UCF Should Go After Spike Albrecht

When Johnny Dawkins was a player at Duke, he was known as a opportunist. One that would see a chance and capitalize. Now as a head coach at UCF, the man has a chance to do it again. He has a chance to match the intensity and vigor that Scott Frost and his staff showed when they arrived in Orlando. Michigan stand out guard Spike Albrecht wants to transfer as a grad student. He has not announced where he intends to transfer yet, though some have theorized that it could be a Big Ten school. But that should not deter Dawkins, after all Johnny's son Aubrey was a Michigan teammate of Spike's for two seasons. So Johnny knows how good Spike is and there may have been a relationship formed. Going after Albrecht, cause let's all admit that schools already have, would show that Dawkins has his eyes set on bringing UCF to a postseason tournament. 

Spike Albrecht is the type of veteran leader that UCF will need. His stats are not eye popping, as he averaged 2.2, 3.3, 7.5, and 1.7 points per game in his four year career. But when you look deeper at his numbers, you can see how valuable he is. Also his senior year was derailed by an injury so it is not fair to judge his senior season. His points per 40 minutes(metric used to see how many points a player would average if he were to play a full 40 minutes) are impressive:10.6, 8.9, and 9.4. His assists have only gone up as he has gotten more minutes: 0.7, 2.0, 3.9. He is a gifted athlete and has completed some of the best passes on the court that you will ever see. Seriously Google Spike Albrecht pass and be amazed. Here is one of my favorites http://media.mlive.com/wolverines_impact/images/sickpass.gif. Just look at that court presence and vision. So why would he go to UCF rather than going to say a Purdue or Indiana? Well, Spike has always been blocked by bigger named players on his Michigan teams and with the recruiting classes Purdue and Indiana have coming in, I doubt he'd be more than a six man there or atleast have his minutes curtailed. Whereas a midmajor like UCF could offer him more minutes and a chance to showcase his talents. Plus the relationship with the Dawkins family could be alluring. 

Johnny Dawkins has talked about pushing the pace more at UCF. Running a uptempo offense that fans have been crying out for. So bringing in Albrecht would help with that. Some will say what about BJ Taylor? Well there is a simple solution to that: start them both. More and more college teams are running a two point guard set. Look at the final 4 teams, outside of UNC, the other three have run sets with two point guards to increase pace. Coach K and his disciples have been running lineups with two point guard lineups(Mike Brey may have had the most success with this.) The game of college basketball has evolved from the pound it in all the time strategy. So why can't UCF go small with Taylor and Spike, if Spike were to come? That answer may be because of another player on the UCF roster.

UCF fans have become enamored with Tacko Fall. While he is a nice story, he is not a player you build your team around. Especially in today's college basketball evolution.  Now some will argue that Fall was a great rim protector last year and that his points per 40 minutes were 16.5. But at 7'6 I sure as hell hope he would be able to do all those things. His conditioning and stature(he needs to put on more muscle before he gets consideration for a starter) needs to improve. These were the same complaints that affected Kenny George till he bulked up. If Dawkins wants to run a faster tempo, then starting Fall may hinder that as the faster tempo requires a smaller, yet bulky center who can hit a shot outside of the paint. I am not saying to stick Tacko on the end of the bench, but he needs to be 6th or 7th in the lineup if Dawkins runs a faster pace. The pursuit of Albrecht should not be hindered because Fall is here.

 I am a realistic man. I know that UCF will probably not get Albrecht. I am probably making a pipe dream out of this. But wouldn't it be fun if UCF basketball could make a move like this? Just to try and show that the Dawkins era is not going to be like the failure of the Donnie Jones era.