Conference USA Notebook - Golden Knights topping expectations

To understand how remarkable Central Florida's 15-5 record is - and it should be even better - just remember that UCF was an Atlantic Sun Conference program a mere two seasons ago.
A good Atlantic Sun program, but an Atlantic Sun program nonetheless.
Today, the Golden Knights are emerging as a clear No. 2 in Conference USA and will play their biggest game since joining the league when No. 11 Memphis visits sold-out UCF Arena on Wednesday.
To be sure, experience has helped UCF rise above the crowd. Among UCF's top five scorers, there's a sophomore (Jermaine Taylor), two juniors (Mike O'Donnell and Dave Noel) and two seniors (Josh Peppers and Lavell Payne). Still, coach Kirk Speraw admitted Monday that he didn't anticipate this kind of success this quickly.
"I was pleased last year with being able to finish .500 in the league because it was a huge step for us in regards to talent and the toughness of playing the people in Conference USA on a nightly basis," Speraw said. "That was a big jump for us from a competitive standpoint, and now to be 4-2 at this stage is important for our program, and I think is a significant step forward. We had four of our first six on the road and were able to come out 4-2, and that's significant."
         UCF could be undefeated in conference play right now. In their two losses, the Golden Knights blew a 10-point lead in the final three minutes at UAB and couldn't close out a win at Houston despite leading by 20 at halftime.
Regardless, UCF is in prime position to finish second in C-USA and play in a post-season tournament, especially if it can knock off the Tigers.
        "Kirk's doing a great job," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "They're leading our league in field goal percentage offense because they take good shots and create good shots for each other. They've got some size inside, and they'll shoot threes on you. They're scoring 75 points a game, and this is 'The Game' for them. This is like our UAB game a year ago."
Emotional swing
After more than 30 years as a head coach, Houston's Tom Penders encounters few unfamiliar situations. But Penders came up empty searching his memory bank for a seven-day period that compared with the one Houston just went through.
On Jan. 17, the Cougars reached the low point of their season when they blew a 24-point lead at Rice with 15 minutes remaining and lost 76-71, dropping their record to 6-9. Exactly one week later, Houston came back from 22 points down with 13:50 left on Wednesday at home to beat UCF in overtime, 73-70.
         "Perhaps it's happened in the past, but I can't remember it," Penders said. "They've been looking at records and they think the comeback we had is the biggest in school history to win and maybe the one at Rice was the biggest blown lead ever. I don't know. It's just the way it's played out, but I was certainly proud of our kids."
Back in time
        Tulsa honored former coach Nolan Richardson during Saturday's victory over SMU, wearing throwback uniforms from the 1980-81 season to commemorate his induction into the school's athletic Hall of Fame.
Richardson, who won a national championship at Arkansas in 1994, coached at Tulsa from 1980-85.
        "We talked with adidas and sent them pictures and got the retro uniforms he wore in the '80s with the stripes down the side and 'Hurricane' (across the chest)," coach Doug Wojcik said. "We played retro music, and it was a lot of fun. And our kids, you know how kids are, they love gear, and to have a different look was pretty exciting for them."