UConn begins an important two-game homestand tonight with an American Athletic Conference game against Central Florida.

   The Huskies, the preseason favorite, is in seventh place in the conference.

   Coach Kevin Ollie said his team has to play with a sense of urgency in the final 14 regular season games. 

   "We've just got to fight a lot harder," Ollie said. "We've got to hit first and be tougher. It's pretty simple. ... Then I think we'll see a different team."

Here's a pre-game preview: 

-- Tip-off: 7 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

-- Records: UConn 9-7, 2-2; Central Florida 9-8, 2-4

-- Last game: UCF lost at Memphis, 99-79, Saturday; UConn lost at Stanford, 72-59, Saturday

-- Probable starters:

UConn, 6-0 sr. guard Ryan Boatright (15.7 pts, 4.5 rebs, 4.6 assists), r-s so. Rodney Purvis (9.6 pts), 6-7 fr. forward Daniel Hamilton (10.3 pts, 5.9 rebs), 6-9 so. forward Kentan Facey (5.9 pts, 6.4 rebs), 7-0 so. center Amida Brimah (10.8 pts, 5.1 rebs, 2.5 blks)

Central Florida, 6-0 so. guard Brandon Goodwin (10.5 pts), 6-2 fr. guard B.J. Taylor (14.9 pts), 6-6 fr. guard Adonys Henriquez (11.5 pts, 3.5 rebs), 6-7 sr. forward Kasey Wilson (6.7 pts, 4.5 rebs), 6-10 so. center Justin McBride (7.1 pts, 4.5 rebs)

Noteworthy:

-- UConn is coming off a winless two-game road trip.

-- The Huskies are playing at Gampel for first time since Dec. 5 against Yale. They own 1-2 record in Storrs.

"It's just good to be back home," Ollie said. "When we came back from the Florida trip, it seemed like we stayed for about 12 hours and then we went out again. It is just the schedule."

-- Series: UConn leads 5-1, sweeping last season -- 84-61 in Storrs, 75-55 on the road.

-- The Knights have lost four of their last six games.

-- Taylor is an AAC rookie-of-the-year candidate. He's been named rookie of week three times. Hamilton was the preseason choice for top rookie.

-- UCF ranks first in the AAC in 3-point field goal percentage (38.1) but last in rebounding (-3.2) and turnover (-2.5) margin.

-- Top reserve: 6-2 jr. guard Daiquan Walker (7.7 pts).

-- Hot: Brimah is shooting 15-for-21 in the last four games.

Cold: UConn reserve Phil Nolan has more fouls (32) than points and rebounds combined (31).

Nolan was a starter during last season's national championship run.

"I'm just trying to stay with him and believe in him...," Ollie said. "I'm going to try to help him and build him up, because we need him."

-- Sluggish UConn is averaging 59.2 points in last four games. Only Boatright is scoring in double figures (10.8) during that stretch.

-- Up next: UConn hosts South Florida Sunday in Hartford.

-- For updates during the game, follow me on Twitter: @GavinKeefe

-- Check back later for a post-game breakdown.