Off to a 10-0 start under new head coach Donnie Jones, the UCF men’s basketball team entered the top 25 for the first time in school history Monday as the Knights are 24th in the Associated Press poll. UCF is one of just nine undefeated squads in the country.
The ranking came just two days after the Knights defeated Miami, 84-78, at the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise. The win was the third victory over one of the state’s “power conference” programs for UCF this season as the squad also topped No. 16 Florida and USF.
The 10-0 start under Jones, who was named the program’s head coach in late March, is the best at UCF since the school moved to the Division I ranks in 1984, and the top overall since 1979-80.
On Monday, UCF also garnered 47 votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, unofficially placing the squad at 26th.
Jones installed an up-tempo system after arriving at UCF, and the Knights have thrived by pushing the ball offensively, and smothering on the other end with full-court pressure. UCF is averaging 79.9 points per game, while limiting foes to just 56.3 points. UCF boasts a 23.6 scoring margin.
A pair of sophomores – forward Keith Clanton (Orlando, Fla.) and guard Marcus Jordan (Chicago, Ill.) – have led the Knights offensively. Clanton is averaging a team-best 16.7 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 60.0 percent overall. Jordan is averaging 16.0 points per contest.
UCF will return to action Wednesday at UMass. The squad’s next game at the UCF Arena is Dec. 29 against Furman at 7 p.m. as part of the UCF Holiday Classic.
A special UCF-Conference USA ticket pack is now available. The pack allows fans to watch the Knights play their eight C-USA home games for only $80, offering a $24 savings over single-game prices. To order the pack today, visit UCFAthletics.com or call (407) UCF-1000.