UCF welcomes Colorado as both try to brush off big losses

Wednesday marks an opportunity for Colorado and UCF to get off the mat after recent struggles.

The bright side is that it's early in the Big 12 Conference season, but both teams could benefit from some positive energy when they play in Orlando, Fla.

Then-No. 7 Kansas humbled UCF (10-3, 1-1 Big 12) in a big way on Sunday.

The visiting Jayhawks scored 99 points and their 51-point win represented the second-largest margin of victory in Kansas history. It was one of UCF's most lopsided defeats, surpassing a 92-42 setback at North Carolina on Dec. 2, 1989.

Keyshawn Hall (12 points) was the lone double-digit scorer as the Knights finished below 50 points for the first time since a 57-42 setback at Houston on Jan. 20, 2024.

UCF, which ranked last in the Big 12 in points allowed per game (76.6) entering play Tuesday, now prepares for its first-ever conference game against Colorado. It's just the third overall matchup dating back to the 2006-07 season.

"The main thing is I believe in my guys," UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. "My guys are good enough to be competitive in our conference, for sure, and we have to continue just to work at it with that belief and stay connected as a team."

Former Pac-12 member Colorado (9-4, 0-2) is hunting its first Big 12 win this season following double-digit losses to No. 3 Iowa State and Arizona State.

Graduate transfer Trevor Baskin leads Colorado through two conference games with 31 points and 14 rebounds. But Iowa State (17 of 22) and Arizona State (12 of 19) combined for 18 more free-throw attempts than the Buffaloes (18 of 23 over the two games).

"What I told our players is we better embrace the physicality of this league and figure it out," Buffaloes coach Tad Boyle said. "Because we can't send another team to the foul line 22 times, and we only get there eight times. We (have to) figure a way to either play without fouling or get to the free-throw line more."

--Field Level Media