Men's Hoops Set for AutoNation Orange Bowl Basketball Classic

ORLANDO – The UCF men’s basketball team is set for a neutral site contest at the AutoNation Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. The Knights are set to clash with former conferencemate Tulsa for a 2 p.m. tip on Saturday on ESPNU.

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Amerant Bank Arena; Sunrise, Fla.
TV: ESPNU
Talent: Mike Corey (PxP), Perry Clark (Analyst)
Radio: FM 96.9/AM 740 The Game
Talent: Marc Daniels (PxP)
Live Stats: Click Here

KNIGHT NOTES

• Darius Johnson has climbed into the top four of UCF’s assists and steals career leaderboard, sitting tied for fourth and third, respectively. At 28 steals through nine games in 2024-25 (3.11 p/gm), Johnson is on pace to add an additional 68 steals, which would give him 96 at the end of the regular season. That would be the third most in a season in UCF history (record is 110 by Jerry Prather in 1977-78) and be the record for most in UCF’s D-I era (record is 73 by Johnson in 2023-24). Johnson has made four or more three-pointers in four of UCF’s nine games thus far, shooting a remarkable 47.4% from beyond. Johnson improved 12.5% from beyond in 2023-24 compared to his 2022-23 clip. This season, he has 43 total assists, ranking seventh in the Big 12. He’s rebounding at a higher rate than in the past, pulling in 3.9 rebounds per game compared to 3.3 last season.
• Saturday’s contest will be the third time in program history that UCF takes part in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. The Knights’ first time playing in the neutral site contest was back on Dec. 18, 2010 against Miami. UCF trailed by 10 at halftime, but scored 51 second half points to triumph over the Hurricanes 84-78. The Black and Gold shot 51.8% from the field while Marcus Jordan, led the Knights in scoring with 23 points on 8-for-18 shooting. Keith Clanton who is UCF’s all time leader in games played and rebounds, also played in the game. Unfourtunately, the victory, as well as any and all wins from the 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, were revoked due to NCAA sanctions. UCF returned to the Orange Bowl on Dec. 17, 2022, matching up with Missouri, falling in a heartbreaking buzzer-beater by the Tigers in a 68-66 final. Four Knights scored double-digit points, including UCF’s first lottery and first round pick Taylor Hendricks who scored 11 and current Knight Darius Johnson who had 12. Johnson added six steals and six assists in the loss.
• Despite allowing 74.9 PPG on defense this season, the Knights have held their last three opponents to 62.0 PPG. UCF has held its last two opponents to under 60 points, limiting California Baptist to 59 and Tarleton St. to 51. The Knights held the Lancers to the lowest field goal percentage by an opponent this season at 35.1%. UCF also held California Baptist to the lowest made and attempted three-pointers, assists, second half points and fast break points this season. California Baptist entered the contest turning the ball over the fourth-fewest amount of times in the nation. UCF proceeded to turn over the Lancers 19 times, a season-high for both sides. Additionally, the Knights posted their largest margin of victory on the season. The Knights have snatched double-digit steals in three of their last four contests (15 vs. LSU; 19 vs. California Baptist, Tarleton St., 12).
• Freshman Moustapha Thiam has made a major impact over UCF’s last two games, averaging 10.5 points, eight rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game. He recorded six blocks in a game for the second time this season, swatting aside six shots against Tarleton St. after doing the same on opening night against No. 13/15 Texas A&M. The freshman is pacing nicely with UCF legend Tacko Fall who posted 70 blocks in his rookie season, a Knights freshman record. Through nine contests of the 2015-16 season, Fall had 26 blocks while Thiam currently sits at 20. Fall had one six-block game during that stretch. Taylor Hendricks, UCF’s first lottery and first round pick in program history, had 59 in 2022-23, the second most by a UCF rookie. Hendricks had 14 blocks through nine games.
• The Knights are averaging 15.0 forced turnovers per game this season, continuing a trend from the last three seasons. UCF has forced north of 14 turnovers per game each of the last three seasons, including a 14.21 clip last season and a 14.82 mark in 2022-23, the highest during the Dawkins era. UCF’s defense ranks in the top 75 in turnover percentage according to KenPom with a 20.2% clip which indicates that about one of every five Knight possessions stemmed from a turnover. The Knights finished ranked 29th last season after recording a 20.4% mark. A big part of the high turnovers forced mark has been steals, as the Knights have snatched 8.8 steals per game, a mark that ranks 55th in the country and fourth in the Big 12. UCF averaged 8.7 steals per game last season, ranking 22nd in D-I. The Black and Gold forced 23 turnovers against Tarleton St., the first time forcing 20+ in a game this season. UCF accomplished the feat four times last year, the most in any season under Dawkins. UCF has forced 20+ turnovers 15 times under Dawkins.
• UCF is 40-12 in the month of December under Johnny Dawkins, never losing more than two games in any December while he has been at the helm. Two of Dawkins’ five victories over top-25 teams at UCF have come in December. The Black and Gold are 31-4 at home in December during Dawkins’ tenure. The Knights have averaged 72.2 points per game in December under Dawkins while holding foes to just 61.1 points per game, a double-digit margin of 11.1 points per contest.

THE MATCHUP

• UCF has won seven of its last nine games against Tulsa, including two sraight dominant wins last season. The Knights earned a 96-52 at home on Feb. 11 before going to Tulsa and winning 68-49 two weeks later.

SCOUTING TULSA

• Tulsa enters the weekend with a 4-6 record so far this season
• The Golden Hurricane boast a quartet of 10+ point scorers so far this season. Keaston Willis leads the squad with 13.8 points per game, followed by Dwon Odom with 12.6, Tyshawn Archie with 11.8 and Isaiah Barnes with 10.3.