Knights battle for NCAA Tournament hopes, seeking to end a three-game skid against a surging TCU squad.
Game day: Feb. 17
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Addition Financial Arena; Orlando, Fla.
VITALS: The UCF Knights (17-7, 6-6 Big 12) are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers, 74-67, last Saturday. They blew a 13-point lead with under 12 minutes and 30 seconds remaining in the second half. The loss extended their losing streak to three straight and dropped their conference record to .500. While UCF falls, TCU (16-9, 6-6 Big 12) rises. The Horned Frogs are on a three-game winning streak, one including an upset against No. 5 Iowa State. Tuesday's matchup features a struggling team on the verge of dashing their NCAA Tournament dream, while the other fights for their spot to make the mad dance in March.
KEY UCF PLAYERS:
G Riley Kugel: 14.3 PTS, 3.3 REBS and 2.7 ASTS on 40.9 FG%, 77.1 FT% and 38.5 3P%
G Themus Fulks: 13.5 PTS, 3.1 REBS and 6.8 ASTS on 47.8 FG%, 77.9 FT% and 44.4 3P%
G Chris Johnson: 6.6 PTS, 1.3 REBS and 1.7 ASTS on 44.6 FG%, 74.1 FT% and 37.7 3P%
F Jamichael Stillwell: 12.3 PTS, 8 REBS and 2 ASTS on 52 FG%, 72.2 FT% and 32.3% 3P%
F Jordan Burks: 12.5 PTS and 4.3 REBS on 45.6 FG%, 84.9 FT% and 38.3 3P%
KEY UCF STATS:
SCORING OFFENSE: 81.8 POINTS/GAME (7th in Big 12)
- 47.1 FG% (6th in Big 12)
- 37.1 3P% (3rd in Big 12)
- 74.5 FT% (5th in Big 12)
- 16 ASTS (6th in Big 12)
- 12.6 OREBS (4th in Big 12)
SCORING DEFENSE: 77.7 POINTS/GAME (11th in Big 12)
- 46.1 FG% (14th in Big 12)
- 33.9 3P% (8th in Big 12)
- 73.7 FT% (14th in Big 12)
- 14.3 ASTS (11th in Big 12)
- 9.3 OREBS (3rd in Big 12)
QUOTE: "Well, we have to take a look at the film and see exactly what we have to do to get our guys prepared, and then we'll start studying our next opponent and get our guys ready," coach Johnny Dawkins said. "But the main thing is, like I said, we always know defense and rebounding has to be first. We have to build our identity off of that, and then offensively, we know we have to share the basketball. The ball has to move, the ball has to have energy."
KNIGHTS AIM TO SNAP THREE-GAME LOSING STREAK, AVOID FEBRUARY COLLAPSE
UCF's three-game losing streak is its first of the season, entering unprecedented territory given its impressive year. Dawkins and his players have stressed the importance of defense and rebounding throughout the rough stretch.
The team's last three games have ended in a 24-point blowout, a 20-point blowout and a 13-point blown lead. They have given up 81.7 points and see their opponents shoot 52.2% from the field.
These performances all lead to one common theme shown in past seasons: UCF is experiencing its annual February collapse. The Knights have not had a winning record in the month since entering the Big 12.
They've lost three of the seven games in February, meaning they must win out to avoid a collapse and return to form.