The UCF Knights are quietly putting together something special down in Orlando. With a 9-1 start to the season, Johnny Dawkins’ squad is riding its longest winning streak in 20 years-and this isn’t just a hot stretch. This is the best start UCF has seen since Dawkins took over the program.
The latest chapter in that run came Wednesday night, when the Knights handled Mercer with authority, cruising to an 81-63 win at Addition Financial Arena. The defense set the tone, holding Mercer to just 37.7% shooting from the field-a number that speaks to UCF’s growing identity on that end of the floor.
One of the anchors in that effort? Forward Jamichael Stillwell, who continues to be a force on the glass.
He notched his fourth double-double of the season against Mercer and is now averaging 7.9 rebounds per game, good for eighth in the Big 12. Stillwell’s motor and presence inside have been crucial for a team that’s learning how to win in multiple ways.
After the game, Dawkins emphasized a key sign of progress: mental toughness. The Knights didn’t shoot it well early, but they didn’t let that dictate their defensive intensity.
“I like the fact that we didn’t let us not making shots, especially early on in the first half, affect how we guarded,” Dawkins said. “That’s a sign of a team that’s maturing.
Your offense should not affect how you guard, and I thought we did a very good job of that. I think early on in the year that would have affected us, and it didn’t affect us today.
So I see growth in that area and want to continue to see that as we move forward.”
That kind of maturity-staying locked in defensively even when the offense isn’t clicking-is what separates good teams from great ones. And right now, UCF is trending toward something greater than just a strong December.
Next up for the Knights is another in-state showdown, this time against Florida Gulf Coast. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET on Saturday at Addition Financial Arena, with coverage available on ESPN+ and local radio via FM 96.9 / AM 740 The Game.
The Eagles come in at 5-6 and are trying to snap a four-game losing streak. Their latest setback came on the road at New Mexico, a 75-59 loss.
FGCU’s top weapon is graduate forward J.R. Konieczny, a Notre Dame transfer who leads the team in both scoring (175 points) and rebounding (77 boards).
He’s gone for 20 or more four times this season, including a 28-point performance against Kennesaw State.
But the Eagles have struggled against high-major competition. Their only other Power Conference matchup this season was a lopsided 43-point loss at Illinois on opening night.
Saturday’s game is UCF’s final home contest before a marquee neutral-site matchup with Florida Atlantic on December 23 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Lake Buena Vista. That game will mark the Knights’ non-conference finale before they dive into the gauntlet that is Big 12 play.
For now, though, the focus is on sustaining momentum. UCF is winning with defense, rebounding, and a growing sense of identity. And if they keep showing the kind of maturity Dawkins is seeing from his group, this team won’t just be a December story-they’ll be one to watch come March.