After a rough stretch on the road, UCF is looking to bounce back - and all eyes are on Themus Fulks to lead the charge.
The fifth-year point guard has been the engine behind the Knights’ offense throughout Big 12 play, but his recent performances against two of the conference’s toughest defenses - Houston and Cincinnati - were uncharacteristically quiet. Against the Cougars, Fulks managed just 3-of-10 shooting from the field and dished out only three assists, well below his usual production. Things didn’t improve much in the next outing against the Bearcats, where he was held scoreless and saw limited minutes in the second half, finishing with just two assists.
For a player who ranks 12th nationally in assists per game, averaging nearly seven a night, those numbers stand out - not because they define Fulks, but because they don’t. He’s been a consistent playmaker all season, carving up defenses with his vision and pace. So when the stat sheet doesn’t match the eye test we’ve grown used to, it’s fair to expect a bounce-back.
Head coach Johnny Dawkins addressed Fulks’ recent dip and the team’s mindset following their second set of back-to-back losses this season. His message? Stay the course - adversity is part of the process.
“Well, Themus has been terrific,” Dawkins said. “Of course, he’s disappointed like everyone else on our team. And for him, this week is about just continuing to heal up and get better and move forward.”
Dawkins pointed to the learning curve that comes with navigating the Big 12 - a gauntlet of physical, high-level basketball that’s new territory for many on this roster. He emphasized that setbacks are part of the journey and that how the team responds will define its identity moving forward.
“You’re going to face some adversity,” he said. “I mean, I don’t know what team ever goes through a season without it.
And what do you do with that? How do you handle that adversity is what we have to look at doing, and that kind of determines who we are.”
That next test comes Saturday against West Virginia, and it’s a matchup tailor-made for Fulks to get back on track. He’ll be tasked with checking Honor Huff, the Mountaineers’ top scorer, but he’ll also have opportunities to exploit a West Virginia defense that’s struggled to defend the perimeter - they currently allow one of the worst three-point percentages in the Big 12.
That’s where Fulks can shine. Not only is he UCF’s top distributor, but he’s also their most efficient shooter from deep, hitting at a 44.1% clip from beyond the arc. Expect him to probe the defense, collapse the lane, and create open looks for his teammates - and when the defense sags off, he’s more than capable of making them pay from distance.
This is a pivotal moment for Fulks and for UCF. The team has shown flashes of real potential this season, and if Fulks can rediscover his rhythm, it could be the spark the Knights need to right the ship. Tip-off against West Virginia is set for Saturday at 6:00 p.m., and with Fulks at the helm, UCF will be looking to turn the page - and maybe turn some heads while they’re at it.