Our Cards had a tough loss on Thursday night against UC, but there’s no time to hang your head during league play especially with the crazy schedule of the AAC. UCF comes to town tonight for a rare Saturday 9:00pm tip in the KFC Yum Center. These team are meeting for just the third time on the hardwood. The Cardinals hold a 2-0 edge in the all-time series, after topping UCF 90-65 in the American Athletic Conference opener back on New Years Eve. This will be UCF’s first-ever visit to the KFC Yum! Center. The Knights’ only other trip to Louisville came back on Dec. 15, 1999. That game was played at Freedom Hall. Since winning their first-ever home American Athletic Conference game, when they defeated Temple back on Jan. 4, UCF has dropped five straight since.

This season the Cardinals have had to adjust to a more unconventional type of line-up but it still won’t be as unconventional as the group UCF puts on the floor. UCF coach Donnie Jones knows that if he wants to try and win some games this season in the AAC especially against teams like Louisville that he needs his best players on the floor regardless of position. That’s why on Saturday evening you might see a small forward running the offense and the nominal 5 man taking most of the three point shots. This is a very versatile team.

Leading the way for the Knights is Calvin Newell (11.6 points, 2.1 rebounds), Isaiah Sykes (15.6 points, 6.7 rebounds), Tristan Spurlock (10.7 points, 5.8 rebounds), Kasey Wilson (9.7 points, 5.7 rebounds), and Eugene McCrory (6.6 points, 3.8 rebounds).
Calvin is among the league leaders in the AAC in steals, Sykes is called “Mr Versatility”. He starts at the 3, but can play any position from point guard to power forward. He declared for the NBA draft, but withdrew in June. Spurlock is among The American leaders in rebounds and 3-point field goal percentage. Wilson is an excellent 3 point shooter and is a floor-stretcher who can draw an opponent’s big man away from the basket.

UCF is averaging just 62.1 points per game in American Athletic Conference play, after scoring at a clip of 80 points per contest in non-league action., while shooting 43.9% from the floor and 33.9% from 3-point range. The Knights are converting 59.5% of their attempts from the free-throw line. Defensively, UCF is allowing 70.6 points-per-game as the opposition is shooting 44.5% from the floor. The Knights are out-rebounded their opponents 715-628 with a rebounding margin of +4.8 averaging 39.7 boards-per-contest. UCF remains the top rebounding squad in the American Athletic Conference.

UCF
2013-14 OVERALL RANKINGS
-POINTS PER GAME
73.1
139th
OVERALL
-REBOUNDS PER GAME
39.7
20th
OVERALL
-ASSISTS PER GAME
13.2
150th
OVERALL
-FIELD GOAL PCT
.439
201st
OVERALL

Kenpom Ranks
Overall – #174
Defense Adjustment Efficiency
– 103.1 ranks 148th
Offensive Adjustment Efficiency
– 102.1 ranks 214th

This UCF team is not a great one by any stretch but they do have some athletes and the do get after teams on the boards. They went toe-to-toe with nationally-ranked Memphis Wednesday night in Orlando. The game was tied 39-39 at halftime and UCF was within striking distance for much of the second half. Coach Pitino talks about the E’s. Effort, Enthusiasm, and Execution. This Cardinal team has the first two but they need to learn how to execute certain game situations better, especially closing out games. This is also a team that needs to hit the glass and block out better. Tonight will be a good chance for them to work on their execution and their rebounding. I don’t think our guys will have any problems tonight, but would like to see a convincing win and not just a walk through.