Smith showcases his potential
There is a lot of pressure on the UCF men’s basketball team to get the most of out its veteran-laden roster.
Yet you can’t help but think about the future when forward Collin Smith performs like he did Sunday at SMU.
Smith stuffed the box score with 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists versus the Mustangs. He displayed smooth footwork, a versatile offensive skill set and strong rebounding fundamentals. He has been a solid contributor throughout the season, but in his 30 minutes of action in Dallas, the redshirt sophomore gave everyone a glimpse of just how good he can be.
“I think Collin can be one of the best players in our conference and in the country if he continues to develop,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said during Monday’s American Athletic Conference coaches’ teleconference.
Smith’s development is indeed far from complete. Sunday’s effort was preceded by a game against Houston during which Smith played 11 scoreless minutes and grabbed just one rebound.
However, UCF will be looking for new leaders and new playmakers in what portends to be a season of transition in 2019-20. Replacing B.J. Taylor, Tacko Fall and Chad Brown means replacing a giant wealth of experience, leadership and production. But Smith looks like a player who can carry the program into this upcoming new era.
“He has the ability and, like all young players, he’s trying to figure it out,” Dawkins said of Smith. “He’s going through that process of figuring out who he can become. That’s our job as coaches — to help him along that path and keep guiding him.
“I love everything about the young man. I love the competitiveness. He has good work ethic. He just needs to keep grinding,”
The future appears bright for the Jacksonville native. But the present goal of making the NCAA Tournament is what’s most important to these Knights. They will have a much greater chance of attaining said goal if Smith keeps shining like he did Sunday.
Hardcourt War on I-4: UCF’s next game is a home matchup versus the South Florida Bulls on Wednesday. While there isn’t as much electricity surrounding this meeting compared to when the football teams square off, USF coach Brian Gregory thinks that could change in the near future.
“I don’t think the rivalry is where it’s going to be in basketball,” he said Monday. “... We kind of had to step up to the plate a little bit more. I think we’re on the verge of doing that, so I could see this becoming a great rivalry with some great games as we continue to move forward.”
The Bulls are in the midst of a remarkable turnaround in Gregory’s second year on the job. After finishing at the bottom of the American last season, USF is 17-6 and tied for fourth place in the conference, half a game behind the Knights.
With both teams now challenging for a postseason bid, Gregory would like to see the hype around this game rise alongside the programs.
“It should be a special game for both schools. I said [Sunday] this game has got to mean a little more. Both schools have to feel that way for it to really become that and I think it will, I really do,” he said. “That’s great for both schools and it’s great for our league as well.”
Dawkins, however, doesn’t seem as interested in viewing this game as something more than just his team’s next test in conference.
“For the fans and everyone on I-4, of course it’s going to be different. Everyone’s rooting for their team,” he said. “But for our guys, we need to make sure that we stay grounded in what we do and not get out of character, no matter who we face.”