Down to 5 guys, trailed by 6 with 2:45 left, scored 10 straight! Can get to 3rd place.

[UCFProf]

Miraculous comeback against a hostile crowd and ECU's full court press, and really shorthanded.
We're only 1/2 game out of 5th, 1 game out of 4th, could still grab 3rd place from Houston!
Another 18 point effort by Banyard, put on a monster game on defense and the boards (11 rebounds).
UCF had as many assists (12) as turnovers despite ECU's killer press and Tacko's 6 TOs.
Tanks bad knee let him only play 4 minutes, but helped with 5 points. Chad fouled out.
First road win since December (and that against last place Tulane).

 

[Oldest Man]

Miraculous comeback against a hostile crowd and ECU's full court press, and really shorthanded.
We're only 1/2 game out of 5th, 1 game out of 4th, could still grab 3rd place from Houston!
Another 18 point effort by Banyard, put on a monster game on defense and the boards (11 rebounds).
UCF had as many assists (12) as turnovers despite ECU's killer press and Tacko's 6 TOs.
Tanks bad knee let him only play 4 minutes, but helped with 5 points. Chad fouled out.
First road win since December (and that against last place Tulane).

Nice late comeback...good win at ECU especially since Washington plays Tacko as well as any center does in the AAC....for ECU, I was surprised by how smooth Sheppard is...he's great at dishing the ball and he definitely out-quicked BJ...he's got a good future and since he signed with us initially, Dawkins should have kept him....we could have really used another PG this year.....

 

[UCFProf]

Nice late comeback...good win at ECU especially since Washington plays Tacko as well as any center does in the AAC....for ECU, I was surprised by how smooth Sheppard is...he's great at dishing the ball and he definitely out-quicked BJ...he's got a good future and since he signed with us initially, Dawkins should have kept him....we could have really used another PG this year.....

He did play well. He might have switched when saw we had McSpadden (before his June injury) and had signed DeJessus (didn't know he'd be rule ineligible). Or perhaps Dawkins gave him mixed signals. Or he could have looked at all the transfers Dawkins was signing. Once a coaching change occurs, recruits are freed and seldom stay. Look how many recruits followed their coach when they left USF, Temple, and Houston in football.

 

[Knight_Light]

He did play well. He might have switched when saw we had McSpadden (before his June injury) and had signed DeJessus (didn't know he'd be rule ineligible). Or perhaps Dawkins gave him mixed signals. Or he could have looked at all the transfers Dawkins was signing. Once a coaching change occurs, recruits are freed and seldom stay. Look how many recruits followed their coach when they left USF, Temple, and Houston in football.

Dawkins basically didn't recruit Sheppard to stay...as he didn't even look at his tape even weeks after getting hired at UCF....as he already made up his mind to go after and load up on transfer redshirts and let all the HS recruits go as Danny White was going to get a pass on this year, which, actually turned out to be a very good season in the end.

 

[Willie Knightime]

Been awhile since I've enjoyed UCF basketball this much, this late in the season!

 

[Oldest Man]

Dawkins basically didn't recruit Sheppard to stay...as he didn't even look at his tape even weeks after getting hired at UCF....as he already made up his mind to go after and load up on transfer redshirts and let all the HS recruits go as Danny White was going to get a pass on this year, which, actually turned out to be a very good season in the end.

Re: our current and recent past UCF basketball coaches, two things are absolutely clear...Johnny is an infinitesimally better coach than Donnie....and Donnie was a darn good recruiter so if Johnny is as good, we'll be a program to be reckoned with for the next few years...

 

[Central Floridave]

I watched the game on DVR late night. Better than SNL rerun! It got close and not decided to the end. Entertaining game. Go Knights!

 

[UCFProf]

Dawkins basically didn't recruit Sheppard to stay...as he didn't even look at his tape even weeks after getting hired at UCF....as he already made up his mind to go after and load up on transfer redshirts and let all the HS recruits go as Danny White was going to get a pass on this year, which, actually turned out to be a very good season in the end.

Thanks for the details. Perhaps Sheppard was just too small in this day of big, long, strong guards who are almost as quick. The SMU vs. Houston games yesterday showed how five pro-sized guys who can play every position can dominate most anyone if they play as a team. That's what this year's UCF squad (and next year's) have the potential for -- presents match-up problems for opponents and too balanced to defend. All they needed was better mentoring, conditioning, and teamwork play in Dawkins system.
Note: easiest comparisons with last years team is that UCF beat 7 different AAC schools for its first 7 victories (ECU was the first sweep) while last year's team could only beat the 3 worst AAC teams (twice each) -- the team didn't belong on the same court with any of the top 7 AAC teams. This year, nobody out-classed us, including Cincy and SMU!

 

[Knight_Classes_begin_7pm]

It's amazing how Lang can't even hit free throws. I know we are short on scholly players. Nerves maybe?

 

[UCFProf]

It's amazing how Lang can't even hit free throws. I know we are short on scholly players. Nerves maybe?

Everyone was missing free throws! Worst performance of the year: 6-16. Laing shooting well for the season. Just yet to make a jump shot (all his FG's have been layups).

 

[Knight_Classes_begin_7pm]

Everyone was missing free throws! Worst performance of the year: 6-16. Laing shooting well for the season. Just yet to make a jump shot (all his FG's have been layups).

Laing must only have a few shots if that?

 

[UCFProf]

Laing must only have a few shots if that?

Nope. He's 4 for 33, including 0-18 from 3-pt range. His 4 made shots have all been layups. Remember that he started 5 games and had to play at least 20 minutes in most games that BJ was out. Just so we had a ball handler. So he's played 319 minutes and shoots about once every 10 minutes. But that still adds up to 33 attempts. And despite having to bring the ball up, break the press, and direct the offense, he averaged one turnover per 10 minutes (vs. 1 every 14 minutes for BJ.