Storrs — Senior Nnamdi Amilo's fondest UConn basketball memories happened behind the scenes.

The moments in the locker room and hanging out with his teammates will live on for years in his mental scrapbook.

"I don't think everyone knows how funny this team is," Amilo said. "This is probably the funniest group of guys I've ever been around. The amount of inside jokes and locker room antics that go on daily, it's pretty absurd.

"There really should be a reality TV show on what goes on in the locker room. It would have great ratings."

Amilo, a reserve from New Fairfield, fellow seniors Omar Calhoun and Phil Nolan, and transfers Shonn Miller and Sterling Gibbs will be honored during Senior Day festivities before Sunday's regular-season finale against Central Florida (12-16, 6-11). The American Athletic Conference game starts at 2 p.m. (ESPNU) at Gampel Pavilion.

The Huskies (20-10, 10-7) are trying to shake a funk that's seen them lose three of their last four games, putting their NCAA tournament hopes in severe jeopardy.

They are aiming to make Senior Day a sweet, not sour, experience.

"There's going to be a lot of emotion on the court and throughout the game," Calhoun said. "But, obviously, it's bigger than that. We want to win. We're playing for something."

Kevin Ollie really appreciates this group, especially Calhoun and Nolan, who arrived in Storrs for Ollie's first season as a head coach.

"They mean a lot to me," Ollie said. "They came in when I was a rookie coach and they stayed with the program and stayed in the fold.

"I had a great relationship with Omar throughout his four years. He's been a great soldier for us, battling through injuries and coming back extremely, extremely hard each and every time. I appreciate his dedication to the program.

"I feel the same way about Phil. Phil started for me in the national championship season. They've just done a great job academically. Both of them are on schedule to graduate, which is a great thing. We've very proud of that."

Nolan was a starter on the 2014 national championship team, while Calhoun and Amilo, who began his career as a walk-on before earning a scholarship, were reserves. Nolan and Calhoun have appeared in 123 and 119 career games, respectively.

Nolan said he's sad his career is coming to a close. He wishes that he had another year.

"UConn helped me become a better man," said Nolan, who called the national championship experience the best time in his life.

While they're spending only one season at UConn, attending graduate school, both Gibbs and Miller have been driving forces behind UConn's success.

"Sterling and Shonn have brought a lot of wealth of experience to our team and also some talent," Ollie said. "Both of them have been playing very, very well and leading us."

All five departing players will hear the home applause for the final time during the regular season. Amilo is heading to medical school, trying to decide between UConn and Duke.

Before they walk off into the sunset, they still have some business to take care of, and that's to quality for the NCAA tournament.

A win today would provide some momentum heading into Friday's AAC tournament opener. UConn, the No. 5 seed, will likely play Cincinnati.

A humbling 80-54 loss at No. 24 Southern Methodist on Thursday only temporarily doused their spirits.

"Our confidence is still high," Nolan said. "We believe that we can still do it. As long as we believe, that's all that matters."

Ollie liked his team's competitive spirit in practice the last two days. The Huskies are playing a UCF team that's dropped seven of its last eight and lost the first meeting, 67-41, on Jan. 31.

"Everything is not going to go perfect," Ollie said. "Our past doesn't equal our future, and that was kind of thought of the day.

"... You can't give in. Of course, we didn't want to go through this. But you want to get a reward for your pain. And it's been a couple of painful days and a couple painful games. ... Hopefully, we learn from it and get better from it."

g.keefe@theday.com

UCONN vs. CENTRAL FLORIDA

Location: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs

Tip: 2 p.m. (ESPNU)

Records: UConn 20-10, 10-7; UCF 12-16, 6-11

Last game: UConn lost at SMU, 80-54, Thursday; UCF lost to Tulane, 73-65, Wednesday

Probable starters: UConn, 6-2 grad. guard Sterling Gibbs (12.8 pts), 6-3 fr. guard Jalen Adams (6.8 pts), 6-7 so. forward Daniel Hamilton (11.6 pts, 8.7 rebs, 4.9 assists), 6-7 grad. forward Shonn Miller (12.8 pts, 5.5 rebs), 7-0 jr. center Amida Brimah (6.7 pts, 4.6 rebs, 2.5 blks)

UCF, 6-2 sr. guard Daiquan Walker (8.2 pts, 3.9 assists), 6-5 r-jr. guard Matt Williams (8.2 pts), 6-6 so. forward Adonys Henriquez (10.2 pts, 3 rebs), 6-9 r-so. forward A.J. Davis (11.8 pts, 6 rebs), 7-6 fr. center Tacko Fall (7.1 pts, 5.7 rebs, 2.4 blks)

Noteworthy: Regular season finale. ... Senior Day for Omar Calhoun, Phil Nolan, Nnamdi Amilo and transfers Shonn Miller and Sterling Gibbs. ... Series: UConn leads, 7-1, winning 67-41 on Jan. 31 in Orlando. Miller had 11 pts, 8 rebs, 5 steals. UCF shot 23.5 percent. ... Key reserve: 6-10 jr. center Justin McBride (7 pts, 4.2 rebs). ... Huskies dropped 3 of 4, Knights lost 7 of 8. ... Defensive funk: UConn's last two foes converted at least 51 percent from field, highest marks of the season. ... Knights average 69.8 pts and allow a league-worst 72. ... Huskies 7-1 at Gampel this season. ... Hot: Fall averaging 10.5 pts, 7.5 rebs and 3.2 blks in last 4 games. Cold: Gibbs shooting 39.3 percent (11-for-28) in last 4 games. ... RPI Watch: Entering Saturday's action, UConn ranked 51st in NCAA RPI. ... UCF 7th seed in AAC tournament. ... Up next: UConn opens AAC tournament play Friday at 2 in Orlando. Opponent either Cincinnati or Tulsa.

— Gavin Keefe