ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF men's basketball team is in its final preparations of preseason and the Knights are ready to get the 2017-18 season started this weekend. UCF hosts Mercer Friday at 8 p.m. at CFE Arena.
2017-18 PREVIEW – POSTS
At this point, it would be very surprising if you followed UCF Basketball and did not know who Tacko Fall was.
At 7-foot-6, he is the tallest player in NCAA Division I basketball, and he would look down at everyone in the NBA. But it wasn't only his height that impressed fans last season. Fall dominated on the court, leading the Knights to one its best seasons in program history.
Fall was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, and a Lefty Driesell Defensive All-American following his sophomore season. He anchored a UCF defense that finished the year as the nation's best in field goal percentage defense (36.5%).
On offense, he was also dominant at times, scoring in double figures 19 times, recording 20+ points four times, and finishing with a career high 31 in a win over Miami (Ohio). Fall, who was named a Preseason Second Team All-Conference honoree by The American this fall, holds four of the top seven single game shooting performances in UCF history, including a perfect 10-for-10 outing against defending national champion Villanova.
TACKO FALL
- 2016-17: 10.9 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 94 blocks, 71.5 FG%
- Career Highs: 31 points, 17 rebounds, 6 blocks, 13 FGs
It's Tacko Time!@tackofall99 named to 2018 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List.
— UCF Men's Basketball (@UCF_MBB) October 20, 2017
?? https://t.co/HoyK6YQ7bJ pic.twitter.com/eUMA2RoRKp
The students ?? love them some @tackofall99!
— UCF Men's Basketball (@UCF_MBB) October 13, 2017
The big fella will be at @CFEArena Plaza tonight at 7:30pm for Homecoming Hoops! #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/KUuerRLkaS
Also returning to the fold for the Knights in 2017-18 is Chad Brown. Always a ball of energy, Brown was integral to UCF's success a season ago, and had one impressive offseason on the court and in the weight room.
Brown appeared in all 36 games as a sophomore, averaging 4.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He also added 26 blocked shots and eight steals.
CHAD BROWN
- 2016-17: 4.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 26 blocks, 48.4 FG%
- Career Highs: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks
In addition to the contributions A.J. Davis will also bring to the post, UCF adds firepower this season with transfer Rokas Ulvydas from Texas Tech. After sitting out all of last season, the 6-foot-11 Lituanian is ready to add depth and consistency to the Knights' frontcourt.
YEAAAAHHHHHH CHAD!!!!!
— UCF Men's Basketball (@UCF_MBB) October 27, 2017
This is Chad Brown. #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/7nYmKVlEMu
He's waited his turn and ready to hit the court as a Knight on Nov. 10
— UCF Men's Basketball (@UCF_MBB) October 12, 2017
This is Rokas Ulvydas! pic.twitter.com/7TdiRIMMJL
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.
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