Men's Hoops NIT Bound, Faces Florida in First Round

[Central Floridave]

Men's Hoops NIT Bound, Faces Florida in First Round - UCF Athletics

ORLANDO – The UCF men's basketball team is back in postseason play, as the Knights (18-14) will participate in the National Invitation Tournament for the third time

ucfknights.com

 

[goodknightfl]

Just saw that myself. That is a major surprise. I guess a few big time programs turned down invite. UCF needed it so good deal.

 

[Central Floridave]

Yup. I was surprised last night with a UCF Basketball facebook post on it. I was like wha?

Against the gators of all teams. If by chance we can beat them, then the bracket has UCF potentially playing Oregon.

Will be interesting. One more game! Wednesday 7pm ESPN2

 

[Wings0fred]

Gasparilla bowl pt ii - let’s go!!

 

[connerito]

Good negotiations to get in. Good job.

 

[Central Floridave]

"UCF men’s basketball guard Jayhlon Young to transfer"​

Does that mean Jayhlon is ineligible to play in NIT?

 

[BlakNGoldAllDay]

"UCF men’s basketball guard Jayhlon Young to transfer"​

Does that mean Jayhlon is ineligible to play in NIT?

Doesn’t make sense to let him play. He’s not happy here. Five minutes to whoever is returning.

 

[Poolside Knight]

UF 🐊 and UCF 🤺 both on Spring Break 🏝️🍹

 

[DrPhillipsKnight]

So surprised by this! I would’ve gone if it was the weekend.

 

[Central Floridave]

gators favored by 3.5 points

 

[Central Floridave]

Black & Gold Banneret Podcast #376 - UCF vs. Florida NIT Preview

Jeff and Eric talk UCF’s chances in the NIT and more

www.blackandgoldbanneret.com

 

[Central Floridave]

They briefly talked about how UCF got in. North Carolina turned down the NIT bid. That is a strange decision to decline post season play. But, yeah for that decision!

 

[Central Floridave]

Interesting tidbit from that podcast...UCF could host a game if beat Gators and UC-Irvine upsets Oregon. UC-Irvine did beat @oregon this year. Wouldn't that be cool for one more home game at UCF? But...chips gotta fall our way.

 

[Central Floridave]

 

[Central Floridave]

 

[Central Floridave]

 

[ucfjosh2000]

Wonder what the crowd split will be?

 

[Central Floridave]

"Current Big 12 member Oklahoma State is the top seed in the NIT."

UCF beat Okie-State in OT earlier in the season. So, there is hope!

Go Knights!

 

[BlakNGoldAllDay]

Aren’t UCF students on Spring Break? Not sure if they will travel to Gainesville when they aren’t on campus.

 

[Knight_Light]

They briefly talked about how UCF got in. North Carolina turned down the NIT bid. That is a strange decision to decline post season play. But, yeah for that decision!

UNC turning down the NIT did not get UCF into the NIT. Multiple at-large NIT teams were ranked below UCF that were also invited into the NIT so UCF was basically "comfortably" in.

 

[Central Floridave]

So far my gator fans are being quiet on this one. One said, "Should be a good game."

Others, no reply on my texting.

Oh My, how the mighty gators have fallen from their arrogant smack talk.

LOL. It should be a good game and I'm excited to watch it. Going in not expecting a win.

For me, Low expectations with this one. I like that vegas odds keep it close. But, I really don't know anything about the gators this year. My Bama coworker fan said they beat them by 50 points this year, but Bama is great this year.

I like the 'New LIfe' slogan the team picked up.

Will UCF have life for a round 2 match up and possibly host a game.... To Be Determined soon enough!

Go Knights.

 

[Central Floridave]

Also, in that JD interview he said Jahylon Young is playing in this game. That will help.

 

[PositYourself]

I can see UCF winning this game. Hendricks is gonna have a huge game.

 

[Central Floridave]

The Gators are favored by 2.5 points over the Knights according to BetMGM, down one point from Tuesday.

 

[Central Floridave]

The O'Connell Center won't have quite the same feel as Florida's band is away on a spring break trip to Ireland to take part in a St. Patrick's Day Parade. In addition, with students on spring break, the Rowdy Reptiles won't be at the game in full force, though tickets remain for the general public to sit in the student section.

 

[Poolside Knight]

Aren’t UCF students on Spring Break? Not sure if they will travel to Gainesville when they aren’t on campus.

Yes even the hard core student accounts don’t care and may be in the Bahamas or Key West. our podcast dudes are excited though

 

[connerito]

If we can make a run n Johnny has in the past Vegas would be nice

 

[Knight_Classes_begin_7pm]

Doesn’t make sense to let him play. He’s not happy here. Five minutes to whoever is returning.

Agree!

 

[Knight_Classes_begin_7pm]

I can see UCF winning this game. Hendricks is gonna have a huge game.

I actually don't see us winning this game against SEC FLORIDA in Gainesville, BUT, students on spring break, no band....hmmm. Maybe we have a chance.

 

[Bring Back Wackadoos]

A fun side-storyline in this game involves first-year UCF assistant coach Ben Witherspoon, who will be coaching against two of his former players.

Witherspoon was the HC at Dr. Phillips before coming to UCF, and Gator freshmen guards Riley Kugel and Denzel Aberdeen starred on his team that won the state title in 2021 (state runner-up in 2022).

 

[Knightmare13]

Go knights!!

 

[mattropolis]

Great start….not

 

[mattropolis]

Taylor needs to have 20 shot attempts today. Feed him the rock!!!

 

[Knightmare13]

very winnable game

 

[hemightbejeremy]

UNC turning down the NIT did not get UCF into the NIT. Multiple at-large NIT teams were ranked below UCF that were also invited into the NIT so UCF was basically "comfortably" in.

UCF was one of the last in. They don’t rank the road teams in the NIT, but only 5 at large selections to the tournament didn’t host. UCF being one of them. So we know they were at least in the last 5 in. But not much more than that.

 

[Knightmare13]

Well... Oregon is the 1 seed, so gotta think UC Irvine is last

 

[hemightbejeremy]

Well... Oregon is the 1 seed, so gotta think UC Irvine is last

UC Irvine is an automatic qualifier.

 

[Central Floridave]

UCF 35 Gators 26 Half

 

[BlakNGoldAllDay]

A fun side-storyline in this game involves first-year UCF assistant coach Ben Witherspoon, who will be coaching against two of his former players.

Witherspoon was the HC at Dr. Phillips before coming to UCF, and Gator freshmen guards Riley Kugel and Denzel Aberdeen starred on his team that won the state title in 2021 (state runner-up in 2022).

Why didn’t they come to us if their coach did? Maybe they transfer to us.

 

[connerito]

The AD has to have something to work with but his/her urging owes some weight. That being said UCF and UF don’t have a big gap on credentials