Out-of-conference losses, adversity may prove valuable

A year ago, to this point, they were flawless.

Through 13 games and about to start their Conference USA slate, the Knights began 2011 with a 13-0 record and a national ranking — and targets on their backs.

Things went downhill. Eight straight losses following a conference-opening win over Marshall added to a disappointing record in league play, one that left last year's team that had had aspirations of an at-large NCAA Tournament bid, playing in the College Basketball Invitation. Not bad for a program that had never received an at-large invitation to any postseason tournament, but still disappointing for a team that had been ranked as high as No. 18 in the country.

UCF went into league play sporting a bull's eye and getting the best shot from its C-USA brethren, all trying to knock the Knights down a notch and out of the spotlight.

They succeeded.

"There was a lot of lessons to learn [from those losses], and there were a lot of reasons for that," head coach Donnie Jones said.

This year, though, things are a bit different.

To begin 2012, the Knights are 10-3. Already, this has been a season that has seen near the highest of highs, beating then-No. 4 UConn as part of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, but also some notable lows, losing to Louisiana-Lafayette on the road.

"Well, I'm happy because we've battled a lot and we've been through a lot of adversity," Jones said. "I'm pleased where we're at at this time. … The key is going to be how we respond in the second half of the season."

It sounds a bit backward to say, but this year's team may actually benefit from some of its losses and even some wins that were too close for comfort.

This year's team may be better equipped as it pushes for the postseason.

The Knights have had to rally to beat teams like Bethune-Cookman and also have had trouble putting away teams like Stetson earlier in the contest.

So, while there are certainly some red flags to be raised by UCF's inability to dominate opponents who, by most accounts, they should, there is also something to be said for how many pressure situations the team has already experienced this seasone.

"This team's different from last year," Jones said. "Last year we won some of those games by 30 and 40 points and we went into conference play and when it got a little tough we hadn't handled adversity."

At the same time, it would be encouraging to see this year's team finish off some of the opponents they should by wide margins, especially with better opponents on the horizon in league play. There will be teams in C-USA that the Knights simply cannot allow to hang around late in games.

Still, this team seems to have thrived on adversity this season, and it is about to experience some more.

As part of UCF's decision to be proactive following the damaging findings of NCAA violations, Jones will be sitting out the first three conference games without pay.

For a team that is trying to make a case for itself as an "at-large" program, responding during these next three games will be key.

"We'll just carry our routine as usual," Jones said of handling his own suspension. "I'll be there all the way up until game day. Obviously I won't be there for the game on [those] days. … [But] the staff will know what's expected so I don't see that being a problem."

For his part, Jones believes the lows his team has experienced this season already will be just as important in the second half as the highs.

"All successful teams and organizations have been through failure and adversity," Jones said. "This group has been through it, and I think they're growing."

If nothing else, the targets on the Knights' backs entering league play are not quite as big this year.