After upsetting the Kansas Jayhawks, the UCF Knights were knocked off by the Oklahoma State Cowboys
The UCF Knights have already experienced the highs and lows of playing in the Big 12.
After upsetting the Kansas Jayhawks in the conference opener, the Knights were given a reality check in a loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The defeat followed UCF making an appearance in the Top 25.
"The league is so tough," UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. "I mean, the road is so tough. Every environment is incredible and so you have to be prepared to battle for 40 minutes, no matter where you are, home or away, it's going to be a fight and that's what I've learned in my third year now of being in the Big 12. But that's what makes it so special I think all these coaches and players in this league embrace that challenge, embrace that competitiveness that's required to be successful." The league is so tough. I mean, the road is so tough. Every environment is incredible and so you have to be prepared to battle for 40 minutes, no matter where you are, home or away, it's going to be a fight and that's what I've learned in my third year now of being in the Big 12. But that's what makes it so special I think all these coaches and players in this league embrace that challenge, embrace that competitiveness that's required to be successful."
The Cowboys snapped the Knights' 11-game winning streak. Dawkins said he saw plenty of positives but also knows there are some negatives that need correcting.
"I thought it was definitely a hard-fought game," Dawkins said. "I give Oklahoma State, Steve's team, I thought they were really prepared. I thought they played very well. He has a lot of depth, a lot of talent, and I thought a number of guys stepped up and made plays for him. I thought [Kanye] Clary was really, really good at the point guard spot. Of course, [Anthony] Roy and [Parsa] Fallah. I mean, I thought those guys, not to mention the rest of the guys, [Vyctorius] Miller and the guys that they have on the team, but I thought those guys really made plays, especially timely plays for their team. And like I said, just give them credit for coming out and playing a really good ball game for 40 minutes."
UCF returns to action Sunday against Cincinnati.
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of UCFRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com