UCF still finding their standard in non-conference season

The UCF men's basketball team scored a landmark win to open the season against Texas A&M. Since then, the Knights are looking to replicate the focus and standard they set in the opening game.

Two weeks ago, UCF was on top of the world.

They had rallied late in the game to defeat then-No. 13 Texas A&M and showed a ton of resolve and grit. Their perimeter size and interior length bothered the Aggies and they were seemingly on top of the world as the fans stormed the court to celebrate the win.

The Knights have been chasing that high ever since. Any team would. They put forward their best game in the opener. They achieved something and served notice in their first game. They are trying to find that groove again.

Their two games since that win over Texas A&M felt similar, solid victories over Purdue Fort Wayne and FAU that ended comfortably but were anything but. The Knights raced ahead with offense and showed hints of their defense. But the picture was incomplete.

An 80-69 win over Tennessee Tech felt much the same. The Knights are still working to put together their best game. They are still working to be the team they know they can be.

Tuesday’s win was a win. But it was hardly the performance they thought they would get even against a team that likes to play 5-out and stretch the Knights’ defense and interior players.

It was nowhere near the standard or expectations they set for themselves especially after that strong and gutsy effort on opening night. UCF is still chasing that team.

It was imperfect. But that is what this time of the year is for.

“We were a bit disappointed,” Darius Johnson said. “We had multiple chances to increase the lead. We let them back in the game. We said before the game that they are a very dangerous team and they can shoot the three ball. We didn’t do a good job of covering that. . . .

“Defensively, I think we’ve had some great games this year. Offensively, we’ve had some pretty decent games. We haven’t had a game where we hung our hats on defense and were able to execute offensively and let everyone play.”

UCF has the reputation of a defensive team. And the Knights were still solid on defense, forcing the Eagles into 15 turnovers and 38.2 percent shooting for the game.

But, despite UCF’s efforts to build the lead, UCF never was able to run away. Tennessee Tech worked their way back into the game, cutting deficit to three with a 14-3 run in the middle of the second half.

That suddenly got everyone sweating and forced the Knights, who went without a field goal for nearly four minutes before a Moustapha Thiam three, of all things, snapped the drought.

The Knights’ defense fouled excessively, giving up 13 free throws in the second half alone and 22 for the game (the Eagles made 17).

And, yes, the Eagles made threes with Kenny Layton scoring all of his team-high 16 points in the second half including four 3-pointers during that critical run that cut into the deficit.

UCF may be trying to supercharge their offense and pick up their pace, but their identity still comes on defense. And that was something they needed to round into form.

“We have to be better defensively from the standpoint of guarding teams that have a number of threats on the perimeter,” coach Johnny Dawkins said. “This team was like that. But a lot of teams are like that in today’s college game. We have to defend the three-point line better than we did tonight.”

The challenge for UCF is about to get better now.

The Knights are of to WestVirginia this weekend for the Grenbrier Tip-Off and a date with No. 19 Wisconsin on Friday. The Knights have to be sharper on both ends. They have to be as dialed in as they were in the win over Texas A&M when they came from behind to get the win.

UCF has the tools to be an intriguing team from a veteran point guard in Darius Johnson to athletic wings like Jordan Ivy-Curry, Keyshawn Hall and Deebo Coleman to a promising freshman center in Thiam.

This is wht the team wanted in joining the Big 12 to play these kinds of games. Coach Johnny Dawkins put together a schedule that would challenge this team with the opener and now this weekend tournament in West Virginia.

The Knights are eager to make noise in the Big 12.

But it will take more consistency than they have shown this year to this point. The Knights have not been able to put teams away and extend leads. They have had to gut out victories.

The good news is they have been able to do so. If there is one thing UCF has proven so far, it is that they have the maturity and poise to answer back and finish games. That has been consistent through all four games this season.

“They definitely showed a great deal of maturity and like I said poise,” Dawkins said. “You have to be poised and calm in those situations. A lot of times when you have a younger team, they can lose themselves and it can go the other way. These guys have a calmness and poise and that’s why they were able to turn it around during that time.”

This is a veteran team even if they are transfers and still learning to play with each other. Dawkins said the team has shown that maturity but they still hae to learn how to build and maintain leads together.

The Knights are still establishing their standard and identity for the season. They are still figuring out how to piece together their roster full of transfers and potential.

UCF has seen what it can do. That is the good news.

Now the team is trying to put those pieces together more consistently as it builds toward conference season and now a big weekend on the road for the first time.

Game Summary

Keyshawn Hall scored 12 of his 20 points in the second half helping UCF hold off Tennessee Tech 80-69 in a frustrating game for the Big 12 school.

The Knights opened up as much as a 20-point lead but watched the Eagles climb to within three thanks to a 14-3 second-half run. Tennessee Tech shot 6 for 14 from three in the second half to close the gap to as little as three points.

Kyle Layton scored all 16 of his points in the second half hitting four threes to power Tennessee Tech’s run. Rodney Johnson Jr. and Jaylon Johnson each had 12 points for the Eagles.

Deebo Coleman added 14 points for the Knights.

Takeaways

Tennessee Tech: Not much was expected from Tennessee Tech in this one. But the Ohio Valley Conference team showed fight cutting a 20-point deficit down to three points and never letting UCF run away with the game.

UCF: The Knights have come back to earth a bit after their win over Texas A&M in the season opener. UCF struggled to find an offensive rhythm shooting 42.9 percent from the floor with 12 turnovers.

Key moment

UCF snapped a 14-3 run thanks to a baseline drive and layup from Keyshawn Hall and a steal by Jordan Ivy-Curry that he turned into an and-1 layup. That took the Knights’ lead from three points back to eight as UCF held on for the win.

Key stat

UCF had a clear size advantage and outscored Tennessee Tech 36-18 in the paint and 22-9 on the offensive glass. The Knights scored 27 second-chance points to the Eagles’ five.

Up next

The Knights head to West Virginia for the Greenbrier Tip-Off beginning Friday against No. 19 Wisconsin. The Eagles return home after the holidays on Nov. 27 to take on Presbyterian.