Central Florida 2/17 4:00 ESPN+

[GoBearcats31]

https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/edgerrin-james-graphic-wrong-person-cincinnati-ucf.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[GoBearcats31]

UC’s leading scorer is Dan Skillings, who has started just 4 games.

UC’s second leading scorer is Viktor Lakhin who played one possession tonight.

#3 is Day Day Thomas, a junior college transfer.

[sedz]

On replay, Simas did get wide open but a look to Dan was the better angle/safer pass. He had about 1-1.5 seconds to get it in and he would’ve had to throw under the basket and past a 7 footer (who was shading towards where Simas ended up) to find Simas.

Maybe should’ve tried to run Simas towards the ball instead of the opposite corner.

In those situations, I would put the 5 best free throw shooters out there regardless of position. I would have had Day Day, Jizzle, CJ, Newman, and Simas on the floor.

This is the second time Skillings has been at the line with chance to put the game away and instead missed two free throws. TCU was the other. But we won both games, so apparently it's a great strategy and we should stick with it.

[leo from jersey]

Game summary from gobearcats.com - Men's Basketball Battles to 76-74 Win at UCF - University of Cincinnati Athletics (gobearcats.com)
It appears that UCF beat UC in all categories except for rebounds. The rebounding edge was the factor in the game.

12 rebounds will do it.

[sedz]

We won this game with our offense, putting up 1.1 points per possession against a great defense on the road - our second highest output in conference after the Texas Tech game. Adjusted for opponent strength, it was our best offensive performance in conference play. The gameplan was good. We attacked the basket often, getting to the rim 26 times and the free throw line 21 times compared to just 15 midrange shots. We also rebounded 42% of our misses and had only 11 turnovers. That allowed us to overcome poor three point shooting.

Defensively we weren't great, allowing 1.07 points per possession, which adjusted for opponent quality was our worst performance in conference play. We let them go 15 for 22 at the rim and only forced 9 turnovers. But 8 of those turnovers were live ball steals that we could turn into easy points. We shut down Avery this time, holding him without a three point attempt. Darius Johnson got going late, when seemingly everything was dropping for him, but he only had 14 points from the field on 17 shots. Shemarri Allen hurt us the most, scoring 14 points on 9 shots plus 7 assists.

Player of the game for us was Aziz with 2.6 net points and a box plus minus of 8.5. He was 5 for 7 from the field to go with 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. Reed was our best player when he was on the floor, with a game high 12.4 box plus minus. He had 3 points, 3 offensive boards, a steal, an assist and no fouls or turnovers in 11 minutes. Newman, Simas, and Jizzle struggled, each recording negative net points. Simas and Jizzle were bad on the defensive end, and Newman had very little offensive production but turned it over twice. Day Day led the team by far in defensive box plus minus, largely due to his 4 steals. Skillings had another solid all around game, and Jamille led the team with 9 rebounds in only 14 minutes.

[bearcatbret]

Game summary from gobearcats.com - Men's Basketball Battles to 76-74 Win at UCF - University of Cincinnati Athletics (gobearcats.com)
It appears that UCF beat UC in all categories except for rebounds. The rebounding edge was the factor in the game.

[GoBearcats31]

On the post-game show with Dan and Terry, Coach said that the plan was to get the ball to Simas and that Simas was open. He wasn't sure what happened.

On replay, Simas did get wide open but a look to Dan was the better angle/safer pass. He had about 1-1.5 seconds to get it in and he would’ve had to throw under the basket and past a 7 footer (who was shading towards where Simas ended up) to find Simas.

Maybe should’ve tried to run Simas towards the ball instead of the opposite corner.

[GoBearcats31]

That was definitely a foul. Aziz jumped into the shooter's space and made contact.

Thinking UC should’ve fouled up 3 and sent UCF to the line for 2, rather than risk UCF getting off a 3 or what almost happened with Aziz. But maybe UC can’t employ that strategy with its struggles at the line… so best case scenario in that refs didn’t call that a foul.

[Lobot]

Terry asked why no VIK. CWM said he thought small ball would be better. He hoped that all the team would see it is a team game and if they do, wins. Sounds good, but there is also the aspect that VIK has hurt the team with his play of late.

I've mentioned this several times here and elsewhere. Don't pile on Viktor Lakhin. Viktor is a great guy and this is way more complicated than it appears. Vik didn't play for a reason. He went in last minute for a reason.

[bearcatbret]

Whoever is the best foul shooter for UC should be receiving the inbound pass at the end then. I don't think it's Skillings. It just mystified me. Very fortunate UC didn't get called for a foul on the last UCF shot.

On the post-game show with Dan and Terry, Coach said that the plan was to get the ball to Simas and that Simas was open. He wasn't sure what happened.

[SawyerHall68]

Whoever is the best foul shooter for UC should be receiving the inbound pass at the end then. I don't think it's Skillings. It just mystified me. Very fortunate UC didn't get called for a foul on the last UCF shot.

[leo from jersey]

Terry asked why no VIK. CWM said he thought small ball would be better. He hoped that all the team would see it is a team game and if they do, wins. Sounds good, but there is also the aspect that VIK has hurt the team with his play of late.

[leo from jersey]

Makes up for the missed flagrant when CJ was assaulted from behind.

It is the human element that you can't account for. You just have to get your shares of the calls. It is the coach often working the refs and time/situation.

[longtimefan]

Not just a win, but a Quad 1 win. UCF was #66 entering the game.

[longtimefan]

UCF has home wins against Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. That’s not an easy place to win.