UCF Knights 67 Marshall Thundering Herd 60
Conference USA
Wednesday 8th February 2012
UCF Knights 67 Marshall Thundering Herd 60
A first taste of basketball Stateside for me. NBA, nah too easy, College ball is where it’s at! Months of internet research led me to this game, scheduled during my Florida holiday, and with the NBA in lockout mode, the 10,000 seat UCF Arena most definitely appealed (we all know what subsequently happened with the NBA but I made my choice and stuck to it).
An interesting fixture given that the two sides are quite bitter rivals. UCF Head Coach Donnie Jones was a former coach of the Herd and a 65-64 win for the team from Huntingdon, West Virginia (850 miles away by road) earlier in the season set up an intriguing match. A further point of interest was UCF Shooting Guard Marcus Jordan, son of NBA legend Michael. Dad took his place in the hospitality boxes to watch the Knights star player amongst a partisan crowd of 6,192, which contained a scattering who had made the 13 hour road trip from W.Va. The Knights went into the game with a 17-6 season record (6-3 in Conference USA) compared to Marshall’s 14-9 (5-4) stats.
My research had led me to expect big things from Jordan and the Herd’s main man DeAndre Kane, but disappointment was my initial reaction. Jordan made 5 failed three point attempts and Kane was undoubtedly affected the barracking he received from UCF’s notorious ‘Knightmare’ student section. A nine point haul all evening and a moment of hilarity when he hurled the ball away from UCF’s Equipment Manager in disgust capped a poor display from the Herd’s number 24. My initial disappointment in Jordan’s performance was tempered by an electric display from Power Forward and Orlando resident Keith Clanton. A personal performance of 20 points and 7 rebounds lit up the Arena as the Knights took the spoils in the opening stages.
However, there is very little to choose between these two sides and it was Marshall who ended the half the better. PG Damier Pitts ran the show for the men in green and there was all to play for as the half ended with Marshall up by two at 30-28. Just a quick word on the entertainment factor at the UCF; outstanding! A 35 piece brass section belting out the Knights signature ‘Zombie Nation’ tune at regular intervals, ‘Kiss Cam’ on the Jumbotron (one elderly couple indulged for way too long!), a half-time dance off to win pizza vouchers and t-shirts thrown into the crowd by the Hooters girls (many many thanks to the couple in front of us who gave us a shirt and explained the traditions and foibles of UCF basketball during the evening – your hospitality was amazing). The athleticism of the cheer squad was something else.
UCF came out all guns blazing at the start of the second with a 12-2 run as the Clanton show became the Sykes and Spurlock Show. Isaiah (15 points 10 rebounds 3 steals) and Tristan (13 points including 5 of 7 field goals) set about their business with some scintillating plays on both offence and defence as the Knights opened up a 14 point lead. Once again, Marshall were not to be underestimated as that man Pitts (18 personal) allied with Shaquille Johnson (10 personal) reduced the arrears to just 2 points at 62-60. It was about now that we were to discover what the Jordan phenomenon is all about.
A crucial three pointer from the corner led to an audible sigh of relief from the UCF faithful as the Floridians eventually ran out winners by 67-60. A memorable night for the Knights and a memorable night for three Yorkshire holidaymakers experiencing the uniqueness of a U.S. sporting event.
Are these two tournament teams? Possibly not, although I like the noises coming out of the UCF basketball programme. In Jordan and Clanton, the Knights clearly have two special talents and the support of Sykes and Spurlock is not to be ignored. Pitts shone for the Herd but demonstrative Coach Tom Herrion appears to have more work to do to drive his side up the rankings. UCF make the move to Big East in 2013-14 and clearly have earmarked a sparkling future. One to watch out for and definitely a date for your diary if ever you happen to be in the Sunshine State and at a loose end!