Aug. 5, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - In September of 2006, just months after claiming the national championship title, the Florida men's basketball team left the Sunshine State for a two-game exhibition trip to Canada. Players like Corey Brewer, Al Horford and Joakim Noah were enjoying life as champions, but really started to focus on the upcoming season during their time in St. Catharines, Ontario.
That focus helped the Gators claim their second-straight national title less than eight months later.
UCF head coach Donnie Jones served as an assistant at Florida when the Gators went to Ontario, and saw the benefits that the trip had on that team.
"I thought it was huge," Jones said. "We had a chance to bond. We had the chance to play and know each other differently. That is why I am excited about this trip. It will be us together as a team each day, bonding."
The Knights will open the trip in Canada on Aug. 10, facing an all-star team of professionals in Montreal. UCF will then play Canadian college national champion Carleton the following day in Ottawa, and conclude the visit in Montreal against McGill on Aug. 13.
Jones says he likes the format of the trip, which will help prepare his team for tournament play in March.
"We are treating this like a conference tournament situation. We are going to be playing three games in four days. It gets you into a championship mindset."
Back in 2006 Florida clearly benefited from that mindset, and Jones can only hope that the trip to Canada does the same for the Knights.