UCF starts 2nd year in tough conference

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ORLANDO -- UCF got its first taste of the big time last season in its first year in Conference USA. It was every bit as tough as Golden Knights coach Kirk Speraw thought, and UCF finished fifth in the league at 7-7.

Speraw isn't deluding himself into thinking it will get any easier this season.

Although UCF returns eight lettermen from a team that finished 14-15 overall, the Knights were picked to finish seventh in the 12-team C-USA. They'll have to once again deal with national powerhouse Memphis, the pre-season conference favorite, perennial NCAA tournament team Alabama-Birmingham and up-and-comer Houston.

"Conference USA was a step up in competition level and intensity for us," Speraw said. "On a nightly basis, we were playing some tremendously strong teams. What can you say about a team like Memphis?
Shawn Akers: Daytona Beach Journal News