March 19, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - If Donnie Jones needs to provide his team with any motivation prior to UCF's CBI quarterfinal matchup with visiting Rhode Island Monday, he can simply talk about this year's NCAA Tournament, where VCU out of the Colonial Athletic Association has already won two games.
On Friday evening, the Rams dominated Georgetown, 74-56, in Chicago. The 11th-seeded Rams will now meet third-seeded Purdue Sunday with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.
At this time last year, VCU was participating in the CBI. The Rams won five games in the tournament to take the event's championship, and the momentum from playing in the postseason clearly helped them to record more achievements in 2010-11.
"Six teams who played in the CBI last year are in the NCAA Tournament this year, including VCU," Jones said. "Playing in the CBI is not only about this year's team. We return the majority of our team next season, and this tournament gives our guys the chance to experience the postseason."
Tipoff for Monday's game with Rhode Island is 7 p.m. at the UCF Arena. Tickets, which start at just $5, are available at Ticketmaster.com and UCFAthletics.com.
On Wednesday, Jones' squad became just the sixth UCF team since the school moved to the Division I ranks in 1984 to post a 20-win campaign after the Knights defeated St. Bonaventure, 69-54 at home.
Jones told reporters after the game that he hopes that there are many more 20-victory campaigns to come at UCF. And if his Knights follow the path of VCU, it is a good bet that those special seasons will come sooner than later in Orlando.