UCF Knights
Overall Rank: #53
Conference Rank: #3 Conference USA
UCF Team Page
2010-11: 21-12, 6-10
2010-11 postseason: CBI
Coach: Donnie Jones (21-12 at UCF, 76-53 overall)
It was an up and down season for UCF under first year Coach Donnie Jones in 2010-2011. The Knights started with a 14 game winning streak and knocked off some good teams along the way. The team fell into a losing streak after that and ended up in the CBI. Things should be a little more consistent this season. Marcus Jordan returns to the lead this team after leading the team with 15.2 points and 3.3 assists last season. He will be able to spend more time off of the ball this year and that should increase his scoring output. Jordan is not a great shooter, but he can hit the long ball on occasion. More often, he will attack the basket or pull up for a mid-range jumper.
Who’s Out:
Four players are gone who averaged at least ten minutes per game last season. Isaac Sosa, Tom Herzog and David Diakite all started at least 14 games as well. Sosa was the guard next to Jordan on the team. He was the one who could consistently knock down the long ball and that is a skill that UCF needs to find from somebody. Herzog and Diakite were big guys who did the dirty work under the basket. Herzog, who spent much of his career at Michigan State, averaged 5.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks during his senior season. A.J. Tyler is another forward who has run out of eligibility. He was a key player off of the deep bench, but rarely had big games. Taylor Young and Jarvis Davis are also gone after seeing limited action during the 2010-2011 campaign.
Who’s In:
This would be a great group if Michael Chandler was eligible, but the prize recruit is not, so UCF will have to move on without him. That will not be a huge problem as the Knights add three transfers from big time programs. Jeff Jordan, who spent a few years at Illinois, will join his brother and likely be the back-up point guard. Tristan Spurlock only spent one season at Virginia, but he is a great athlete and will spend some time at the three and four spots. At 6-8 and 230 pounds, he is pretty big for a small forward in the C-USA, but he is a decent perimeter defender, so he should be able to handle the job. Josh Crittle is the new big man who spent a couple years at Oregon. The 6-9, 260 pound junior never played too much with the Ducks, but he has some experience and should be able to step right into a starting role with UCF. There are some incoming freshmen as well. Rod Days and Kasey Wilson are a couple wings with size who should battle for minutes off of the bench. Wayne Martin will join Wilson as a possible power forward, but the depth up front is increasing, so both Martin and Wilson may have some trouble getting into the regular rotation.
Who to Watch:
A.J. Rompza was a part-time starter last season and dished out 3.2 assists per game. With Rompza running the show full-time and Jeff Jordan taking over the backup duties, Marcus Jordan will be free to roam off the ball. Rompza is a fine ball handler and can do a little scoring as well. Isaiah Sykes had a quality freshman campaign and should emerge as a quality backup on the wing. Sykes will likely join Days as the main backups to Jordan and Spurlock on the wings. However, Sykes is making a big move for more playing time and that may include serious minutes at the point guard position behind Rompza. If Spurlock runs into any trouble defending smaller opponents, expect Sykes to get the call and the more players on the floor who can handle the ball, the better.
Final Projection:
Keith Clanton is the inside force for UCF. As a sophomore last season the 6-9 forward averaged 14.2 points and 7.7 rebounds. He even blocked 1.8 shots per contest. As an upperclassman, Clanton should emerge as a major force in the paint. The bigger issue is who will start next to him. Certainly Crittle will be in the mix, but he still has some things to prove. Dwight McCombs started 19 games last season, but a lot of people started between 13 and 19 games on this team. McCombs only averaged 12.1 minutes per game and tallied 3.1 points and 2.7 rebounds. McCombs is an experienced senior and a traditional big man who can bang around in the paint. P.J. Gaynor is a better shooting option and a little more versatile. No matter who starts, Coach Jones has three experienced players to fill the five spot and backup Clanton. They are all ready to play and one or two of them will have good seasons.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
Projected Starting Five:
A.J. Rompza, Senior, Guard, 6.4 points per game
Marcus Jordan, Junior, Guard, 15.2 points per game
Tristan Spurlock, Sophomore, Forward, DNP last season
Keith Clanton, Junior, Forward, 14.2 points per game
Josh Crittle, Junior, Center, DNP last season
Madness 2011 Men's Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#38 Michael Chandler
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