Bench Brigade
The depth of the 2025-26 UCF Knights roster has been nothing short of impressive. With seven different players leading the team in scoring across the first 30 games, the Knights boast one of the Big 12's most productive benches. Averaging 23.33 points per game, the bench ranks sixth in the conference, highlighted by a standout 51-point performance against Florida A&M back in November.
This year's bench is on track to rival the program's best from 2010-11, which averaged 25.5 points per game. So far, they've tallied 697 points, suggesting a potential record-setting season for the reserves.
Key contributors include sharpshooter Carmelo Pacheco, who has drained 123 of his 137 points from beyond the arc. Pacheco, who ranked fourth in NCAA Division I for three-point percentage last season at 46.4%, is maintaining a strong 41.8% this year.
The bench isn't just about scoring; they've contributed 292 rebounds, echoing the 2023-24 squad's program record of 475 rebounds. They're well on their way to challenging that mark this season.
Rising Through the Ranks
For the first time since 2019, UCF men's basketball cracked the AP Top 25, debuting at No. 25 in Week 9. Under head coach Johnny Dawkins, the Knights started the season with an impressive 12-1 record, earning their spot with a statement win over then-No. 17 Kansas.
This marks only the sixth time UCF has appeared in the AP Top 25 since the program's inception in 1969, and the second under Dawkins. As of March 6, they rank 50th in the NCAA NET, having climbed as high as 30th, their best since joining the Big 12. The Knights also sit 53rd in KenPom, nearing their all-time best of No. 34 from 2019.
With five quad 1 wins, including a sweep of Texas A&M and victories over top-ranked teams like Kansas and Texas Tech, UCF has proven its mettle. They have one more quad 1 matchup against West Virginia on the horizon.
Dawkins' 2018-19 team finished nonconference play ranked 46th in the NCAA NET Rankings, peaking at 26 before exiting in the tournament's second round.
UNC (Uncle) Status
Devan Cambridge, the veteran presence on the team, recently played his 171st game against West Virginia, placing him ninth in NCAA history for most games played. With at least two games left, he could tie for fourth at 173. The record, held by Iowa's Jordan Bohannon, stands at 179 games.
On-Point From the Long Range
The Knights set a program record with 19 three-pointers in a game against FGCU, breaking the previous record of 17. Currently ranked 24th nationally and third in the Big 12, UCF boasts a 37.8% three-point shooting percentage.
Transfers George Beale Jr. and Carmelo Pacheco have been instrumental, both shooting above 40% from three last season. Their combined efforts have seen UCF hit 10 or more threes in multiple games, including a season-high 14 against Kansas in the Big 12 Championship.
Last season, UCF hit a program-record 328 three-pointers, surpassing the previous high of 295 from 2022-23. Averaging 8.9 made threes per game, this year's squad has achieved the highest scoring offense under Dawkins’ leadership.