Both UCF and Utah ended losing streaks. Can the Knights maintain momentum against a desperate Utes squad at home?
Game time: 9 p.m.
Where: Jon M. Huntsman Center; Salt Lake City, Utah
TV/Radio: ESPN+/96.9 FM The Game
VITALS: Saturday's matchup features two teams that snapped losing streaks in their last game. The UCF Knights (18-7, 7-6 Big 12) snapped a three-game losing streak after defeating Texas Christian 82-71, and preventing another collapse from occurring. The Utah Utes (10-16, 2-11 Big 12) beat the West Virginia Mountaineers 61-56 and snapped a seven-game losing streak. Guard Terrance Brown is the leader for the Utes, averaging 20.2 points on 44.1% from the field and 3.8 assists per game.
Betting odds, courtesy of USA Today:
Spread: UCF -1, Utah +1
Moneyline: UCF -115, Utah -105
Over/under: 153 total points
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KEY UCF PLAYERS
G Riley Kugel: 14 PTS, 3.2 REBS and 2.7 ASTS on 40.9 FG%, 78.4 FT% and 38.1 3P%
G Themus Fulks: 13.6 PTS, 3 REBS and 6.8 ASTS on 47.9 FG%, 78.9 FT% and 44.4 3P%
G Chris Johnson: 6.3 PTS, 1.3 REBS and 1.8 ASTS on 44.3 FG%, 72.4 FT% and 37.1 3P%
F Jamichael Stillwell: 12.1 PTS, 7.9 REBS and 2 ASTS on 52.2 FG%, 72.4 FT% and 32.3 3P%
F Jordan Burks: 13 PTS and 4.4 REBS on 45.3 FG%, 85.3 FT% and 38.7 3P%
KEY UCF STATS
SCORING OFFENSE: 81.8 POINTS/GAME (6th in Big 12)
- 47.2 FG% (5th in Big 12)
- 37.3 3P% (3rd in Big 12)
- 75.2 FT% (3rd in Big 12)
- 16 ASTS (6th in Big 12)
- 12.4 OREBS (4th in Big 12)
SCORING DEFENSE: 77.4 POINTS/GAME (11th in Big 12)
- 45.9 FG% (13th in Big 12)
- 33.4 3P% (9th in Big 12)
- 73.2 FT% (13th in Big 12)
- 14.3 ASTS (11th in Big 12)
- 9.5 OREBS (2nd in Big 12)
QUOTE: "Well, what we want to do is we want to continue to take it one game at a time," coach Johnny Dawkins said. "You know, I won't look past our next opponent, and I don't want my players looking past our next opponent. Just that's all that we can control. It's our preparation for what we're going to play next and then we move forward from there. And hopefully we'll take the lessons tonight. Like I said last game, we got to take the lessons that we'll learn, try to apply them going forward, try to make the improvements necessary as we play our next opponent. So whether we play well or play poorly, there are going to be lessons to be learned that we have to gather the information, teach, and then go in the game, and hopefully we're making improvements in those areas."
UCF KNIGHTS IN UTAH FOR TWO-GAME ROAD TRIP
UCF will be in Utah for its next two matchups: the first against the Utes and the next against No. 23 Brigham Young in Provo next Tuesday.
These next two games are significant for NCAA Tournament implications for the Knights. The three-game losing streak to start February prevented the team from becoming a "lock" for the tournament.
Gaining a win on this road trip will add to UCF's resume and push it toward making the dance for the first time since 2019. But first, they must face a Utah team that snapped a seven-game losing streak.