March 12, 2012
="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported"> ="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported"> UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Marc Daniels
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The goal of every college basketball team is to play in the NCAA Tournament. For the last three weeks of the season, UCF found itself part of the "bubble" talk of who might get in to the Big Dance. In the end the Knights may have fallen short of the NCAA, but the chance to play postseason basketball for a second season is big.
Last season, UCF had an RPI in the upper 60s but was passed over by the NIT selection committee and UCF played in the CBI. The Knights advanced to the semifinals before falling to Creighton, who was a top-25 team all this season. This season Donnie Jones' team posted 22 wins and recorded victories over UConn, Memphis and Marshall. All three of those teams had an RPI in the top 50. Throw in a third-place finish in Conference USA and suddenly UCF's resume garnered attention to earn a spot in the NIT.
It's a chance to continue playing and the additional practice is almost like a spring football session for UCF coaches. And the competition in the NIT is pretty good. The field is loaded with name schools and several who had remarkable runs this season, including UCF's opponent on Wednesday in Drexel.
The NIT crowns its champion in New York at Madison Square Garden. The BIG EAST plays its conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. What better way to get acquainted with the court and all its offerings than making a visit this March before that 2014 BIG EAST Tournament.
Knights notes and more: Marshall and UCF had the highest RPI's of at-large teams in the NIT. Both teams are on the road for the opening round...If UCF wins, Saint Joseph's is a possible second-round opponent, which means UCF could play back-to-back games in Philadelphia...Drexel was founded in 1891. Enrollment at Drexel is over 23,000. Drexel's nickname is the Dragons and its mascot is named Mario The Magnificent...Drexel's basketball team is 27-6 this season and had won 19-straight games before losing to VCU in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. The Dragons were unbeaten at home and have won 16-straight at home over the last two seasons. Drexel is allowing only 55.4 points per game and allowed 60 points only four times in its last 22 games. Drexel's point guard, Frantz Massenat, has started every game in his two seasons and led the team in scoring at 13.6 per game...Leftovers from the Conference USA Tournament include buzz that UCF and Memphis are the likely finalists to host the 2013 event...Memphis did another great job hosting the event and attendance at sessions where Memphis was not playing still had solid crowds...Memphis officials believe football will benefit from the move to the BIG EAST but still admit basketball was their ticket to the conference move. More than one Memphis person told me the school looks at UCF as the model for growing a football program...Speaking of conference moves, the BIG EAST welcomed Temple for football in 2012 and all sports in 2013. Commissioner John Marinatto says expansion is in the holding mode but admits he is looking at another western school as a 14th football member...UCF baseball continues its hot start, facing national power Miami on Wednesday. UCF is 13-4 with five starters hitting over .325 and a bullpen that has been outstanding...Final thought: My youngest daughter, a freshman in high school, asked me if I can help her with her AP biology homework. After taking a look at the assignment it was one of those moments where you just have to be honest with your kids. So I told her the honest truth about the time her mother would be home.
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 in Orlando.