March 16, 2005

Watch Classic NCAA ® March Madness ® Moments

GAME: No. 15 Central Florida (24-8) vs. No. 2 Connecticut (22-7).

REGIONAL: Syracuse, first round.

TIME: Friday, 2:45 p.m. EST.

SITE: DCU Center; Worcester, Mass.

Being a defending national champion apparently carries a lot of weight with the NCAA selection committee.

After receiving a No. 2 seed, Connecticut hopes to make good on its lofty status when it begins defense of its title with a first-round matchup against Central Florida.

The Huskies, who rolled to their second national championship since 1999 last year, were one of the hottest and most highly touted teams in the country entering last week's Big East tournament. UConn had won seven in a row before a 67-63 loss to Syracuse in the semifinals.

That defeat, the Huskies' seventh of the season, figured to drop them a notch or two in the seedings. Instead, UConn will not only enter the tournament with the same seed it received last year, but it will also be close to home in Worcester, Mass.

"I thought we were a three (seed)," UConn guard Denham Brown admitted.

Coach Jim Calhoun didn't have a problem with the selection committee's judgment.

"We were figuring we were going to be a two or a three," Calhoun said. "I think it's a nice testament to these kids that the committee thinks they are one of the best eight teams in the country."

Last March, there was almost no doubting that UConn would make a deep run in the tournament. But stars Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, both currently vying for NBA Rookie of the Year honors, are no longer with the Huskies, nor is point guard Taliek Brown, who navigated Calhoun's offense for most of the previous four years.

Charlie Villanueva, Josh Boone and Rashad Anderson played strong supporting roles on last year's title team, but now will be asked to lead the Huskies back to the Final Four. Making matters even more difficult, UConn will have to contend with what many consider to be the most difficult of the four regional brackets.

Top seed North Carolina, which handed the Huskies their last regular season loss in February, Kansas, Florida, Wisconsin and Villanova all could have a say in whether or not the Huskies can defend their crown.

"It's a stacked, stacked bracket," Calhoun said. "Whoever gets to St. Louis will have to earn their way."

Calhoun will be short one player against Central Florida on Friday, as freshman point guard Antonio Kellogg was suspended from the team indefinitely Tuesday for an unspecified violation of team policy. Kellogg, who was used mainly to spell starting point guard Marcus Williams, averaged 14 minutes and 3.2 points in 29 games.

Senior Sami Ameziane, who has played just 15 minutes the entire season, might be Calhoun's first choice off the bench when, and if, Williams sits. Williams played just over 35 minutes per game down the stretch for the Huskies.

Anderson, UConn's top scorer earlier this season, is still rounding into shape after returning from a skin abscess in his right leg that forced him into the hospital. Brown injured his left knee in the Big East tournament, but indicated that he might be ready for UCF on Friday.

The Knights, who are still seeking their first NCAA tournament victory, come in on a season-high eight-game winning streak. Central Florida secured its spot with a 63-54 win over top-seeded Gardner-Webb in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament two weekends ago.

Senior Gary Johnson led the way with 19 points for the Knights, who claimed their second consecutive title and fourth overall.

"I'm very proud of our guys and the intensity and focus that we had for three straight ballgames," coach Kirk Speraw said. "I think it was exceptional consistency and determination that these young men showed to try to repeat as champions."

UCF has been knocked out in the first round in each of its previous three tourney appearances, but did give Pittsburgh a tough game last year as a No. 14 seed. UCF trailed 22-18 at the half, led briefly after intermission, but eventually fell 53-44.

These teams have never met.

The winner will play either No. 7 seed Charlotte or No. 10 North Carolina State on Sunday.

PROBABLE STARTERS: Central Florida - F Joshua Peppers (13.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.8 apg), F Anthony Williams (11.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg), C William Bakanowsky (6.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg), G Johnson (13.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg), G Kingsley Edwards (7.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.1 apg). Connecticut - F Villanueva (13.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg), F Rudy Gay (11.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg), C Boone (12.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg), G Brown (10.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg), G Marcus Williams (9.2 ppg, 8.1 apg).

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Central Florida - Automatic bid, Atlantic Sun tournament champion. Connecticut - At-large berth, Big East.

ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Central Florida - 0-3, 3 years. Connecticut - 36-23, 25 years.