Preview: Cincinnati at UCF

Cincinnati will look to end a four-game losing streak on Wednesday night when they travel to Orlando for a matchup against Central Florida inside Addition Financial Stadium.

 

Photo Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

 

Year four for Wes Miller has been one to forget. After entering conference play with a 10-1 record, the Bearcats are 2-8 in conference play, 15th in the league standings, and with a 12-9 record are now out of all bracket projections. 

 

At this point, Miller is simply searching for guys that will give consistent effort at both ends of the floor.

 

""We have to find the right combination of guys that want to fight. It's not a talent thing or ability thing," Miller said following the Bearcats' 63-50 loss to West Virginia. "In my 14 years as a head coach, I don't know if I've ever had a team at this point in the year where I felt the lack of effort collectively that I feel right now."

 

Everyone knew the Big 12 would be challenging, but I don't think anyone expected the Bearcats to have the type of issues they've had over the last month. With that said, they will have to figure things out in a hurry.

 

While UCF enters Wednesday night with a 13-8 record (4-6 Big 12) and losers of 4 of their previous 5, the Knights have been more consistent with their results.

 

Those results include a road win over Texas Tech to open Big 12 play, as well as a win against Texas A&M to begin the season. Overall, UCF is 3-6 in Quad 1 opportunities, with the only lopsided losses coming against Kansas (99-48) and Iowa State (108-83).

 

UCF is currently No. 63 in the NET ratings and 58th in Kenpom's rankings. UC sits at 53rd in the NET ratings and 60th in the Kenpom rankings.

 

UCF by numbers:

  • UCF ranks 49th in adjusted offensive efficiency (115.4) and 81st in adjusted defensive efficiency (101.7).
  • The Knights are one of six teams in the Power 4 and Big East to have three 14.5+ points per game scorers. The trio of Keyshawn Hall (18.1), Darius Johnson (14.8) and Jordan Ivy-Curry (14.5) combine for 59.5% of UCF’s points, an average of 47.4 PPG of UCF’s average of 79.6.
  •  Combined, the trio makes 10.0% more of their field goals and 4.3% more of their three-point attempts in games UCF wins.
     In UCF Wins: Johnson: 44.8 FG%, 46.1 3PT%; Hall: 48.4 FG%, 43.5 3PT%; Ivy-Curry: 44.0 FG%, 34.9 3PT%
     In UCF Losses: Johnson: 34.7 FG%, 37.3 3PT%; Hall: 37.3 FG%, 32.4 3PT%; Ivy-Curry: 35.1 FG%, 38.9 3PT%
  • UCF has made 10 or more three-pointers in nine games so far this season, including seven times in the last 11 game. The Knights average 9.0 made three pointers per game,
  • Effective field goal % - 49.1 (253rd) 
  • Offensive turnover % - 16.4 (116th)  Defensive turnover % - (18.8 (94th)
  • Free throw % - 77.8 (26th)
  • Offensive rebound % - 32.1 (127th) Defensive rebound % - 33.9 (327th)
  • 2pt % - 46.8 (313th)  Defensive 2pt % - 50.1 (149th)

 

UCF Probable Starters:

6'3 5th yr G Jordan Ivy-Curry (14.5 ppg, 3.5 Reb, 2.7 ast, 40 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 86.3 FT%)

Spent three of his last four seasons at UTSA.  Has knocked down four or more three-pointers in five of his last 12 games and has nine games where he’s made three or more 
three's. Scored a season high 24 points against Iowa State with six made three pointers.

 

6'1 Sr G Darius Johnson (14.8 ppg, 3.4 reb, 4.1 ast, 40 FG%, 42.5 3P%, 79.5 FT%)

One of three players in the Big 12 currently with 400 assists and 200 steals. Currently ranks 29th in the country and 2nd in the Big 12 in three-point percentage. Three games this season with five or more made three's, including making eight in a game against Milwaukee. Has averaged 9.2 ppg in five games against UC during his career.

 

6'7" Jr G Keyshawn Hall (18.1 pts, 6.9 rbs, 2.5 ast, 40.4 FG%, 42.5 3P%, 82 FT%)

 

Hall has 10 20+ point games and scored double-digit points in all but three games this season. He scored 40 against Arizona State and is averaging 26.6 ppg over his last three. Hall is currently the Big 12 leader in scoring average during league play (21.3 ppg). Hall is a Cleveland native who began his career at UNLV before transferring to George Mason last season, where he was an All-Atlantic 10 Second Team Selection.

 

6'6" Sr G Dallan Coleman (6.4 pts, 4.4 rbs, 1.0 ast, 36.6 FG%, 31.3 3P%, 78 FT%)

 

Coleman transferred to UCF this offseason after spending his first three years at Georgia Tech. Coleman is shooting 36.4% from three during Big 12 play but has scored in double figures just twice this season. 

 

7'2" Fr C Moustapha Thiam (9.6 pts, 5.3 reb, 51.4 FG%, 33 3P%, 69 FT%)

 

Ranked #43 nationally coming out of high school, the former four-star center has made an impact immediately this season registering five or more blocks in four games. Thiam had six blocks in the first game of the season against Texas A&M. The freshman center is averaging 15.4 points per game over his last five and has scored double figures in four of those games. 

Final Thoughts:

There's really not much to say, other than UC has to find a way to play with more effort and intensity or they will be blown out of the gym once again on the road. 

 

UC had four-straight games with single-digit turnovers prior to having 14 against West Va on Sunday. With how much firepower UCF has offensively, UC can not afford to have a similar performance Wednesday night. UCF is averaging just under 14 forced turnovers per game and 4.4 blocks per game. Defensively, they will present similar challenges that West Virginia did. 

 

With the toughness of this team being questioned a lot over the past two weeks, a win at UCF would at least show they haven't mailed it in and are still trying to get back in the NCAA Tournament picture. 

 

UC enters as a 3.5-point underdog with the over/under set at 145.5. 

 

Tip off is set for 7pm on CBS Sports Network. 

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