Wednesday Night Big 12 Preview: #18 Baylor Bears at UCF Knights
Addition Financial Arena tonight will most certainly be loud and proud for their University of Central Florida Knights tonight. UCF (12-7) heads into tonight losers of their last two out of three games, including a gut-wrenching loss on the road versus Cincinnati. For the bottom of the conference Knights, a victory tonight can have UCF skyrocket the Big 12 standings, but new foe #18 Baylor (14-5) stands in their way. Baylor, sitting at (3-3) in the conference as opposed to the Knights record of (3-4), are coming into Orlando losers of their last three, including a thrilling 105-102 (3OT) loss to Texas Christian University. In what will be a grit and grind road contest for Baylor, coach Scott Drew will be welcomed to a place where the Knights took care of business against at the time, number three Kansas Jayhawks just a couple of weeks ago.
With UCF being a fresh new member in the Big 12, from the recent transfer out of the American Athletic Conference last year, they are seen as somewhat of a “pushover” from tenured squads. What's interesting is how coach, Johnny Dawkins, has gotten his team to power through Big 12 oppositions, especially on their home floor. Led by their best player on the floor, Jaylin Sellers, the Knights can fly down the court with pace, and have the experience to slow it down when needed. That experience comes from 7 '0 senior, Ibrahima Diallo, who is Central Florida’s “key in the paint.” With the help of Sellers and Diallo, look for them to both have a big presence in this one. With Jaylin averaging 17 points, and four assists per game, look for him to be a potential X-Factor in Orlando tonight.
On the other side of the hardwood are the Baylor Bears, led by well-decorated Scott Drew coming into tonight with the #18 by their side. Being one of the most well-disciplined teams in the conference, Baylor is coming into tonight skidding out of form, with a tough life in the Big 12. By losing their last three games by a combined nine points, tonight must be a “push the pace” and “play our type of game” style to get the road win. With incredible guard play by arguably two top guards in the league, Ja’Kobe Walter and RayJ Dennis, the Bears are typically in every game from start to finish. As Walter averages around 15 points and five boards a game, both of these young men complement each other's style. Side by side with him is RayJ Dennis, who is more of a vision guard, averaging 13 points and 7 assists respectively.
As the road gets tougher for both teams during the tail end of the season, tonight is the opportunity for both sides to get a well-respected win in the conference. While Baylor on the year is (1-2) on the road, a tall task comes with playing in Orlando. The Knights are holding a record of (9-3) defending home court this year and look to continue that trend. In this being both the team’s first meeting of not only the year, but the Big 12, it should be an interesting matchup between the two head coaches, Drew and Dawkins. As Baylor sits “in the field” for the time being, a win here for the home Knights could boost their resume in trying to be on the right side of the bubble come Selection Sunday.
