Knights aim to shock top-seeded Arizona after a close January battle. Can they pull off the upset and advance to the fourth round?
Game time: 3 p.m.
Where: T-Mobile Center; Kansas City, Mo.
TV/Radio: ESPN/96.9 FM The Game
VITALS: The No. 8 seed UCF Knights (20-10, 9-9 Big 12) meet the No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats (29-2, 16-2 Big 12) for the second time this season. These two teams met back in January, and UCF fought hard against then-No. 1 Arizona, losing 84-77. The Knights have proved themselves as worthy competitors against elite teams, yielding a .500 record against AP Top 25 opponents this season. A shocking upset against the Wildcats advances UCF to the fourth round, where they would play the No. 4 seed Texas Tech Red Raiders (22-9, 12-6 Big 12) or the No. 5 seed Iowa State Cyclones (26-6, 12-6 Big 12).
Betting odds, courtesy of USA Today:
Spread: UCF +16, Arizona -16
Moneyline: UCF +1390, Arizona -3460
Over/under: 158.5 total points
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KEY UCF PLAYERS
G Riley Kugel: 14.7 PTS, 3.2 REBS and 2.7 ASTS on 42.1 FG%, 78.8 FT% and 39.7 3P%
G Themus Fulks: 14.4 PTS, 3.0 REBS and 6.8 ASTS on 46.8 FG%, 79.5 FT% and 40.0 3P%
G Chris Johnson: 6.4 PTS, 1.3 REBS and 2.0 ASTS on 44.4 FG%, 71.8 FT% and 39.0 3P%
F Jamichael Stillwell: 11.6 PTS, 7.6 REBS and 2.2 ASTS on 52.1 FG%, 73.1 FT% and 33.3 3P%
F Jordan Burks: 13.3 PTS and 4.7 REBS on 45.7 FG%, 78.4 FT% and 38.3 3P%
KEY UCF STATS
SCORING OFFENSE: 82.2 POINTS/GAME (5th in Big 12)
- 47.4 FG% (5th in Big 12)
- 37.8 3P% (3rd in Big 12)
- 74.8 FT% (5th in Big 12)
- 16.1 ASTS (5th in Big 12)
- 12.2 OREBS (6th in Big 12)
SCORING DEFENSE: 78.8 POINTS/GAME (12th in Big 12)
- 45.9 FG% (13th in Big 12)
- 33.7 3P% (7th in Big 12)
- 75.0 FT% (15th in Big 12)
- 14.2 ASTS (11th in Big 12)
- 9.8 OREBS (5th in Big 12)
QUOTE: “I know they're [Arizona] a terrific team," coach Johnny Dawkins said. "They've had a great season, and I know when we leave here, we have to start preparing for them, but [they're] very talented, again, well coached. And so, like all the teams in the Big 12, we have to make sure we go do our homework and study up on them as fast as we can. We have a quick turnaround because tomorrow at 2 o'clock we'll be tipping it off again."
UCF ATTEMPTS TO EXACT REVENGE AGAINST ARIZONA, ADVANCE TO THE FOURTH ROUND
In their first meeting, the Knights prevented the lead from ballooning to over 10 points until 10 minutes in the second half. A career-high performance from Fulks presented UCF with an opportunity to upset Arizona, but it wasn't enough.
Fulks scored 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting and delivered eight dimes to his teammates. However, guard Jaden Bradley countered with 23 points on 6-for-12 shooting and 11-for-13 from the charity stripe.
The Wildcats made 23 free throws, which padded their lead late in the game and outmatched the Knights' 13.
Thursday's matchup provides UCF with another chance to exact revenge, add another upset to its NCAA resume and move forward to the next round of the Big 12 Tournament.
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