ORLANDO – It will be just shy of a week since the UCF men's basketball team opened its season with a home victory over Auburn when the Knights return to action this Sunday at Michigan. The Knights and the Wolverines are scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. from the Crisler Center on the Big Ten Network.
UCF (1-0) upended Auburn 63-55 this past Monday after its originally scheduled opener against Oklahoma was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.
Michigan (3-0), meanwhile, has gotten three games in already in 2020-21, defeating Bowling Green, Oakland, and Ball State, all at home.
Sunday marks the first game between UCF and Michigan in the history of both programs, but the Knights have played 12 games against the 14 teams that currently comprise the Big Ten.
Game Information
Date: Sunday, Dec. 6
Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: FM 96.9 The Game
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CHALLENGING NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
- While one of their four non-conference games has already been canceled due to COVID-19 issues, the Knights had put together one of the most challenging non-conference schedules in the country for 2020-21.
- UCF originally had out of league games slated at home with Oklahoma and this past Monday's game against Auburn, while playing on the road at Michigan this weekend and Florida State.
- It marks the first time UCF will play only non-conference games against major conference opponents and the Knights are the only team in The American to do so in 2020-21.
KNIGHTS AGAINST THE BIG TEN
- UCF has played 12 games all-time against the teams that currently make up the Big Ten, with this game against Michigan marking the 12th team in the league that the Knights will face, having only not had matchups with Northwestern and Indiana.
- The Knights are 4-8 all-time in those games, earning a neutral site win over Penn State in 2007, a home win over Rutgers in 2014, a home win over Illinois in the 2017 NIT and a neutral site victory over Nebraska in 2017.
- UCF has never defeated any of the current Big Ten programs in a true road game (0-7).
TAKING OUT THE TIGERS
- UCF opened up the 2020-21 season on Nov. 30, defeating Auburn 63-55 at home.
- The Knights did it with defense, holding the Tigers to 32.3 percent shooting from the field and 20.6 percent shooting from 3-point range.
- UCF recorded 12 steals and scored 14 points off of 22 Auburn turnovers.
- The Knights had six players score eight points or more, including Dre Fuller Jr. (13), Brandon Mahan (12) and Darin Green Jr. (10) in double figures.
GREEN IS GOOD
- Darin Green Jr. made quite an impact as a true freshman last season. He was the team's second leading scorer with 10.1 points per game, starting 14 times and playing in all 30 games.
- He set a UCF freshman record with 68 made 3-pointers and led The American with 41.7 percent shooting from 3-point range and 2.3 threes made per game.
- Green was even better during league play, also leading the AAC with 45.5 percent shooting from distance and 2.5 made 3-pointers per game against conference opponents.
- He shot 83.3 percent from the free throw line, was named the league's Freshman of the Week once and earned a spot on the AAC's Weekly Honor Roll once.
- Green scored 10 points in the win over Auburn, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers, while grabbing three rebounds and one steal.
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