UCF basketball preview: Golden Knights Hit The Road With The Hope Of Enhancing Resume'

CUSA Fans new UCF Correspondent Ryan Westin brings us a preview of the basketball game between the UCF Golden Knights and the Tulane Green Wave.

UCF enters Wednesday night’s game versus Tulane at Fogelman Arena with the intention of adding one more win to its NCAA Tournament resume’, one which they hope will be good enough to earn them an at-large bid to the “Big Dance”. The Knights are beginning a two game road swing that would put them over that all-important 20-win plateau if they are able to sweep it. UCF has averaged twenty wins in their past five seasons.

Josh Peppers hopes to return to the NCAA tournament as he is one of only two players remaining from the last UCF squad to go dancing in 2005. Peppers is seen here cutting down the net after winning the Atlantic Sun Tournament in 2005.

"If we get over the twenty (win) mark we'd have to be part of the post season discussion." UCF head coach Kirk Speraw said.

Yes, UCF still has alot of work left to do on the court in its final six games of the regular season—as well as the Conference USA tournament—and head coach Kirk Speraw knows it. In his weekly sports show, Speraw talked about the Knights chances of making the tournament and stated that he believes that UCF needs to win a majority of their remaining games, finish second in C-USA and win some games in the C-USA tournament in order to be in a position to get an at large bid. There are thirty-one automatic bids into the NCAA tournament and thirty-four at-large bids. The Knights have never obtained an at large bid and recently went to back to back NCAA tournaments by winning the Atlantic Sun tournament for automatic bids.

If the Knights do not reach the NCAA tournament, they would still have a chance at post season play by being considered for the NIT. The NIT boasts a field of thirty-two teams and was attended last season by fellow Conference USA teams Houston and UTEP.

UCF is currently 18-6 overall and 7-3 in CUSA, as they’ve already matched last year’s win total in the league. The Golden Knights, who have won three in a row and seven of their last nine, appear to be peaking at the right time.

Tulane is coming off a brutal loss at #8 Memphis, but it had won its two previous games. The Green Wave is led Junior David Gomez, who is averaging 13.8 points per game and 6 rebounds per game. Tulane comes into this game sporting an 11-11 record on the season and is 4-6 in CUSA. Dave Dickerson’s team is currently in a three-way tie for eighth in C-USA with Marshall and UAB.

Tulane has used ten different starting line-ups this year. The Green Wave is 3-2 with their projected starting five for Wednesday nights match up. The Golden Knights have stayed with the same five all season long and are led in scoring by Jermaine Taylor, who comes off the bench to average 14.2 points per game.

Last time out
Last season, Tulane fell behind early before losing 72-51 in Orlando. UCF never trailed in the victory and leads the all-time series, 2-1.

Speraw in 2007-08?
Head Coach Kirk Speraw is now in his fourteenth season leading the Knights. Speraw's contract is up at the end of this season with no word on his future at this time. Speraw has led the Knights to four NCAA tournaments while bringing the program to where it is today. UCF Athletic Director Keith Tribble has been silent with regards to the future of Speraw as a decision will be made after the season is over.

Who's Next?
After their stop in New Orleans, UCF continues west to Houston as they will take on Rice University on Saturday at Autry Court. UCF guard Chip Cartwright is from Houston and is the only Knight from the state of Texas. Rice is currently in a three-way tie with UCF and Houston with six games of Conference USA games remaining and are 13-10 on the season. UCF defeated Rice, 72-67, in Orlando earlier in the season. The Knights will have their hands full with Owls’ forward Morris Almond. Almond’s average of 27.8 points per game ranks him third nationally. He scored 20 points in the first meeting.