After a falling short in a pair of games on the road, UCF returns home this Saturday for a pivotal game against Cincinnati.
The Knights and Bearcats both have a 4-7 record in Big 12 play. Cincinnati won the first matchup against UCF on Jan. 27, 68-57, a game in which UCF led by 12 at halftime. The Bearcats are 1-3 since, beating Texas Tech on the road and losing to West Virginia, Houston and Iowa State.
Cincinnati has three players scoring in double figures: Dan Skillings Jr. (12.2 ppg), Viktor Lakhin (10.7 ppg) and Day Day Thomas (10.4 ppg).
We caught up with Johnny Dawkins, Omar Payne and Jaylin Sellers on Thursday.
Johnny Dawkins
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Reflecting on the game at BYU, Dawkins never questions the fight and energy his team puts on the floor. He thought they didn't defend well without fouling - BYU made 40 free throws. That's a rare feat. They must do a better job of being disciplined and not fouling.
This game against Cincinnati is big. After losing two games, they can't let things snowball. They must respond.
Dawkins thinks they've done some better things of late. Despite slow starts, the offense picked up in the second half vs. BYU. Their pace and spacing was better.
CJ Walker makes a big difference when he's on the court, as does Ibrahima Diallo. It's taking some time for CJ especially to get reacclimated and get his rhythm back.
Dawkins wants his team to have a better understanding of shot selection.
Nils Machowski is playing more and more because he's been earning it in practice.
Cincinnati is really talented. They had too many easy opportunities to score in the last game.
Diallo is "improving" and "giving what he has." He missed Texas Tech and returned for BYU, didn't really practice prior to that game.
The team has done a better job in maintaining composure in road environments.
You have to bring your A-game every night in the Big 12.
There's familiarity now they're facing Cincinnati for the second time.
Omar Payne
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Reflecting on the BYU loss, Payne says they must play well from the jump and not face a big early deficit.
They have to come ready to play against Cincinnati.
Payne is definitely thinking about what they need to do to reach the postseason, but is still keeping it focused on one game at a time.
Free throws must improve.
They don't want to get swept in the season series by Cincinnati.
Payne is a little banged up, but he's fighting through it. Everybody is dealing with something right now.
Payne feels Cincinnati is a must-win game.
Jaylin Sellers
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They have to start games off stronger, so they aren't always fighting to come back.
They're just a few plays off from winning many of these games. Free throws a big reason.
Sellers is viewing all these remaining games as must win.
Nils is really working hard and it showed in the BYU game.
He has "no doubt" they're going to make the NCAA Tournament.
It's very important to protect the home court.
With Cincinnati and Houston being former AAC teams, he thinks those teams are UCF's biggest rivals right now.
He expects Cincinnati to play hard, crash the boards and get out in transition.
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