, athletic player who can dunk, shoot, defend and play three different positions if needed. And he is sitting right down at the end of the UCF bench. So why not put him you ask? Because he can't go in...yet.
Tristan Spurlock sits waiting and unfortunately he will have to wait another nine months before he can put on a uniform and help the Knights. The sophomore has to sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules along with Jeff Jordan and Josh Crittle.
"I can't explain how hard it is to sit and watch our guys struggle and not be able to help my teammates," said Spurlock. "But I do what I can do to keep them positive and get them ready to play."
Spurlock has been ready to play for next season from the day he stepped on the UCF campus. The former Virginia Cavalier will have three seasons of eligibility beginning next fall and his game will be a big plus for UCF.
"Tristan gives us a player who can do a lot of things and with his athleticism and with his size is what we are looking for," said Donnie Jones. "He's a guy we can move around the floor and create matchup problems for opponents."
Spurlock was voted Mr. Basketball in Virginia by the Roanoke Times after his senior season and was a highly recruited player. He chose to stay home and was expected to be a key piece to Virginia's return to the upper echelon of the ACC. But a coaching change made Spurlock look for a place better suited to his game.
"I just wanted to play in a style that pushed the ball and a place where I felt comfortable," said Spurlock. "UCF is that place and the coaching staff here is perfect for my game."
Spurlock played sparingly in his freshmen year at Virginia but he looks forward to playing a lot more next season. But for now, he understands he has a role in helping this year's team.
"I try to work the guys as hard I can in practice and prepare them for the games," said Spurlock. "For me, those are my games so I try to go 100 percent all the time."
Spurlock is very skilled. At 6-foot-8, he can shoot from the outside. He can drive to the basket. And he can dunk. Spurlock as been so good at practice at times that coaches have had to take him off the court to focus on the practice plan for the players who can play right now.
"I'm just so hungry to get out and play and be part of this team," said Spurlock. "But I know my time will come and we will be ready to go next season."
Next season is when Jones will get to use Spurlock for real. He will be able to play him as a shooting guard or small forward when he wants to go big and Spurlock has the ability to play power forward as well.
Spurlock is hard not to like. His smile is big off the court and his scowl is as large on the court. He plays with an attitude and seems to be bottling that frustration of not playing this season so he can unleash his wrath on the court come the fall. Until then, Spurlock waits for his chance to put on a UCF uniform and that wait is truly the hardest part.
Knights notes and more: Hedo Turkoglu was at the game against UAB on Saturday. Turkoglu is friends with UCF reserve guard Dogukan Kuzucan and his family. Kuzucan's family was in attendance for the game as well. Hedo could not have been more fan friendly, despite talking with the Kuzucan family, he signed autographs and posed for pictures with dozens and dozens of fans...A solid turnout for the Baseball FanFest this past Saturday. The new season is less than three weeks away. Two things to watch this season, a change to the "aluminum" bats means it will tougher for a 5-foot-8, 160-pound second baseman to hit 420-foot home runs. The bats will not be as lively. Personally, I love the change. It was laughable to watch some guys hit a ball on the middle part of the bat and watch it sail over the fence. Most coaches do not like the change and fear more 3-2 games means lower attendance. The other thing to watch is the new 20-second pitch clock. The idea is to speed up the game. Pitchers have 20-seconds to throw a pitch if no one is on base. The batter is also required to be ready during that time frame. Love the idea, still curious if umps will enforce the rule...Final thought: How come the dry cleaner can't have the clothes ready before 5 p.m.? Is that a dry cleaning law?
Marc Daniels' From the Press Box runs several times per month on UCFAthletics.com. Listen to Marc during UCF football, men's basketball and baseball radio broadcasts on the UCF Sports Network. Each weekday, Marc hosts The Beat of Sports on ESPN Radio 1080.