UCF, ice cold to begin the second half, found themselves trailing 10 points with 12 minutes to go, but rallied for the comeback at East Carolina, winning 71-68 to begin American Athletic Conference play at 1-0.
Click here for the box score.
Here's what Donnie Jones told Marc Daniels in the postgame radio interview:
"I'm really proud that we did rally. I think that was the big message after the way we finished the end of the last game. We've learned. I thought our practices were good the last three days. We turned it over a lot and had a bad first eight minutes of that second half. We got down, but nobody tucked their heads. We talked in the huddle, I kept saying, 'It's our turn to make a run.' We made a run to get back in. I was looking for a rotation there. They were undersized as well, so we went small. We worked on that in practice the last couple days, a quicker, more athletic lineup to switch screens and be able to space out and drive. I thought we did a really good job making plays, sharing the ball and making big free throws down the stretch."
UCF was up three points at the half and had no answer for ECU in the first eight minutes of the second half. What happened there?
"We just weren't moving and playing with energy. They hit some threes. Hustle plays, turnovers. We weren't scoring. Every time we didn't score we let that carry over to the other end. That's been the message all week long. You've won games with getting stops, not by scoring. That's what we worked on in practice. Hey, get three stops in a row. I thought we were struggling with that early on."
Down the stretch, A.J. Davis (23 points) and Tanksley Efianayi (12 points) helped fuel UCF to victory.
"Tank, I'm really proud of him. He was the first sub off the bench tonight. He was huge. That's exactly how I envisioned him to be helping us all year long. He's starting to learn how to work hard every day and be an everyday guy. A.J. Davis just keeps going. He played 37 minutes. He practices the same way he plays. Kept grinding, kept working. He had some great attacks. He makes free throws. He had a big three down there. I told him I'm okay with him shooting threes, he just has to get his feet set. He had balance on his shot. I knew it was going in when it left his hand."
Adonys Henriquez was really struggling, 0-6 from three-point range, but drained two late threes during UCF's run. Finished with 10 points.
"Only reason I took him out of the game is he was putting all of his focus on making shots. He wasn't playing on the defensive end. Like I told him, you have to shoot open shots. You have to take them. I sat him down. When I put him back in, I told him to take open shots and you've got to play defense. I'm happy for Adonys. He came in and made big shots in an important time for us."
Justin McBride saw more time than Tacko, but sat the bench while UCF went small and made their run. He finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.
"I had planned to get (McBride) back in, but I thought our rhythm was so good and our chemistry was good with the small lineup that got us back in the game, and they were having a hard time matching up staying in that zone. We had five guys to open it up which caused some problems. Justin, I was really proud of him. He had a couple baskets around there, some big blocks there and rebounds. He made a couple mistakes here and there. I love the way he's making a second and third effort, that's a big improvement for him.
UCF came into the game shooting 73 percent on free throws and were 21 of 26 tonight for 81 percent. Marc says in the final five minutes of games, UCF is shooting in the mid 80s.
"Let's not talk about free throw shooting. I'm just really proud of those guys. We've got much better shooters which makes you a better free throw shooter. They've been very focused in finishing. That was the key tonight. Went to the line and made shots when we got fouled."
Being able to close out a game on the road - something UCF had struggled with during non-conference play - what does this do for the team?
"I put on the board we're 1-0. We talked about the new season. We haven't been able to put 1-0 on the board for a while. It doesn't matter what's happened in the non-conference. That prepared us for this, as I told them before the game. We played four road games in somebody's arena with their home crowd. Not neutral site games, because that doesn't prepare you for road tests. I thought mentality wise our guys were able to block the crowd out. Stay in our own rhythm, energy and focus and were able to execute and quiet the crowd for a win."
Marc ends the interview by joking with Donnie who apparently forgot to bring his suit to Greenville and was forced to buy one today. Donnie says he may continue wearing the new suit for good luck.
UCF hosts rival South Florida next Wednesday.
Click here for the box score.
Here's what Donnie Jones told Marc Daniels in the postgame radio interview:
"I'm really proud that we did rally. I think that was the big message after the way we finished the end of the last game. We've learned. I thought our practices were good the last three days. We turned it over a lot and had a bad first eight minutes of that second half. We got down, but nobody tucked their heads. We talked in the huddle, I kept saying, 'It's our turn to make a run.' We made a run to get back in. I was looking for a rotation there. They were undersized as well, so we went small. We worked on that in practice the last couple days, a quicker, more athletic lineup to switch screens and be able to space out and drive. I thought we did a really good job making plays, sharing the ball and making big free throws down the stretch."
UCF was up three points at the half and had no answer for ECU in the first eight minutes of the second half. What happened there?
"We just weren't moving and playing with energy. They hit some threes. Hustle plays, turnovers. We weren't scoring. Every time we didn't score we let that carry over to the other end. That's been the message all week long. You've won games with getting stops, not by scoring. That's what we worked on in practice. Hey, get three stops in a row. I thought we were struggling with that early on."
Down the stretch, A.J. Davis (23 points) and Tanksley Efianayi (12 points) helped fuel UCF to victory.
"Tank, I'm really proud of him. He was the first sub off the bench tonight. He was huge. That's exactly how I envisioned him to be helping us all year long. He's starting to learn how to work hard every day and be an everyday guy. A.J. Davis just keeps going. He played 37 minutes. He practices the same way he plays. Kept grinding, kept working. He had some great attacks. He makes free throws. He had a big three down there. I told him I'm okay with him shooting threes, he just has to get his feet set. He had balance on his shot. I knew it was going in when it left his hand."
Adonys Henriquez was really struggling, 0-6 from three-point range, but drained two late threes during UCF's run. Finished with 10 points.
"Only reason I took him out of the game is he was putting all of his focus on making shots. He wasn't playing on the defensive end. Like I told him, you have to shoot open shots. You have to take them. I sat him down. When I put him back in, I told him to take open shots and you've got to play defense. I'm happy for Adonys. He came in and made big shots in an important time for us."
Justin McBride saw more time than Tacko, but sat the bench while UCF went small and made their run. He finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.
"I had planned to get (McBride) back in, but I thought our rhythm was so good and our chemistry was good with the small lineup that got us back in the game, and they were having a hard time matching up staying in that zone. We had five guys to open it up which caused some problems. Justin, I was really proud of him. He had a couple baskets around there, some big blocks there and rebounds. He made a couple mistakes here and there. I love the way he's making a second and third effort, that's a big improvement for him.
UCF came into the game shooting 73 percent on free throws and were 21 of 26 tonight for 81 percent. Marc says in the final five minutes of games, UCF is shooting in the mid 80s.
"Let's not talk about free throw shooting. I'm just really proud of those guys. We've got much better shooters which makes you a better free throw shooter. They've been very focused in finishing. That was the key tonight. Went to the line and made shots when we got fouled."
Being able to close out a game on the road - something UCF had struggled with during non-conference play - what does this do for the team?
"I put on the board we're 1-0. We talked about the new season. We haven't been able to put 1-0 on the board for a while. It doesn't matter what's happened in the non-conference. That prepared us for this, as I told them before the game. We played four road games in somebody's arena with their home crowd. Not neutral site games, because that doesn't prepare you for road tests. I thought mentality wise our guys were able to block the crowd out. Stay in our own rhythm, energy and focus and were able to execute and quiet the crowd for a win."
Marc ends the interview by joking with Donnie who apparently forgot to bring his suit to Greenville and was forced to buy one today. Donnie says he may continue wearing the new suit for good luck.
UCF hosts rival South Florida next Wednesday.
