ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – Through four seasons in the American Athletic Conference, the UCF men's basketball team had not been picked higher than eighth in the league's preseason poll. Following one of best years in program history, the coaches of The American have recognized the change Johnny Dawkins has brought to Orlando and on Monday predicted the Knights to finish third in 2017-18.
Cincinnati – last season's league runner-up – was picked by the coaches to win the regular season, collecting seven of 12 first place votes. Newcomer Wichita State – a Top 10 choice in most national preseason rankings – was second in the poll with the other five first place nods.
Similarly, two UCF players who excelled on the court a season ago have been recognized for their performance by the league's coaches this fall. B.J. Taylor earned a spot on the Preseason All-Conference First Team, while Tacko Fall was selected to the Second Team.
Taylor, a 2016-17 Second Team All-Conference honoree, led the Knights with 17.4 points per game as a sophomore. One of just five players in the league to be selected, Taylor becomes the first UCF player to ever earn a spot on The American Preseason All-Conference First Team.
Last year's Defensive Player of the Year in The American, Fall was selected to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team for 2017-18 after ranking second in the league in rebounding with 9.5 boards per game as a sophomore and blocking a school record 94 shots.
The 2017 season gets underway on Nov. 10 when the Knights host Mercer at CFE Arena at 8 p.m.
TIPOFF LUNCHEON
The 2017-18 UCF Tipoff Luncheon will take place Nov. 3, 2017 at CFE Arena. Those in attendance will hear from Coach Dawkins, Coach "ABE" and featured speaker Jay Bilas. For tickets and more information contact the Golden Knights Club at (407) 823-2086 or email kwilson@athletics.ucf.edu.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2017-18 campaign are on sale now. Fans looking to purchase tickets can call (407) 823-1000 or visit UCFKnights.com to secure them today. For men's basketball tickets CLICK HERE.
| 2017-18 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES' POLL | ||
| Rank | Team (First-Place Votes) | Pts. |
| 1. | Cincinnati (7) | 116 |
| 2. | Wichita State (5) | 115 |
| 3. | UCF | 93 |
| 4. | SMU | 91 |
| 5. | UConn | 79 |
| 6. | Houston | 72 |
| 7. | Temple | 68 |
| 8. | Tulsa | 52 |
| 9. | Memphis | 36 |
| 10. | Tulane | 30 |
| 11. | ECU | 24 |
| 12. | USF | 16 |
| 2017-18 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL HONORS | ||
| Preseason Player of the Year | ||
| Shake Milton, G, Jr., SMU | ||
| Preseason Rookie of the Year | ||
| Alterique Gilbert, G, r-Fr., UConn | ||
| Preseason All-Conference Teams | ||
| First Team | ||
| Shake Milton, G, SMU | ||
| Jalen Adams, G, UConn | ||
| Rob Gray, G, Houston | ||
| Landry Shamet, G, Wichita State | ||
| B.J. Taylor, G, UCF | ||
| Second Team | ||
| Gary Clark, F, Cincinnati | ||
| Junior Etou, F, Tulsa | ||
| Jacob Evans, G/F, Cincinnati | ||
| Tacko Fall, C, UCF | ||
| Kyle Washington, F, Cincinnati | ||
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