Four things to know about TCU’s final regular season opponent, UCF

The end of the regular season is here with TCU scheduled to face UCF at 4 p.m. Saturday in the home finale at Schollmaier Arena.

It’ll only be the second matchup all-time between the two schools with the Horned Frogs taking the first matchup 68-53 in March of 2017. The Golden Knights won’t be going dancing, but are still a dangerous team as evidenced by wins over Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.

The new kids in the Big 12 aren’t pushovers and this is a trap game for TCU. The Horned Frogs are still playing for seeding in the Big 12 Tournament and, with a win, could make a jump to sixth or fifth place with the right combination of outcomes across the league.

Wednesday’s win over West Virginia should’ve been enough to secure TCU’s NCAA Tournament bid as the Horned Frogs avoided their first bad loss of the season. A loss to UCF shouldn’t put TCU on the wrong side of the bubble, but just to be safe TCU can’t tempt fate.

Here’s four things to know about the Golden Knights:

Dynamic duo

The Golden Knights only have two double-digit scorers and they’re both guards. Jaylin Sellers leads the team with 16 points and nearly four rebounds a game. He’s joined by the experienced point guard Darius Johnson. A three-year starter, Johnson is having the best season of his career despite the jump up in competition joining the Big 12.

Johnson is averaging a career-high 14.1 points per game while handing out four assists a night as well. Johnson shot below 30 percent from three his first two seasons in Orlando, but has raised his percentage to a respectable 36 percent and he also averages over two steals a game. Sellers is the leading scorer, but Johnson is the heart of the team. Johnson hasn’t been held to single digits since Jan. 27 in a loss to Cincinnati.

Sellers has also scored in double figures in 11 of UCF’s last 12 games. The primary goal has to be shutdown one or both of these talented shotmakers.

A boost from Walker?

After spending a year at Oregon, forward C.J. Walker became a key piece for the Golden Knights from 2020-22, but he only played in four games last season and was hobbled by another injury at the start of this season. However, now Walker has been a steady presence in the lineup since returning to action on Feb. 10 against Texas Tech.

Walker’s numbers aren’t eye-popping as he only averages 7.6 points per game and 5.1 rebounds. His offense comes and goes, but when he’s on he can be an impactful player. He scored 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting against Houston’s vaunted defense of Wednesday and has shown expanded range with a made 3-pointer in three straight games.

With Ernest Udeh’s status still in the air, it’s important for TCU to not let a role player get hot.

Stout defense

One reason UCF has been able to stay competitive despite having the 258th scoring offense is an elite defense. The Golden Knights hold opponents to just 66.7 points per game, which is top-50 in the country. Only Houston and Iowa State have better scoring defenses in the Big 12.

The Golden Knights’ defense inside the arc is especially impressive with opponents shooting just 40 percent on 2-point field goals. UCF has more size than you might expect with 6’10 forwards Ibrahima Diallo and Omar Payne. The frontcourt account for virtually of UCF’s blocks this season. There’s also good length on the wing with Sellers, the 6’8 Walker, 6’4 Shemarri Allen and 6’8 Marchelus Avery.

The Golden Knights will want to muck the game up and keep the score in the 60s to pull off the upset.

Tune up game for the defense?

TCU’s defense has been hit or miss down the stretch, especially without the presence of starting center Ernest Udeh. Even in the commanding win over West Virginia Wednesday the Horned Frogs allowed the Mountaineers to shoot 57 percent from the field. WVU big man Jesse Edwards pounded TCU inside with 36 points and 13 rebounds. After the win, coach Jamie Dixon told media he wasn’t sure he had ever allowed so many points to a big man.

While Udeh’s status remains questionable for Saturday, the Golden Knights still present an opportunity for the Horned Frogs to build confidence on defense ahead of the Big 12 Tournament next week in Kansas City. What are some of the reasons UCF’s offense is in the bottom tier of the country in scoring? Lack of 3-point shooting is one of them as the Golden Knights average just six makes a game and are only shooting 31 percent on 3-pointers.

TCU is just outside the top-100 at guarding 3s nationally, so that bodes well for the defense. Avery and Johnson are the best shooters that will need to be accounted for. Despite UCF’s size and athleticism, finishing in the paint has been a struggle for the Golden Knights as UCF is shooting below 50 percent inside the arc. Points are hard to come by for this offense, but if UCF is able to have a breakout performance offensively against TCU it’ll be another sign that the Horned Frogs’ defense is holding them back.