Two defensive-minded squads, led by standout guards, clash as UCF meets UCLA in a highly anticipated tournament matchup.
Game time: 7:25 p.m.
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena; Philadelphia, Pa.
TV/Radio: TBS/96.9 FM The Game
VITALS: The UCF Knights (21-11, 9-9 Big 12) make their return to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 10 seed for the first time since 2019, facing the No. 7 seed UCLA Bruins (23-11, 13-7 Big Ten). UCF and UCLA haven't played each other before, but their coaches have. Bruins coach Mick Cronin and Knights coach Johnny Dawkins met six times in the American Conference when Cronin coached at Cincinnati. These two teams share similar philosophies, led by playmaking guards — UCLA's Donovan Dent and UCF's Themus Fulks — and are defensive-minded, taking pride in defending and rebounding.
Betting odds, courtesy of USA Today:
Spread: UCF +5.5, UCLA -5.5
Moneyline: UCF +195, Arizona -245
Over/under: 152.5 total points
DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER
KEY UCF PLAYERS
G Riley Kugel: 14.4 PTS, 3.1 REBS and 2.5 ASTS on 41.8 FG%, 77.1 FT% and 39.2 3P%
G Themus Fulks: 14.1 PTS, 3.0 REBS and 6.7 ASTS on 46.5 FG%, 79.5 FT% and 40.8 3P%
G Chris Johnson: 6.4 PTS, 1.4 REBS and 1.9 ASTS on 44.0 FG%, 70.0 FT% and 36.9 3P%
F Jamichael Stillwell: 11.7 PTS, 8.0 REBS and 2.2 ASTS on 50.8 FG%, 72.4 FT% and 31.6 3P%
F Jordan Burks: 13.0 PTS and 4.8 REBS on 45.1 FG%, 78.2 FT% and 36.0 3P%
KEY UCF STATS
SCORING OFFENSE: 81.0 POINTS/GAME (6th in Big 12)
- 46.6 FG% (7th in Big 12)
- 36.2 3P% (4th in Big 12)
- 74.0 FT% (7th in Big 12)
- 15.8 ASTS (7th in Big 12)
- 12.4 OREBS (6th in Big 12)
SCORING DEFENSE: 78.5 POINTS/GAME (12th in Big 12)
- 45.6 FG% (13th in Big 12)
- 34.0 3P% (9th in Big 12)
- 74.3 FT% (15th in Big 12)
- 14.0 ASTS (9th in Big 12)
- 9.9 OREBS (5th in Big 12)
QUOTE: "I expect a great game," Dawkins said in media availability on Thursday. "Mick [Cronin] does a great job with his team, of course. UCLA is one of the storied programs of all of college basketball. What an amazing history that they've had there. And of course, Coach Cronin is a coach that I've known from the American as well. How about that? We faced each other in the American on numerous occasions as well. Like I said, great coach. He's had success everywhere he's been. I know his team is going to be really, really talented. They're very skilled, and they're tough. That's usually their MO, and that's what his MO was in the American, and I'm sure that's his MO there at UCLA as well."
UCF KNIGHTS AIM TO EXTEND TOURNAMENT RUN WITH SECOND ROUND APPEARANCE
UCF won its first matchup against Virginia Commonwealth, 73-58, in 2019, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, the Knights' run ended in a heartbreaking loss to the Duke Blue Devils, Dawkins' alma mater.
The Knights are heading into Friday's matchup with a "one-and-0" mentality to extend their stay in Philadelphia one more game. If UCF upsets UCLA, the team would face the winner of the No. 2 seed Connecticut Huskies and the No. 16 seed Furman Paladins.
Regardless of the outcome, UCF capped off a historic season with an NCAA Tournament appearance. However, the players want to hoist the tournament trophy in the air.
"We've got six games to make that happen," forward Devan Cambridge said.
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