UCF Men’s Basketball capped off the regular season with a 20-10 record overall and finished 9-9 in conference play. A season defined by a historic start and a late stumble that now leaves the Knights fighting for an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament.
What Went Right
This team showed potential to start the season, exceeding preseason expectations. A 12-1 start, which included an 11-game win streak, was the best start to a season under coach Dawkins.
A strong start, followed by a ranked win against No. 17 Kansas to open conference play, would push UCF into the AP Top 25 for the only time this season. They reached the 25th spot in the rankings.
The strong display of chemistry to start the season, combined with their bench depth, showed that this team had what it took to contend in what would be a very competitive Big 12.
They beat three ranked opponents (No. 19 BYU, No. 17 Kansas, and No. 11 Texas Tech) in conference play and made a valiant effort against then No. 1 Arizona before coming up short.
Arguably, their best win was against then No. 19 BYU, where the Knights led by 36 at one point. The final score from that late-night win in Provo was 97-84, with UCF holding the lead for the entire 40 minutes of play.
What Went Wrong
The 30-point loss to Iowa State would foreshadow what would come later in the season. The absence of Jamichael Stillwell, combined with an ice-cold 36.8% from the field that night, signified the first true heartbreak of the season.
Another blowout loss came against Houston. In this contest, UCF would once again go cold, shooting 30.8% from the field. What was particularly notable about this loss was that at halftime, the Knights were down by 20, and the Cougars had not made a three yet.
Finally, came the late-season collapse by coach Dawkins and this squad that once had hopes to contend in the Big 12. A 20-point loss to Cincinnati, a blown 15-point lead against West Virginia, and another three-game losing streak to end the season.
Included in the previously mentioned three-game losing streak was an overtime loss to Oklahoma State. This loss counts as a Quad 3 loss, adding a lot of negative weight to UCF’s resume just two weeks before Selection Sunday.
This last three-game stretch would truly spoil the Knights’ chances of making March Madness. Before the losing streak, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi projected UCF as a No. 7 seed. Now, they are projected to play Indiana for one of the No. 11 seed spots.
What’s Next for This Team
With the regular season being officially over, all that can be done now is put it in the past and focus on the challenge ahead, the Big 12 tournament.
Selection Sunday is days away, and UCF will have one final chance to improve its resume in the tournament. Up first, Cincinnati on March 11th. With a win, the Knights move on to face Arizona.
A deep tournament run would boost the Knights’ chances of making March Madness, while winning the tournament would be the best-case scenario, locking in a bid to the Big Dance and increasing their chances of a better seed.
