Knights to take on winless Hartford

The UCF Knights (4-2) got a chance to catch their breath.

After playing three games in three days as part of the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, the Knights will have a full week off to gear up before they welcome the winless Hartford Hawks (0-7) to the UCF Arena on Saturday.

UCF finished second in the tournament's inaugural year, falling 59-49 to Harvard in the final just a day after notching a program defining 68-63 victory over then-No. 4 Connecticut in the semi-finals.

Coach Donnie Jones and his team have had some time to analyze game tape and some of the strengths and weaknesses highlighted in the Bahamas. Now, the Hawks are next in line as the Knights look to continue along their out-of-conference slate.

About the Hawks:

Hartford hasn't been able to catch a break this season. What's worse, the Hawks haven't really come all that close. Their closest losses were by margins of five and seven points to Yale and Mount St. Mary's, respectively.

Hartford is shooting 37.8 percent as a team on the season, while struggling defensively and allowing opponents to shoot 46.9 percent. The Hawks are also having trouble on the boards, being out-rebounded by around seven rebounds per contest.

Hawks to watch for:

- Wes Cole (guard, Fr.): Cole has been coming off of the bench to give the Hawks a lift, pitching in a team-high 9.2 points per game. On the flip side, Cole has had his share of freshman moments and turned the ball over nine times already this season.

- Nate Sikma (forward, Fr.): Sikma has given the Hawks a well balanced season so far, leading the team in rebounds with 4.4 per game and also being Hartford's second leading scorer, averaging 8.4 points per contest.

The buzz:

The Knights should enjoy a successful homecoming after an important holiday tournament appearance. Hartford has not enjoyed much success this season and it is unlikely that they will be able to right the ship during their trip to Orlando. Still, this is an important opportunity for Jones and his team to build off the momentum they gained in the Bahamas and address some weaknesses, specifically finding a clear-cut third scoring option behind guard Marcus Jordan and forward Keith Clanton.

Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at the UCF Arena.