Gardner-Webb @ Central Florida preview

Central Florida, one of the preseason American Athletic Conference favorites, will have to overcome early-season injuries. The Knights host Gardner-Webb on Wednesday missing two key contributors, and potentially three, by the time tip-off comes around.

UCF lost All-Conference point guard B.J. Taylor for 4-6 weeks after he suffered a fractured foot when he fell akwardly after being fouled on a drive to the basket in the second half of the season-opening 88-79 victory against Mercer. That came after redshirt junior swingman Aubrey Dawkins, the son of coach Johnny Dawkins, was ruled out for the season due to a shoulder injury while 7-6 center Tacko Fall sat out the season-opening victory due to a hip injury with no timetable for his return. The loss of Taylor, the team's leading scorer last season, will have the biggest impact. "I'm just happy for him that it's not season-ending,” coach Dawkins told the Orlando Sentinel. “The understanding is that it's a 4-6 week injury and he should be back. We're excited about that news.''

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT GARDNER-WEBB (0-2): The Bulldogs will finish off a three-game trek through the state of Florida, opening the season with games at 12th-ranked Miami and against No. 7 Florida in Gainesville before heading to Orlando. Gardner-Webb gave up a combined 193 points in the first two games, allowing both the Hurricanes and Gators to shoot 50 percent or better from the floor. Junior forward DJ Laster has led the Bulldogs in the first two games, averaging 14.5 points and nine rebounds.

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (1-0): The Knights were among the top defensive teams in the nation last season, holding opponents to 36.5 shooting from the field. However, UCF allowed 47 points and the Bears shot 50 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes before the Knights clamped down, allowing Mercer to make 7-of-24 shots in the second half. "Defensively, in the first half, we played with some jitters. I didn’t think we played as well as I know we’re capable of,'' Dawkins told the Sentinel. "(In the second half) I thought we really got dialed in defensively.''

TIP-INS

1. Newcomers G Ceasar DeJesus and G Dayon Griffin stepped up in their first game for UCF, each notching 16 points to help overcome the loss of Taylor to injury.

2. Central Florida is looking for its fifth consecutive victory at home.

3. The 116 points allowed by Gardner-Webb to Florida marked the first time since Dec. 19, 2009 the Bulldogs allowed more than 100 in a game.

PREDICTION: UCF 63, Gardner-Webb 58