ORLANDO, Fla. – An injury bug has plagued the UCF Knights since last season, but that hasn’t spelled doom for head coach Johnny Dawkins and his team in their second season together.

His Knights (13-6, 4-3 in the American Athletic Conference) are fifth in the AAC and are coming off a two-point win over their rivals down I-4, the USF Bulls. The Knights are also one of the nation’s top defensive teams, ranking third in opposing points per game (59.1) and fifth in opposing field-goal percentage (37.8 percent).

But those numbers assume the Knights still have the 2016 AAC Defensive Player of the Year, Tacko Fall, which they do not.

Now, UCF’s defense will be tested in a road AAC matchup with the No. 17 Wichita State Shockers, one of the nation’s most potent offensive teams.

Tied for second place in the American, Wichita State (15-4, 5-2 in AAC) will be the fourth ranked opponent the Knights have faced this season. So far, UCF is 1-2 against ranked teams, beating the then-No. 24 Alabama Crimson Tide on the road for its lone win.

Wichita State and UCF have never played each other, as the Knights look to improve to 5-2 on the road.

The Knights and the Shockers tip off on Thursday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.

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Wichita State Presents Balanced Offense

At 78.9 points per game in AAC play, Wichita State is the conference’s highest-scoring team. That comes from a well-balanced squad that’s able to score efficiently both inside and beyond the 3-point arc.

Wichita State has three players who average double figures in conference play this season, as Landry Shamet, Shaquille Morris and Conner Frankamp combine for 36.8 points per game. Shamet leads the way with 13 points per game.

While Shamet and Frankamp find their shots in a variety of spots on the court, Morris operates primarily inside. The undersized, 6-foot-7 center shoots 56.1 percent for 12.1 points per game and is also 4-for-6 from 3-point range this season. Morris also averages 4.1 rebounds per game and leads the Shockers in blocks (1.6).

Frankamp is the most trigger-happy from long range, leading the team in 3-point attempts per game (6.3), but he’s also shooting the deep ball effectively at 42.1 percent in conference play. He averages 11.7 points per game.

“They’re one of the most challenging teams we’ll face this year, having to guard, because they have so many good shooters, and they have, you know, interior scoring in the low post, too,” Dawkins said before practice on Jan. 23. “So, they have that rare combination of terrific shooters plus a low-post presence.”

Landry Shamet Is Shockers’ Best Weapon

Shamet has made the most of his junior season, so far.

The Kansas City, Missouri, native has evolved into one of Wichita State’s most efficient scorers. He is the only player for the Shockers who shoots at least 50 percent from the field (50 percent) and 50 percent from 3-point range (50 percent) when taking at least one 3 per game.

In two previous seasons, Shamet averaged a combined 45.5 percent from the field and a combined 37 percent from 3-point range on significantly fewer attempts in both categories.

Shamet has also been on a scoring tear this season, recording single-digit points just three times in 19 games. His season-high was a 30-point performance against Oklahoma State University, as he went 6-for-11 and 4-for-7 from 3 in a 78-66 Shockers win.

“He’s an excellent player. He’s had a really good season this year,” Knights point guard B.J. Taylor said before practice Jan. 22. “Give credit to him. He has a great coach that coaches really good… They have a great team, and we’re just looking forward to the challenge of being able to play against them.”

Shockers Look to End Losing Streak

After starting conference play 5-0, Wichita State has since slid in its last two games to the SMU Mustangs and the Houston Cougars.

The Shockers, first, lost to the Mustangs–a team UCF lost to by five on the road–83-78 on Jan. 17 at home and then lost to Houston 73-59 on the road. Shamet scored 20 against SMU but only managed 7 points against the Cougars.

Wichita State’s 59 points against Houston was its season-low.

“They’re a really good team. A really good program. You know, the history shows for itself, for their program and everything,” UCF forward Chad Brown said before practice on Jan. 22. “… They’re a veteran team. They have, I think, at least six seniors on the team…but I feel like if we go out there and compete like we do every single night and bring that defensive intensity…every night, then the results are gonna show for itself.”

For more on the Knights, as they prepare for their fourth ranked game of the season, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com.