After back-to-back losses - including a lopsided 92-72 defeat at Cincinnati - UCF suddenly finds itself walking a tightrope in the NCAA Tournament picture. The Knights still sit on the right side of the bubble for now, but they’re trending in the wrong direction as they gear up for a crucial Big 12 home matchup against West Virginia on Saturday night in Orlando.
Head coach Johnny Dawkins isn’t hitting the panic button just yet. “We’ve just got to keep working,” Dawkins said.
“We need to be getting better every day. When you’re in this gauntlet, anything can happen from game to game.”
And he’s not wrong - the Big 12 is a meat grinder. But “anything” in this case meant UCF running into a Cincinnati team that couldn’t miss.
The Bearcats shot a blistering 59% from the field (33-of-56) and knocked down 11 of 18 from beyond the arc - a far cry from their usual offensive output. That kind of shooting night will torch even the most disciplined defense, and UCF’s hasn’t exactly been airtight lately.
In fact, over their last seven games, the Knights have surrendered an average of 83.4 points. That’s not the kind of defensive identity Dawkins wants heading into the stretch run of conference play - especially not when you’re trying to lock down an at-large tournament bid.
The good news? UCF (17-6, 6-5 Big 12) had a midweek bye, giving them six full days to regroup, refocus, and hopefully recalibrate their defense.
That time off might also help Themus Fulks reset. The junior point guard had a rough outing in Cincinnati, going scoreless in 19 minutes, missing both of his shots and turning the ball over twice.
That’s not the version of Fulks this team needs.
When he’s right, Fulks is a difference-maker. He’s second on the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game and ranks 12th nationally with 6.8 assists per contest. His ability to control pace and create offense is essential for a UCF squad that can’t afford many more missteps.
West Virginia (15-9, 6-5) is in a similar spot - not out of the tournament conversation, but needing a strong finish to stay in it. The Mountaineers also had a midweek bye after their own Sunday loss, a 70-63 home setback to then-No.
13 Texas Tech. That one was decided from deep, where West Virginia shot a dismal 2-of-22 while the Red Raiders lit it up, going 13-of-24 from long range.
First-year head coach Ross Hodge pointed to effort and energy as key factors in the loss. “I think if you step on the floor legitimately expecting to win the game, you get more loose balls than your opponent,” Hodge said. “That was the ultimate disappointing part of the game to me.”
It’s a telling quote - and one that speaks to the mindset Hodge is trying to instill in a team still finding its identity. The Mountaineers have talent, but they’ll need to bring more grit and urgency if they want to steal a road win in Orlando.
They’ll also need their leading scorer, Honor Huff, to bounce back. Huff leads the team with 15.4 points per game, but he’s coming off a rough outing against Texas Tech where he went 0-for-8 from the field and scored all six of his points from the free-throw line.
So, both teams come into Saturday’s matchup with something to prove and plenty on the line. For UCF, it’s a chance to stop the slide and solidify their tournament credentials.
For West Virginia, it’s about keeping hope alive for a late-season push. In a conference as stacked as the Big 12, every game feels like a postseason audition - and this one’s no exception.