#14 UCF Football (7-0) @ SMU

[UCF]

Such a change from the crap we put up with for years. Next year we will actually have expectations for the team of not finishing at the bottom lol.

[UCFJayBird]

UCF Played a great game (Minus some offensive stagnancy in the 2nd half). TCU was just too much. Next year should be a lot of fun and really impressed with Dawkins.

GO KNIGHTS!

I actually disagree, I thought it was the worst game they've played in the last two months or so. They looked great the first 15 minutes when they built a 10 point lead, but after that TCU surged and never looked back. I thought a number of players looked slower than usual, especially on defense (particularly Banyard). It's quite possible fatigue finally caught up to the team. Also thought Chad Brown was a little too amped up, on defense he would leave his man under the hoop to come double unnecessarily. Just looked like he was rushing it. And on offense Taylor looked off for the most part, and the team didn't get Williams enough involved in the 2nd half.

Regardless, can't give the team enough props for their season. We came in thinking .500 would be overachieving, and this team won 24 games, tied for 2nd most in program history, and they did so short handed. Makes me really excited for next year with the transfers and recruits coming in, with another year for Tacko, BJ, AJ, etc. I will definitely have higher expectations, I only wish Matt Williams had one more year. We'll really miss his unlimited range and ability to catch fire at any moment.

[Nemesis21]

Hell of a season!

[craig01]

Yes, unexpectedly terrific season.

The game was somewhat of a disappointment though.

I thought some players tried to do too much on both ends and got outside of their limitations.

Defensively the team was slow on weak side perimeter rotations, and allowed too much dribble penetration.

Still, the effort was there, but tcu was flat out much better with an abundance of players with well rounded skills and DEPTH.

Moving forward there are many many positives in hand.

Great season, great entertainment, great results.

Now it's time to build on the foundation laid down this year.

Congrats to the program for their best season ever.

[nymets1]

In order for UCF basketball to be better next year, The team needs to perform better when Tacko Fall is on the Bench. Tacko Fall has a really good + rating when he's on the court. The opposite when Tacko Fall is on the bench, has a bad (-minus rating) when he's off the court. The Announcers brought it up during the TCU game:

1. Tacko Fall + rating when he's the court VS (-minus rating) when he's on the bench
2. UCF is a good to great team when Fall is on the court
3. UCF is an average team/ poor team when Fall is on the bench

Maybe they can improve that next year.

[UCF]

I think next year will be a success if:
- Taco stays
- We don't lose coach Dawkins
- We don't lose Aubrey Dawkins to transfer to follow his dad

Taco staying seems likely. Our quick success I highly doubt went un-noticed by schools looking to hire their next coach. I used to worry about Frost leaving but not as much as I think Dawkins is more of the risk.

[UCFJayBird]

In order for UCF basketball to be better next year, The team needs to perform better when Tacko Fall is on the Bench. Tacko Fall has a really good + rating when he's on the court. The opposite when Tacko Fall is on the bench, has a bad (-minus rating) when he's off the court. The Announcers brought it up during the TCU game:

1. Tacko Fall + rating when he's the court VS (-minus rating) when he's on the bench
2. UCF is a good to great team when Fall is on the court
3. UCF is an average team/ poor team when Fall is on the bench

Maybe they can improve that next year.

Absolutely, and depth will help. I think we have at least 7 new bodies coming in next season, a number of transfers and a few new recruits, plus a player coming back from injury. We realistically had a 7 man rotation this season, and only 4 of those guys will be back (AJ, BJ, Tacko, Chad Brown).

Take what those announcers were saying with a grain of salt though, they were pretty much looking at the game in front of them and nothing else. They kept talking about Tacko and how he can't stay on the court, when if anyone watched him this year they'd know that was anything but the truth. They kept saying "he's only playing 22 mpg" when he's actually up at 26, a 8.7 mpg jump from last season. 22 is his career average. It was incredibly frustrating.

[UCF]

Best news of the day is Georgetown hiring Ewing.

[UCF]

Can't say I've seen a head coach throw on a helmet before lol

Read on Twitter

[UCF]

The AAC is building its basketball portfolio today:

Read on Twitter

[UCF]

Read on Twitter

[Nemesis21]

Wichita St to join AAC next season.

[UCFJayBird]

Great move for the conference. No brainer really.

[Xatticus]

The AAC is building its basketball portfolio today:

Read on Twitter

That's a really big addition for next year. Wichita St. was very good this year and should only get even better next year. McDuffie (So) and Shamet (Fr) are very nice players.

[craig01]

Glad to see the new b-ball addition.

They were members of the MVC for 72 years.

[UCF]

Read on Twitter

[UCF]

Taco doing work for the draft:

Read on Twitter

[UCF]

Read on Twitter

Tacko getting more press

[UCF]

Miami Beach bowl is dead. ESPN has "purchased" the rights to the bowl from the AAC and moving it to Texas.

Read on Twitter

[craig01]

Was at the spring game last night.

Milton looked more in command and was quicker releasing his throws.

He still threw a few ducks, but his short range passing was a lot better than last year.

O-line did not impress, #1 defense is facing huge personnel challenges.

OJ Anderson and Emmanuel Green are going to be impactful this year as true freshmen.

Attendance was around 10k, but many left at the half.