UCF Upsets No. 11 Texas Tech, Proving the Big 12 Is a Gauntlet From Top to Bottom
The Big 12 has been a grind all season, and Saturday gave us another reminder that there are no easy nights in this league. Just ask No.
11 Texas Tech, who walked into Orlando riding high off a win over then-No. 6 Houston - and walked out stunned.
UCF, unranked but anything but untested, pulled off a statement 88-80 win over the Red Raiders, showing once again that the bottom of the Big 12 might be just as dangerous as the top.
UCF Dominates the Glass, Controls the Game
The Knights didn’t just beat Texas Tech - they outworked them. UCF owned the boards, out-rebounding the Red Raiders 34-22, including a lopsided 13-4 edge on the offensive glass.
That kind of rebounding gap isn’t just a stat - it’s a tone-setter. It gave UCF extra possessions, wore down Texas Tech’s defense, and gave the Knights all the momentum they needed to pull off their biggest win of the season.
This wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t a lucky shooting night or a cold streak from the Red Raiders. UCF executed, played with poise, and got big-time performances from their veterans.
Senior guard Themus Fulks led the way with 21 points on 9-of-23 shooting, dished out seven assists, and was the engine behind a balanced scoring effort that saw four Knights starters finish in double figures. It was the kind of performance you expect from a team that believes it belongs - and UCF made it clear they do.
Efficiency and Execution: UCF Checks All the Boxes
It’s not just that UCF scored 88 points - it’s how they did it. The Knights shot nearly 50% from the field (49.2%), knocked down 46.2% of their threes (6-of-13), and were rock solid at the line, hitting 18-of-22 free throws (81.8%). They also took care of the ball, committing just six turnovers compared to 13 from Texas Tech.
That’s the kind of clean, efficient basketball that wins games in March - and it’s what makes UCF such a dangerous team in this loaded Big 12.
Building a Resume That Demands Respect
This win over Texas Tech marks UCF’s second victory over a ranked Big 12 opponent this season. The first came back on January 3, when they knocked off then-No.
17 Kansas, 81-75. Add those to a résumé that includes competitive losses to No.
1 Arizona and No. 9 Iowa State, and it’s clear the Knights aren’t just hanging around - they’re contending.
Even their four total losses tell a story. Three came against ranked teams, and the fourth was to Oklahoma State - the lone unranked blemish.
Their only non-conference loss? Against a Vanderbilt squad that currently sits at No. 18 in the AP poll.
So while UCF’s KenPom ranking sits at 45 - not exactly eye-popping - the full picture paints a different story. This is a team that’s already beaten two ranked Big 12 opponents and has shown it can go toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the country.
Big 12 Depth Is No Joke
According to the latest bracketology projections, seven Big 12 teams are currently in the NCAA Tournament field. That number might not match the Big Ten’s 11 projected bids, but what the Big 12 lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality - and parity. UCF came into Saturday as a projected No. 9 seed, the lowest of the Big 12 teams in the field, but they certainly didn’t look like a bottom-tier squad in this one.
And the road ahead? It doesn’t get any easier.
UCF heads to No. 10 Houston on Wednesday and faces another tough road test at No.
13 BYU later this month. But if this team has shown us anything, it’s that they don’t back down - not from ranked teams, not from physical battles, and definitely not from the moment.
The Takeaway
UCF’s win over Texas Tech is more than just a resume booster - it’s a statement. In a Big 12 that’s as deep and unforgiving as any conference in college basketball, the Knights are proving they belong.
They're not just spoilers. They're contenders.
So the rest of the Big 12 - and the rest of the country - better take notice. UCF isn’t just fighting for a spot in March. They’re fighting to make some serious noise when they get there.