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Baylor coach Scott Drew is choosing to take the optimistic outlook with his up-and-down team ahead of Saturday’s Big 12 Conference home game against UCF in Waco, Texas.

The Bears (14-8, 6-5) have played shorthanded over the last 10 games, the amount of time guard Langston Love has missed with an ankle injury. In addition, Duke transfer Jeremy Roach just returned from concussion protocol after missing four games, while VJ Edgecombe sat out Tuesday’s 73-59 loss at No. 13 Texas Tech with an ankle injury.

“In this league, it’s hard when you’re playing six, seven guys,” Drew said. “Hopefully, we get VJ and Langston back, and that will really help with things. Us coaches, our plays really work a lot better when we have more players.

“I don’t know if anyone’s gone through what we’ve gone through with the injury bug.”

Still, Baylor is in position to earn an NCAA Tournament berth with a strong finish. The Bears are led by forward Norchad Omier (15.4 points, 10.4 rebounds per game), who recorded his 79th career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds against the Red Raiders.

Meanwhile, the Knights (13-9, 4-7) are coming off a 93-83 setback at home Wednesday night to Cincinnati that extended their losing streak to three games. They were gashed inside, allowing a whopping 56 points in the paint.

“We have to get back to understanding what the priorities are defensively,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. “That’s protecting our paint and understanding that guys need to be where they’re supposed to be. We know what our assignments are … that’s attention to detail.”

The Knights have allowed 79.4 points per game, nearly five more than any other Big 12 team, and have permitted league opponents to make 48.4 percent of their field goals. That’s also the worst mark in the Big 12.

Keyshawn Hall leads the attack with 18.3 points per game while Darius Johnson chips in 15.0 per game.

Baylor earned a 77-69 win last season in Orlando in the teams’ first-ever meeting.

–Field Level Media