Recovering from injuries and getting back on course is the top priority for No. 23 Texas Tech this Saturday, however, Big 12 Conference newcomer UCF has its own plans as they head into Lubbock, Texas.
The Red Raiders have suffered a three-game losing streak, a situation they haven’t encountered since last season. They come into this matchup following a defeat to Baylor on the road, where a lackluster performance in the second half saw their hopes diminish.
Texas Tech (16-6, 5-4 Big 12) has been missing a crucial player in their recent matches due to an outbreak of flu within the team. Coach Grant McCasland also fell ill and returned to coach on Tuesday after being absent for a few days.
During their game in Waco, the Red Raiders lost control when Baylor went on a 13-0 run with the score tied at 51-51. Baylor’s 65% shooting in the second half (13 of 20) and dominance in the paint took advantage of Texas Tech’s absence of 7-footer Warren Washington.
“There was that stretch in the second half when we couldn’t get a stop,” McCasland said. “Their switching caused us problems and made us panic a couple of times. We did a better job rebounding in the second half but we couldn’t guard. That is a really good team and we didn’t play our best. We have to play better in order to win, especially on the road.”
It remains to be seen if the Red Raiders can regroup at full strength, but returning home where they boast an 11-1 record this season should provide a morale boost. The real challenge will be whether their recently sputtering offense can outmaneuver the Knights’ defense, which has been one of the strongest in the Big 12.
UCF (13-8, 4-5) leads the league with 116 blocked shots, ranks fourth with 189 steals, and sits fourth in opponent turnovers (314). As a result, the Knights only allow an average of 65.0 points per game, ranking third in the Big 12.
In their recent 74-63 victory against then-No. 23 Oklahoma, UCF achieved season-high statistics in both blocks (nine) and steals (12).
This win marked the 300th in Knights’ coach Johnny Dawkins‘ career.
“I’m glad it’s over,” Dawkins said. “That can build up and put pressure on our guys. I want them to concentrate on what we’re trying to do as a team and the kind of season that we’re having and not get caught up in the number of wins for the coach they are playing for.”
The Knights have stayed competitive in their inaugural journey through this challenging league, with Jaylin Sellers leading the charge with an average of 17.2 points per game.
Sellers is also among the busiest free-throw shooters in the Big 12, converting 98 of 114 attempts. Darius Johnson contributes 13.1 points per game and leads the team with 83 assists. Ibrahima Diallo tops the league with 41 blocked shots.
For Texas Tech, guards Pop Isaacs and Joe Toussaint lead the scoring with 17.3 and 12.7 points per game, respectively. Toussaint has tallied 95 assists, and Darrion Williams registered a career-high 17 points in the recent defeat against Baylor.
