Orlando — It's impossible for UConn to avoid knowing what's at stake heading into American Athletic Conference tournament action.

College basketball people — on television, on social media and just about anywhere the Huskies go — are talking about their fading chances of qualifying for the NCAA tournament.

Fifth-seeded UConn (21-10) is trying to focus on just one thing, and that's beating No. 4 Cincinnati (22-9) in Friday's quarterfinal game at Amway Center. Game time is 2 p.m.

"Around this time, that's the only thing that's on TV, so it's kind of hard to not see it," UConn guard Sterling Gibbs said after practice Thursday at Rollins College. "But, at the same time, we know if we win the tournament we really don't have to pay it any mind. That's just really our goal at this point."

UConn has never won an AAC tournament title, reaching the final in two previous appearances.

Cincinnati, which also is searching for its first conference crown, is a similar position as far as postseason hopes, likely still needing a victory to boost its odds of earning a bid.

So today is essentially an elimination game in a number of ways for both teams.

"I guess that's what's been said," guard Rodney Purvis said. "But I feel like every game is do-or-die. You never when your last game is, so you have to play every game like it's your last."

The game may be ultimately be decided by the team that plays with the most heart and wins the toughness test.

It's never a pretty game when these two former Big East combatants play.

"Kevin (Ollie) and I will both take the Maalox and have to go through that again," Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said.

Recently, it's been a bit easier on the stomach for Cronin.

Cincinnati won both physical, fight-to-the-finish, defensive-minded games during the regular season. The Bearcats delivered the big plays down the stretch, winning by a combined six points in the notoriously tight series.

"We've got to fight and hit them first," UConn coach Kevin Ollie said. "That's our motto. Hopefully, that works. If that doesn't work, that's fine. We're not going to get out-toughed. We're going to play solid basketball. If we don't do that, they're going to expose us like they did at Cincinnati."

For its fortunes to change today, UConn has to find a way to break through a stingy matchup zone. The Huskies settled for far too many 3-pointers in past meetings, leading to two poor shooting performances and averaging just 58.5 points.

The Huskies also must do a better job on the boards and limit mistakes, two inconsistent areas this season. The Bearcats lead the conference in offensive rebounds and forcing turnovers.

"We've got to do those two things with a great sense of urgency," Ollie said. "Hopefully, our guys understand that."

Ollie feels good about his Huskies heading into the tournament. But he doesn't plan on talking to them about what's at stake regarding their NCAA hopes.

That's a given.

"I'm not bringing that up," Ollie said. "I hope they know that. I think they watch SportsCenter. I think they watch all the programs, Twitter and social media. They're always on their phones, so I know they're looking at something.

"I imagine they already know we're on the proverbial bubble ... I don't really care. I just really want to take care of Cincinnati and move on. Wherever we end up, we end up. But I know what have an opportunity to control our destiny by going out there and playing solid basketball and playing UConn type of basketball."

g.keefe@theday.com

No. 4 Cincinnati vs. No. 5 UConn

Game: American Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinal

Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.

Tip-off: 2 p.m. (ESPN2)

Records: UConn 21-10, Cincinnati 22-9

Last game: UConn beat Central Florida, 67-46, Sunday; Cincinnati defeated No. 24 SMU, 61-54, Sunday

Probable starters: UConn, 6-2 grad. guard Sterling Gibbs (12 pts), 6-3 fr. guard Jalen Adams (6.8 pts), 6-7 so. forward Daniel Hamilton (11.6 pts, 8.7 rebs, 4.8 assists), 6-7 grad. forward Shonn Miller (12.6 pts, 5.5 rebs), 7-0 jr. center Amida Brimah (6.8 pts, 4.4 rebs, 2.5 blks)

Cincinnati, 6-1 sr. guard Farad Cobb (10.6 pts), 6-4 jr. guard Troy Caupain (12.4 pts, 4.8 assists), 6-6 fr. guard Jacob Evans III (8 pts, 4 rebs), 6-8 so. forward Gary Clark (10.6 pts, 8.9 rebs), 6-10 sr. forward Octavius Ellis (9.9 pts, 7.6 rebs)

Noteworthy: Must win for UConn to stay in NCAA tournament bid hunt. ... Huskies 5-2 in two previous AAC tournaments, including beating Bearcats twice — 58-56 in 2014, semis 57-54 in 2015 quarters. Reached final both seasons. ... Series: UConn leads 12-8, but dropped regular season meetings, 58-57 at home, 65-60 on the road. ... Caupain All-AAC first team, Clark defensive player of the year and second team pick. ... Top reserve: Sr. forward Shaq Thomas (6.4 pts, 3.9 rebs). ... Bearcats eighth in nation in scoring defense at 61.5 points per game. ... Huskies 2-3 in last 5 games. ... Hot: UConn first in AAC in FT percentage at 77.8. Cold: Huskies shot 37 and 38 percent from field in two games vs. Cincy. ... Stat to watch: rebounds. UConn 17-2 when outrebounding an opponent. ... Purvis averaging 17.5 points in four previous AAC tourney games. ... RPI Watch: UConn 60th, Cincy 38th. ... Up next: Friday's winner faces top-seeded Temple/No. 9 USF winner Saturday at 3 p.m. in semifinals.

— Gavin Keefe