July 10, 2013
="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported"> ="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported"> UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
Order Season Tickets | 2013-14 UCF Prospectus
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - With the move to the American Athletic Conference, the return of three talented seniors and the new court inside the CFE Arena, the 2013-14 UCF men's basketball campaign is one of the most anticipated in program history. The Knights are seeking their fourth-straight 20-win season and will face their toughest schedule with matchups against defending national champion Louisville, UConn, Cincinnati, Memphis, Temple, USF and Florida State.
UCF Summer Notebook
ON THE MOVE
? After eight years in Conference USA, UCF is on the move to the American Athletic Conference
? In the American, the Knights will compete in one of the premier leagues in the nation
? Four league teams competed in the NCAA Tournament a year ago and five squads finished the campaign with top-50 RPIs: national champion Louisville (3), Memphis (12), Temple (42), UConn (49) and Cincinnati (50)
? The American will serve as the UCF men's basketball program's fifth league since moving to the Division I level in 1984
CONFERENCE CALL
? The Knights are familiar with many of their new conference partners, including Houston, Memphis and SMU, who were league mates of the Knights in Conference USA
? UCF and cross-state rival USF played twice a year ago and have met 27 times
GOING FOR HISTORY
? UCF enters The American having recorded three-consecutive 20-win campaigns under Donnie Jones
? Since joining the Division I level in 1984, the Knights have never posted four-straight 20-win seasons
CONTRACT TALK
? In June, Donnie Jones and UCF agreed to a contract extension through 2018
? The extension added three years to Jones' existing contract
? In three years in Orlando, he has led the Knights to three 20-win seasons
GUESS WHO'S BACK
? UCF returns three senior starters who all averaged double digits in scoring in 2012-13: Isaiah Sykes (16.0), Tristan Spurlock (11.4) and Calvin Newell (11.1)
? Overall, the Knights return four starters and eight letterwinners
? UCF brings back 77.8 percent of its scoring from a year ago
? The Knights will have to replace Keith Clanton, who averaged 14.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks as a senior last season
? The power forward concluded his time at UCF as the program's all-time leader in rebounds, blocks, games played and starts
MR. WELL-ROUNDED
? After considering leaving UCF for the professional ranks in the spring, Isaiah Sykes enters his senior campaign as one of the most well-rounded players in the country
? Last year, the 6-foot-5 Sykes averaged 16.0 points, 7.5 boards, 4.5 assists and 2.3 steals in 35.4 minutes an outing
? The Detroit native led the country with two triple-doubles and was the only player in the nation to average 16+ points, 7+ rebounds, 4+ assists and 2+ steals
? Sykes was named to the All-Conference USA First Team, the NABC All-District 11 First Team and the C-USA All-Defensive Team
? He declared for the NBA Draft following the 2012-13 campaign, but withdrew his name for consideration in April
? In June, Sykes competed alongside some of the top wings in the country at the Kevin Durant Skills Academy in Washington, D.C.
SENIOR LEADER
? Tristan Spurlock had a breakout season as a junior in 2012-13
? After averaging 7.2 points and 4.4 boards in his first campaign with the Knights in 2011-12 after transferring from Virginia, the forward was one of the squad's top players a year ago
? He scored in double figures on 18 occasions and averaged 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds
? Spurlock connected on 39 3-pointers and shot a team-best 76.2 percent from the free-throw line; and raised his numbers in Conference USA play, when he averaged 12.9 points and 6.5 boards
A NEWELL ATTITUDE
? Calvin Newell used the 2012-13 campaign to adjust to his new surroundings
? A transfer from Oklahoma, the Philadelphia native sat out the Knights' first six contests of year and averaged 11.1 points, 2.6 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 32.4 minutes per outing after making his UCF debut
? A scoring guard, Newell averaged 13.0 points in five games as a sophomore at Oklahoma in 2011, and played point guard for the first time on the collegiate level last year at UCF
? He has the ability to be a threat offensively for the Knights, and should be more comfortable in his second campaign at UCF
GOING DEEP
? Following his freshman season in 2011-12, Kasey Wilson developed into a threat from deep and the result was a great campaign from 3-point range last year
? The forward, who started 17 games and averaged 9.1 points and 4.5 boards, made 50.0 percent of his 3-pointers, connecting on 42-of-84 triples
? Wilson did not showcase his abilities from deep as a freshman when he shot 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) from 3-point range and averaged 3.1 points and 2.2 boards in 7.4 minutes an outing
A NEW BIG MAN ON CAMPUS
? After Keith Clanton anchored the power forward for the Knights for the last four years, there will be a new big man on the UCF campus
? Eugene McCrory, who earned tournament MVP honors in leading the College of Central Florida to the 2012-13 NJCAA Division I national title, will join the Knights and is expected to earn significant minutes up front
? The 6-foot-8 McCrory averaged 17.1 points and 6.5 rebounds and received JUCO All-America Second Team honors
? He ranked second nationally, connecting on 69.6 percent of his shots from the field
SECOND YEAR IS THE CHARM
? Four sophomores who saw considerable action a year ago are back for the Knights
? Daiquan Walker, who started 18 games in the backcourt, leads the group after averaging 4.0 points in 20.9 minutes as a rookie
? Matt Williams connected on 37 3-pointers last year and should make a jump after averaging 5.0 points
? A pair of big men - Staphon Blair and Dylan Karell - should also see more time this season
? Blair averaged 1.9 points in 7.2 minutes per game and Karell averaged 0.9 points in 4.4 minutes per contest last year