Film study: Scouting the UCF Knights

UCF heads to Fertitta Center in search of another scalp. Having taken down Kansas and, most recently, Texas Tech in Orlando, Johnny Dawkins’ team (17-4, 6-3) goes in search of a top-10 road win against the No. 8 Cougars (19-2, 7-1) Wednesday evening. The Knights are seeking their fourth-straight Big 12 win, something they have not done yet.

In 56 years of playing college basketball, UCF has one win at a top-ten team. It was Houston in 2019. Since that day, Houston is 10-0 against the Knights.

I haven’t felt this way about playing UCF in a while, but they sincerely worry me. They have wins over Texas Tech, Kansas, and Texas A&M, but those wins were all in Orlando. They haven’t been great on the road in the conference, including a loss at Oklahoma State.

UCF is led by my “Head of the Snake,” fifth-year point guard Themus Fulks. Fulks is a crafty point guard who is capable of being a three-level scorer, but does most of his work in the paint. He is a big-time playmaker in the paint, from a scoring and distributing standpoint. He’s made 15 threes this season (15/33, 45.5%), which is more than in any of his four previous years.

The Knights are an EXCELLENT scoring team, but UH is the highest-ranked defense that they have seen. It could very well be a similar game to the Arkansas win in Newark. Houston could have a big night offensively, and it could potentially be a shoot-out at the Fertitta Center.

UCF Offensive Breakdown

• UCF is one of the best offensive teams that the Coogs have faced this season. They have several players who can lead the team in scoring. The only two teams that the Coogs have seen that have a better scoring offense were Arkansas and Auburn, which were both very close games. BYU is slightly ahead of UCF. The Coogs will need to be locked in defensively this week!
• The Knights are 4th in the Big 12 in assists per game. This is a result of point guard Themus Fulks being 9th in the nation and 2nd in the conference in assists per game at 7.2!
• UCF is 5th in the Big 12 in bench points per game. They have guys who have an immediate impact when they check in.
• UCF takes good, high percentage shots. They are 4th in the Big 12 and 41st in the nation at field goal percentage, shooting 48.3%. They do a nice job of getting paint touches and scoring around the basket.
• Although they do a nice job of getting into the paint, they don’t shoot a lot of free throws (243rd nationally).
• The Knights do a really good job on the offensive glass. They destroyed Texas Tech on the offensive glass, which ultimately led to their win. UCF is 5th in the Big 12 in offensive rebounding. Nugget: They are 16-0 when winning the boards and 5-0 in Big 12 play.
• UCF doesn’t shoot a ton of three-point shots, but they do make them at a very high level! They are 20th nationally in three-point percentage at 38.2%.
• They do turn the ball over at times. They are 11th in the conference in turnovers per game with 11.6. The Coogs lead the nation with only 8.4.

Knights Defensive Notes

• The Knights primarily play man-to-man defense. In their m2m defense, the Knights use drop coverage vs pick and rolls. I’d look for Kingston and Milos to get tons of paint touches to score first or kick out to open shooters.
• UCF likes to full-court press at times. They tend to run a full-court, man-to-man press, where they will look to face-guard the point guard and take them away. This is not a bad problem to have for UH, since they have two point guards. I’d like for them to run it when either Milos or Kingston is out of the game. At times, they will use a “run and jump” press.
• UCF will sneak into a 1-3-1 zone defense, 3-2 zone, or a 2-3 zone. They are not as good in their zone defenses, but sprinkle them in to confuse the offense.
• As good as they are offensively, UCF tends to struggle on defense. They are 269th nationally in scoring defense, giving up 77.1ppg. Houston is ranked first in the Big 12 in scoring defense, giving up 61.7ppg. Something will have to give!
• They struggle with steals. Out of 361 NCAA teams, they are ranked #307 in steals per game at 5.5. The Coogs can look to attack the paint, and it could potentially be a BIG assist night for Kingston.

UCF Personnel (*Indicates likely starters)

*#1 – Themus Fulks – 6’2″ – 5th – Guard – (South Carolina St., Dodge City CC, Louisiana, Milwaukee) – 14ppg, 3rpg, 7apg.

