I don’t think this is the same UCF that rolled into Fertitta Center in January and shot 15.9% from the field. They are much improved, especially at home in Orlando. They have figured out their identity as a high-pressure defensive team, looking to create offense from their defense. They are now nationally ranked in forced turnovers and blocked shots.
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The Coogs need to force them into a half-court, slow-paced rock fight. A win in Orlando guarantees at least a share of the Big 12 Championship. Coach Sampson and the staff will prepare the guys for a monumental win.
For this scout, I studied UCF’s game against UH and their most recent game – Saturday’s loss to Iowa State.
UCF Overview
Head of the Snake
Jaylin Sellers (#24) remains my “Head of the Snake” for UCF. He (and all his teammates) struggled at the Fertitta Center in January, but he is their leading scorer. The lefty is a legitimate three-level scoring threat who is super athletic and makes a lot of explosive plays in their full-court press.
The Coogs must put the defensive clamps on him again and keep him under double-digit points.
UCF Offense
UCF has several other guys that can score. They love to run in transition and to score off of steals. They have been full-court pressing more often than early in the year, which has helped them score some easy baskets.
They definitely had a rough offensive day at Fertitta Center in January. Since then, they have figured out their identity a bit more and are trying to get the ball to the rim as much as possible. In the last two games, vs. OkSt and ISU, 43 of their 99 shots have been at the rim (43.4%).
The Coogs will need to do their best to stay in front of their man and force them to make difficult jump shots. They are an elite offensive rebounding team, and the Coogs will need to keep them off the offensive glass to give them extra opportunities. UCF is 42nd nationally in offensive rebounds per game (12.4).
UCF Defense
They have been switching up their defense a lot! The last time UH played them, UCF primarily only played half-court, man-to-man defense. Now they are opening games in a full-court press and playing a ton of zone defense. It will be interesting to see what their game plan is against UH.
- Feed J’Wan in the post. They typically don’t double-team the post, and he’s pretty hard to stop one-on-one:
- Play inside-out. Look to get paint touches to score, and if there’s nothing there, kick out to an open shooter:
- Likely to try a 1-2-1-1 (Diamond) full-court press. They opened in it vs Iowa State:
- May try some 1-3-1 half-court zone; Hit the corner/short corner and attack!
- May try some 2-3 half-court zone; Attack the middle!
- UCF is 18th nationally in blocked shots per game (5.1);
- 20th steals per game (8.9);
- 34th in FG defense % defense (40.7%);
- 36th in turnovers forced (14.6);
- 43rd in scoring defense (66.6 ppg).
