Men’s basketball back to work

By Danny Aiello

The U. Central Florida men’s basketball team decided to forgo the usual summer vacation and instead got back to work almost immediately.

The Knights were frequently found inside the weight room and on the court inside the practice facility.

Junior A.J. Rompza said team members have no regrets about spending the entire summer on campus.

The point guard said the time in the gym helped the squad’s 10 returnees get to know a large group of newcomers.

“I thought it was really good for us all to be here, not just to work out and play every day,” Rompza said in a release. “We got to develop a new relationship with the new guys. We had everybody really get along with each other.”

Spending time with each other on campus all summer has given the Knights a head start in the team chemistry aspect as well as physical conditioning.

“I think we have made a huge improvement already. We are way ahead of where we have been in past years as far as strength and conditioning,” junior swingman Isaac Sosa said in the release. “We are way ahead.”

Sosa and Rompza feel that the commitment to the team in the offseason can only benefit the Knights come the regular season.

Official practices begin Oct. 15, and the summer efforts could help the Knights quickly get acclimated to playing under new head coach Donnie Jones.

“Any time that you have time to work on the stuff that you know is coming along, it is always great to have a head start,” Rompza said.

Bruce Miller named to Bednarik Watch List

UCF defensive lineman and preseason All-American Bruce Miller was named to the national watch list for the Bednarik Award by the Philadelphia-based Maxwell Football Club this past week.

The Bednarik Award has been presented since 1995 to the nation’s top defensive player and is named for College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Bednarik.

Miller, the 2009 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and the 2010 C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, was also named to the national watch lists for the Nagurski Trophy and the Lombardi Trophy.

Miller is the nation’s leader in both career sacks with 27 and career tackles for loss with 44.

Miller’s 27 career sacks tie Florida’s Alonzo Johnson for the ninth-most ever by a FBS player in the state of Florida, a list that includes six first-round NFL Draft picks.

Lindy’s preseason annual listed him as Conference USA’s top NFL prospect, ahead of even Heisman Trophy candidate Case Keenum of Houston.

Miller’s junior campaign included 13 sacks, good for fifth in the nation, and 18 tackles for loss.

Miller, a versatile end who also moved to tackle and played a three-technique in UCF’s nickel package, was also credited with seven forced hurries and three pass breakups last fall.

His presence helped the Knights lead C-USA in total defense, rushing defense, scoring defense, sacks and tackles for loss.

UCF was fourth in the nation last fall in rushing defense, topped only by BCS bowl participants Texas, Alabama and Texas Christian U.

The Sporting News picks UCF to win the C-USA East Division in 2010, and has the Knights ranked No. 47 in the nation heading into the season.

Miller leads a defense that returns 17 players who helped lead C-USA in total and rushing defense last fall in addition to sacks and tackles for loss.

Read more here: http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/men-s-basketball-back-to-work-1.2303015
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