• Premium world traveler. At his fifth College;
• Head of the snake;
• Top-notch point guard. Extremely shifty/crafty. Very nice crossover;
• Finds open shooters when getting paint touches. Over 7 assists per game;
• Really good at driving to the rim, ESPECIALLY with his left hand. Can shoot with either hand when he gets to the basket;
• Doesn’t shoot many, but has become an elite three-point shooter (15-33, 46%);
• Will throw his head back to draw a foul if you guard him too closely.

*#2 – Riley Kugel – 6’5″ – SR – Guard – (Florida, Mississippi State) – 15ppg, 4rpg.

• Had Houston on his final list when transferring from Florida two years ago;
• Big/three-level scoring guard. Can make really tough/contested jump-shots;
• Really good outside shooter (42-105: 40%). A threat to fall down if he knows his shot is going to miss…be careful closing out;
• Can shoot it off the bounce for the pull-up inside or outside of the paint;
• Can get all the way to the rim. Likes to drive with his right hand;
• Solid defender. Likes to pressure the ball.

*#4 – Jamichael Stillwell – 6’8″ – SR – Forward – (Miami Dade College, Butler CC, Milwaukee) – 12ppg, 8rpg.

• Wore the “Stand On Business” chain in his profile picture on their website;
• Big/strong forward. REALLY hard worker;
• Really good around the basket. Strong finisher when absorbing contact;
• Outstanding offensive rebounder (3.5 orpg);
• Can catch and drive to the rim. Not bad in the pick and roll;
• Capable three-point shooter if left unguarded (10-28: 36%).

*#99 – Jordan Burks – 6’9″ – JR – Forward – (Kentucky, Georgetown) – 13ppg, 4rpg.

• Tall/athletic forward. Really good stretch-forward;
• Extremely long wingspan. Affects shots in the paint;
• Half of his shots have been from outside, and he’s solid from there (36-93, 39%);
• Solid at driving to the basket going right. Explosive at the rim.

*#7 – John Bol – 7’2″ – SO – Center – (Ole Miss) – 6ppg, 5rpg.

• Not related to Manute Bol. We checked.
• Big body post player. Really nice hands for someone his size;
• Not a threat outside the paint. Is pretty solid in the pick and roll;
• Maybe the worst shooting form on a free-throw that I’ve ever seen. Surprisingly shoots it at 64%. Feels like he’d be under 50%;
• Pretty solid on the offensive boards; Camps out in the paint, which helps (I’d make a point to tell the refs to keep an eye on the three-seconds).

#35 – Devan Cambridge – 6’6″ – 6TH YEAR – Forward – (Auburn, Arizona State, Texas Tech) – 6ppg, 4rpg.

• Played for Auburn in the Final Four. Wait what? THE 2019 FINAL 4 TEAM?!??!;
• Still pretty athletic forward off the bench;
• Average three-point shooter; (12-38: 32%);
• Defensive specialist;
• Not great at creating for himself on offense. Used mainly in the pick and roll and as a cutter to the basket without the ball.

#22 – Chris Johnson – 6’5″ – JR – Guard – (Texas, Stephen F. Austin) – 6ppg, 1rpg.

• Went to Fort Bend Elkins, before transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida;
• Athletic three-level scoring guard off the bench. Was really impressed with him on film;
• Nice outside shooter (20-50: 40%);
• Pretty quick when driving to the basket. Strong finisher at the rim;
• Can shoot it off the bounce.

#11 – Carmelo Pacheco – 6’5″ – JR – Guard – (UVA Wise, Mount St. Mary’s) – 5ppg, 2rpg.

• Tall shooting guard. Outstanding shooter;
• Three-point specialist. 80 of his 85 field-goal attempts have been from beyond the arc (32-80, 40%);
• You MUST run him off the three-point line!!!

UCF Cheat Sheet

What I’ll Be Watching…

1. Paint touches: I think paint touches will be crucial for both squads. Both should be looking to get in there to score or kick out to shooters. I could see a big night for Milos and Kingston…but UCF could look to get it out of their hands.
2. Rebounding: Both teams are major forces on the offensive glass. UCF beat Texas Tech on the offensive glass Saturday, 13-4, and had 21 second-chance points. The Coogs can’t allow that at home.
3. Turnovers: The Knights are on the lower end of the Big 12 in committing and forcing turnovers. Houston is No. 1 in turnovers and turnovers forced in Big 12 games. That could be the top factor to watch in this game.

CATS postgame

Join Galen and the guys for the Cougar After Thoughts Show following the game.