As February winds down, the UCF Knights are eagerly eyeing March, with the NCAA Tournament tantalizingly close for the first time in nearly a decade. Riding high after a successful road trip in Utah, UCF (20-7, 9-6 Big 12) notched victories against Utah (73-71) and No.
19 BYU (97-84). These back-to-back road wins mark a milestone not seen since the 2018-19 season.
Coach Johnny Dawkins expressed the significance of these wins, emphasizing how success boosts the team’s confidence. “They’ve been spirited all season long and are working on getting better. They know it’s a process,” Dawkins shared.
The triumph over BYU was particularly noteworthy. It marked UCF’s ninth Big 12 win this season, their highest since joining the conference in 2023, and ensured at least a .500 finish in conference play for the first time since 2022-23.
This performance strongly positions UCF for a spot in the NCAA Tournament, a feat no Big 12 team has missed with a .500 or better finish since 2014. The last time the Knights danced in March Madness was 2018-19.
With three regular-season games remaining, including a crucial matchup against Baylor on Saturday, UCF aims to solidify their postseason prospects before the Big 12 Tournament kicks off on March 10 in Kansas City.
“We’ve talked about it’s time to sprint,” Dawkins remarked about the season’s final stretch. Guard Chris Johnson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team's focus on staying hungry and avoiding complacency.
UCF’s recent success is even more impressive considering they played without guard Riley Kugel, their leading scorer, who’s sidelined with a lower leg injury. In his absence, Chris Johnson has stepped up, averaging 8.5 points, 2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over 24 minutes per game.
There’s also concern for starting forward Jamichael Stillwell, who suffered a foot injury late in the game against BYU. Despite this setback, Stillwell contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds, marking his seventh double-double of the season. His presence on the court is crucial, as evidenced by UCF’s positive point differential with him playing.
Dawkins provided no definitive updates on Kugel or Stillwell, labeling both as “day-to-day” and acknowledging the physical toll the season takes on players.
Meanwhile, Baylor (14-14, 4-11 Big 12) is enduring a challenging season, risking their first NCAA Tournament miss since 2017-18. High turnover rates and defensive issues have plagued the Bears, with 328 turnovers this season, the third-most in the Big 12.
Despite Baylor’s struggles, Dawkins remains cautious. “They’re a really talented team with a terrific coach who has won a national championship, so we know they’re going to be well prepared as well,” he noted. UCF will need to match Baylor’s effort with their own intensity to keep their momentum going.