July 25, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF head coach Donnie Jones believes that his team's upcoming trip to Canada, during which the Knights will play three exhibition games, will give his squad a head start on the 2011-12 campaign. After all, the Knights will have 10 days of practice before heading to Montreal, and Jones and his staff will be able to install their up-tempo system nearly over two months in advance.
There is no denying that the trip will help with the Knights learn Jones' playbook. But when the Knights depart for Canada on Aug. 10, they will also have the opportunity to grow as a team.
"It is a great team chemistry builder," senior A.J. Rompza said. "We will be around each other for a little while, and get to know everyone. I think that it will be a great experience for us."
Chemistry will be key for the Knights this season. The squad welcomes three freshmen - Rod Days, Wayne Martin and Kasey Wilson - who are all expected to travel to Canada. Josh Crittle, Jeff Jordan and Tristan Spurlock, who all sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, are all now eligible to compete, and spending extra time with the returning Knights can only help the newcomers.
Rompza believes the games against Canadian college teams will especially help the freshmen get acclimated to the rigors of college basketball.
"It will be good for them to get experience," he said. "They are just out of high school. I don't think that they are used to anything like that."