No. 20 BYU (22-9) vs. UCF (17-14).
Tip: Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. MDT.
Venue: T-Cell Center, Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
TV: ESPN2.
Livestream: WatchESPN.
Radio: 102.7 FM/1160 AM.
Sequence: BYU leads, 2-0.
The traits
For BYU: The Cougars (22-9, 10-8 in Enormous 12 play) are the No. 5 seed throughout the Enormous 12 Match and earned an opening-round bye. Winners of three of their last 4 video video games, the Cougars have a formidable resume that includes a NET score of 12. BYU is 6-7 in opposition to Quad 1 opponents this 12 months, 4-2 in opposition to Quad 2 opponents, and an undefeated 12-0 in opposition to Quad 3 and Quad 4 opponents.
For UCF: The Knights (17-14, 7-11) are on a two-game worthwhile streak, the latest being a win over Oklahoma State throughout the opening spherical of the Enormous 12 Match. The Knights struggled all through the middle portion of the conference season, nonetheless closed the 12 months with wins in 4 of their closing six video video games.
Quotable
“Similar to every workforce, we have got been working in path of this all 12 months prolonged. And by no means working in path of a spot the place it’s a … crescendo pitch, nonetheless working in path of it like we are trying to rearrange and rep and rep and rep to be on this spot. So the fellows are grateful to be proper right here.” — BYU coach Mark Pope.
“Now we’ve to start studying them as soon as extra and we have got to aim to find adjustments that we’re capable of make, on account of we had two shut video video games. They’re a wonderful basketball workforce … Mark has completed a wonderful job with this group. We’ve to look at them this evening and uncover out the issue we’ve to do increased. All we focused on coming into this occasion was Oklahoma State because you on no account know if that’s going to be your last recreation or not, and so that you just pour each half into it, and now we’ll pour each half into BYU.” — UCF coach Johnny Dawkins.
The stakes
For BYU: The Cougars are, at this degree, a assured NCAA Match workforce. Most projections put them spherical a No. 5 seed throughout the Enormous Dance. Worthwhile the Enormous 12 Match of their first 12 months throughout the league might be memorable, nonetheless the tourney supplies little higher than bragging rights, barring an sudden deep run by BYU.
For UCF: The Knights are normally not projected to be an NCAA Match workforce this 12 months, like BYU their first throughout the Enormous 12. The NIT is the likely postseason trip spot for UCF and a shock run throughout the Enormous 12 Match could help warrant the Knights a extreme seed. The additional wins the upper form of issue.
Players to have a look at
For BYU: All eyes must be on Jaxson Robinson, the Enormous 12 Sixth Man of the Yr. Robinson has been necessary to the Cougars’ success this season — it might be argued he is the workforce’s biggest participant — all whereas coming of the bench in a reserve perform. Robinson accomplished the widespread season as BYU’s important scorer with 13.9 components per recreation, capturing 43% from the sphere and 34.8% from distance and the senior’s scoring capabilities have made him an actual NBA draft prospect.
For UCF: Ibrahima Diallo, Darius Johnson and Jaylin Sellers had been all Enormous 12 honorable level out this 12 months, nonetheless Johnson is arguably the one to pay the closest consideration to. Merely sooner than the tip of the widespread season — in opposition to TCU — the guard erupted for 33 components in a key victory for the Knights. In UCF’s opening spherical win over Oklahoma State, Johnson had solely 11 components, nonetheless he shot a team-best 3-of-5 from behind the 3-point arc and handed out a team-high 5 assists. Johnson has been UCF’s biggest shooter this season from 3-point range and the workforce’s chief playmaker.