Opponent Preview: Pokes Face UCF in Big 12 Tilt

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State (12-15 overall, 4-10 Big 12) look to get back on track in Big 12 play following the loss to Oklahoma as they face UCF (14-12 overall, 5-9 Big 12) Wednesday evening.

This is the second meeting all time between these two programs, with the knights leading the series 1-0 following a 60-56 overtime win over the Pokes in the Bahamas in 2022.

The Knights are coming off an upset win over No. 23 Texas Tech in Orlando this past weekend, 75-61. Including that win, they have a few other upsets on the season, including an impressive 65-60 home win over No. 3 Kansas back on Jan. 10. They also beat No. 23 Oklahoma in Orlando, 74-63 on Feb. 3.

As a team, they’re averaging 72 points per game on a 42% shooting clip, while holding opponents to nearly 67 points per game on nearly 41% shooting on the other end. They currently lead their rebound game with 38 per game, while opponents bring down 35 boards per game and they turn the ball over just over 12 times per game while forcing nearly 15 on the other end.

“I said this about Cincinnati, and I mean it in the most respectful way, Cincinnati and Central Florida look to me that they’ve been in a league with Houston for the last five years,” Mike Boynton said on Tuesday. “They’re big, they’re physical, they’re athletic, they’re old. So, that’s what you see and we saw that a little bit with Cincinnati last week. So, I see similar types. They’ve got some really athletic wings, they’ve got some physical bigs and they’re really good defensively and on the glass. Those are areas we’ve got to contine to evolve in ourselves as we learn how to win in this league because Houston was obviously prepared to come in this league and have a great level of success. So, if teams are trying to beat them, it translates to having success in this conference, not just in the American.”

They’re led by junior guard, Jaylin Sellers, who transferred from Ball State before the start of the season. 6-4, 196 pounds, Sellers is averaging 16.5 points per game on 42% shooting from the field and 31% from 3-point range. He also dropped an impressive 18 points on 64% shooting from the field in the upset win over Kansas.

Fellow junior guard Darius Johnson is next on the statsheet for the Knights with 14.3 points per game on 40% shooting from the field and 38% from 3-point range. 

Ibrahima Diallo leads the way on the boards for the Knights as the 7-0, 246-pound center is bringing down close to six boards per game.