Knights looking for first win versus Wichita State

When UCF travels Wednesday to Wichita State, the Knights will face the Shockers, who have yet to win an American Athletic Conference game this season.

UCF has been in this position before.

Less than two weeks ago, UCF faced South Florida in Tampa. The Bulls hadn’t picked up a conference win either, but they won in dominant fashion 75-51 over the Knights.

“It was a good learning experience vs. USF,” Dawkins said. “Our guys will grow from that experience moving forward and it’s something that we can carry forward going into our next opponent.”

What’s different about Wichita State, however, is that the Shockers haven’t played since Jan. 16 because two games were postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols within the program.

After a pause in practice that lasted almost a week, the Shockers are on track to play Wednesday night, according to the

Wichita Eagle.

Dawkins is aware of the Shockers’ talent despite an 0-4 start in conference play.

“They’re a tough, gritty basketball team,” Dawkins said. “A typical Wichita State basketball team, who is just going to compete. They’re tenacious defensively and are an outstanding rebounding team. They really hit the boards hard.”

UCF will look to do something it has never done before: Beat Wichita State. Since joining the AAC for the 2017-18 season, the Shockers are 7-0 against the Knights, including a 61-60 win here last February.

In last year’s game at Wichita State, the Knights fell in overtime 93-88. Dawkins called the Shockers’ home arena one of the best environments in the AAC.

“They have a great crowd and a knowledgeable crowd,” he said. “They’ll come out in full force so we already know it’s going to be a very competitive game and we’ve got to be really locked in and ready for it.”

Johnson earns weekly top freshman honor: After averaging 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3 assists in a pair of come-frombehind wins for the Knights last week, Darius Johnson was named the AAC Freshman of the Week.

Last season, UCF forward Isaiah Adams earned the honor three different times.

“It’s a big honor,” Dawkins said. “We have a really good conference and you have a lot of talented players and a lot of talented freshmen so to be rewarded, is something that’s significant so I’m really happy for him.”

Johnson has stepped up multiple times, but especially in the last two wins in which the Knights came back from doubledigit deficits in the second half to win against ECU and Tulane.

“I’m also happy for his teammates because you don’t get those honors without the guys around you,” Dawkins said. “He’s been playing very well for us.”

Tip-off between UCF and Wichita State on ESPN+ is set for 8 p.m.