Admiral Ackbar reference aside, USF heads to Orlando tonight to face the UCF Knights at 7pm. For you out of towners, the game will be on CBS College Sports, so you can get another look at the Baby Bulls. The Knights currently are 2-0 on the season after defeating DII West Florida and Jackson State.
UCF blew out Jackson State 80-39 Monday. The Knights were led by sophomore guard Marcus Jordan, who had a team high 13 points. Keith Clanton added 12 points and 10 rebounds for UCF, and Isaac Sosa added 10 points, and went 3-3 from beyond the arc. As a team, UCF shot an insane 59.6% from the field and had 12 players log more than 10 minutes, while no one went more than 19. Jenniro Bush had 15 for Jackson State, while Tyrone Hanson added 8 and 4 for the Tigers.
*The Insert Sponsor Here* Matchup of the Game: The USF Guards vs. The UCF Press:
No real surprise here, as Donnie Jones brings the Pitino/Donovan press mentality with him to Orlando. A.J. Rompza and Marcus Jordan will lead the press that USF will have to break time and time again if the Bulls have a chance tonight. USF did a good job Monday when St. Francis went into the press the few times they used it, but this will be 40 minutes of press, and I hope Anthony Crater, Jawanza Poland, Shedrick Haynes, and the rest of the guards will be ready to break it and find Jarrid Famous and Augustus Gilchrist for some easy baskets.
Players to Watch: Forward Keith Clanton and Guard Marcus Jordan:
Most know Keith Clanton and how the Orlando native chose UCF over USF during the 2008 recruiting season. The 6'8 sophomore has done a great job so far in the young season. Along with the double double posted against JSU, Clanton went for 24 against West Florida. The matchup between Gilchrist and Clanton should be a fun one to watch, and if Gus can stop Clanton, the Bulls will have a great chance of winning the game.
Marcus Jordan is another young guy who has taken his game to another level this year. Marcus went for 28 against the Argonauts, including an impressive 5-7 from three. Jordan was an efficient 13 points from 4-5 from the field and went to the line 7 times hitting 5. JAWANZA! and Shaun Noriega vs. Jordan and Isaac Sosa will be another good matchup.
Predictions:
This is going to be a difficult one to figure out. UCF has played what amounts to a couple of scrimmages, and USF will be a great matchup. The way our guards handle the press will determine the game, and for some reason I think we will do pretty good job getting out of it. Bulls win a close one 68-65