UCF out to end skid vs. resurgent Utah

UCF goes into its home game with Utah on Sunday on a seven-game losing streak that has affected the perception of coach Johnny Dawkins' job security.

The Knights (13-13, 4-11 Big 12) are coming off a 104-95 loss at Oklahoma State on Wednesday.

They have allowed at least 90 points eight times this season. That happened only five times in Dawkins' previous eight seasons at UCF.

UCF's defense has allowed 80.6 points per game, while opponents are shooting 45.5 percent against them.

Keyshawn Hall, the Big 12's leading scorer at 19.1 points per game, felt compelled to defend Dawkins on social media after the loss to Oklahoma State.

"I speak for all of us in saying Coach Dawkins is a great coach and has well prepared us for every game and has gave all he has while pouring into us but we have yet to execute," Hall wrote.

Dawkins, 61, signed a contract extension in June that runs through the 2026-27 season. His career coaching record is 317-231, with 161 of those victories coming at UCF.

Dawkins has taken the Knights to the NCAA Tournament once in 2019.

Utah (15-11, 7-8) bounced back with wins over then-No. 17 Kansas and Kansas State at home last week after losing five of seven games.

The Utes enter Sunday's game on a four-game road losing streak in the Big 12 after beating TCU 73-65 in Fort Worth, Texas, on Jan. 15.

The average margin of defeat in the last four road losses to Houston, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Cincinnati is 16 points.

Utah defeated Kansas 74-67 while holding the Jayhawks to nearly 10 points below their season scoring average.

In the win over Kansas State, Utah outrebounded the Wildcats 51-28.

"I thought we defended at the level that you needed to defend to have success in the Big 12, and we rebounded at a level that you have to have to have success in the Big 12," Utah coach Craig Smith said. "If we can do those things on a consistent basis, we will have an opportunity to win night in and night out."

--Field Level Media