1977–78 FTU Knights men's basketball team

The 1977–78 FTU Knights men's basketball team was an NCAA Division II college basketball team that represented Florida Technological University, now named the University of Central Florida.[1] The Knights competed in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC), and played their home games in the university's education gymnasium on FTU's main campus in Orlando, Florida. The team was led by head coach Torchy Clark who was in his ninth season with the team.[2]

1977–78 FTU Knights men's basketball
NCAA Final Four (Div. II)
SSC Tournament Champions
SSC Regular Season Champions
Columbus Christmas Tournament Champions
NCAA Div. II Semifinal vs. Cheyney State, L 63–79
ConferenceSunshine State Conference
Record26–4 (10–0 SSC)
Head coach
Home arenaEducation Gymnasium

In the previous year, the Knights finished the season 24–4, 8–2 in SSC play. In 1978, Clark led the Knights, which at the time were riding a 24–game winning streak, to a Sunshine State Conference regular season title, the inaugural Sunshine State Conference post-season tournament title, and the NCAA South Regional and the NCAA Quarterfinals titles, en route to the Final Four in Springfield, Missouri.[2] It was one of six tournament appearances that the Knights made between 1976 and 1982. Due to the team's impressive performance, Clark was named the Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year.[3] To this date, the teams 24–game winning streak and 26 total wins are still program records.[4]

Schedule and results
Date
time, TV		 Opponent Result Record Site
city, state
Regular season
November 30, 1977*
no, no 		Flagler W 84–56  1–0
  
Orlando, FL
December 8, 1977*
no, no 		Southern Benedictine W 64–61  2–0
  
Orlando, FL
December 12, 1977*
no, no 		at Lamar L 62–65 OT 2–1
  
Beaumont, TX
November 13, 1977*
no, no 		at Rice Owls L 63–65  2–2
  
Houston, TX
December 17, 1977*
no, no 		Lawrence W 100–77  3–2
  
Orlando, FL
December 19, 1977*
no, no 		vs. Knoxville
Columbus Christmas Tournament		 W 95–85  4–2
  
Columbus, OH
December 20, 1977*
no, no 		at Columbus
Columbus Christmas Tournament		 W 74–62  5–2
  
Columbus, OH
January 5, 1978*
no, no 		Edward Waters W 102–92  6–2
  
Orlando, FL
January 7, 1978*
no, no 		UNC–Asheville W 88–70  7–2
  
Orlando, FL
January 11, 1978*
no, no 		Western New England W 106–79  8–2
  
Orlando, FL
January 14, 1978*
no, no 		Florida Memorial W 106–79  9–2
  
Orlando, FL
January 17, 1978
no, no 		at St. Thomas W 64–46  10–2
(1–0)		  
Miami Gardens, FL
January 21, 1978
no, no 		at Rollins W 81–71  11–2
(2–0)		  
Winter Park, FL
January 24, 1978
no, no 		Florida Southern W 78–75  12–2
(3–0)		  
Orlando, FL
January 26, 1978*
no, no 		at South Florida W 79–57  13–2
  
Tampa, FL
January 28, 1978
no, no 		at Eckerd W 109–81  14–2
(4–0)		  
St. Petersburg, FL
January 31, 1978
no, no 		Saint Leo W 68–53  15–2
(5–0)		  
Orlando, FL
February 2, 1978*
no, no 		at Flagler W 88–64  16–2
  
St. Augustine, FL
February 4, 1978
no, no 		St. Thomas W 76–68  17–2
(6–0)		  
Orlando, FL
February 8, 1978
no, no 		Rollins W 76–72  18–2
(7–0)		  
Orlando, FL
February 11, 1978
no, no 		at Florida Southern W 97–90  19–2
(8–0)		  
Lakeland, FL
February 14, 1978
no, no 		Eckerd W 100–67  20–2
(9–0)		  
Orlando, FL
February 18, 1978
no, no 		at St. Leo W 79–61  21–2
(10–0)		  
Saint Leo, FL
Sunshine State Conference Tournament
February 21, 1978
no, no 		vs. St. Leo
Semifinals		 W 89–60  22–2
  
Lakeland, FL
February 22, 1978
no, no 		vs. Rollins
Championship		 W 103–66  23–2
  
Lakeland, FL
NCAA Tournament
March 3, 1978
no, no 		vs. Augusta
First Round		 W 86–66  24–2
  
Orlando, FL
March 4, 1978
no, no 		vs. Florida A&M
First Round		 W 85–78  25–2
  
Orlando, FL
March 11, 1978
no, no 		vs. San Diego
Quarterfinal		 W 77–71  26–2
  
Orlando, FL
March 17, 1978
no, no 		vs. Cheyney State
Semifinal		 L 63–79  26–3
  
Springfield, MO
March 18, 1978
no, no 		vs. Eastern Illinois
Third Place		 L 67–77  26–4
  
Springfield, MO
*Non-Conference Game.

References
  1. In December 1978, Florida Technological University was renamed the University of Central Florida.
  2. "2007–08 UCF Knights Men's Basketball Media Guide - UCF History". University of Central Florida Athletics Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  3. "FTU's Early Athletics Programs; UCF First Champions". University of Central Florida Athletics Association. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. "2012–13 UCF Men's Basketball Yearbook". University of Central Florida Athletics Association. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
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