The stakes are excessive for each groups when UCF travels to No. 23 BYU for a pivotal Large 12 Convention showdown on Tuesday in Provo, Utah.
With two straight wins, the Knights have firmed up their place squarely on the NCAA Event bubble. UCF (19-7, 8-6 Large 12) is ranked No. 46 within the NCAA NET. It’s 9-7 in Quadrant 1 and a couple of video games. The Knights are 10-0 in Quad 3 and 4 video games. So whereas UCF would not have any dangerous losses, it did begin February with a three-game dropping streak.
Consecutive wins, an 82-71 residence win over fellow bubble mate TCU on Tuesday was adopted up with a 73-71 nailbiter of a street win at Utah on Saturday. Themus Fulks led the best way in opposition to the Utes with 24 factors and hit a pair of free throws within the closing seconds for the Knights to flee with a win.
It was a win that stored the Knights’ Quad 3 and 4 sheet clear and it got here with out their co-leading scorer Riley Kugel (14.0 factors per recreation). Kugel was injured late within the TCU recreation. The senior guard had began all 25 video games. Reserve guard Carmelo Pacheco (5.0 factors) was questionable earlier than the Utah recreation however provided six factors off the bench.
“Riley continues to be day-to-day,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins stated. “Pacheco did an awesome job of giving us a carry in each halves (in opposition to Utah).”
Conversely, it seems BYU (20-7, 8-6) is contained in the NCAA Event reduce line. The Cougars are No. 19 within the NET and picked up a invaluable 79-69 residence win in opposition to No. 6 Iowa State on Saturday.
However it has been an up-and-down month for the Cougars. BYU is simply 3-3 in February and misplaced second-leading scorer Richie Saunders, who averaged 18 factors per recreation and 5.8 rebounds, to a torn ACL on Feb. 14 in a house win over Colorado.
“We have confronted loads of adversity and nobody has blinked,” BYU coach Kevin Younger stated. “They’ve stayed collectively and have stored working.”
Towards the Cyclones, the Cougars sprung the upset as AJ Dybantsa stuffed the stat sheet with 29 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. In Saunders absence, Kennard Davis Jr., who averages 7.8 factors per recreation, racked up 17 factors and pitched in 4 rebounds. Mihailo Boskovic (3.5 factors) additionally exceeded his common with 13 factors and 5 rebounds.
The senior from Serbia, Boskovic had simply three begins this season and performed 28 minutes in opposition to Iowa State, effectively above his season common of 12.9.
“I feel there’s lots to be stated for alternative and confidence,” Younger stated. “These guys perceive with Richie out their numbers are going to get known as extra. There’s just a little extra of a deep breath. They do not must press as a result of they know the ball goes to come back to them just a little extra.
“With Mihailo he is aware of he’s going to play extra minutes, so it is just a little simpler to get right into a rhythm when you will have that mindset. On the similar time, they get all of the credit score as a result of they’ve stayed prepared and so they have been capable of ship.”
–Subject Stage Media
