UCF basketball is off to a red-hot start, and it’s not just impressive-it’s historic. With a 10-1 record, the Knights are enjoying their best opening stretch since 1979, and the momentum keeps building.
Their latest win, a 102-80 takedown of Florida Gulf Coast in Orlando, was a tale of two halves. The Knights didn’t exactly come out firing.
In fact, the first 20 minutes were a bit of a grind, and it took a late surge just to pull even at 49 heading into halftime. But whatever was said in that locker room clearly worked, because the second half was a completely different story.
UCF came out with purpose, tightening the screws defensively and dominating the glass. They shot 52.5% from the field after the break and owned the boards with a 28-12 rebounding edge. That’s the kind of two-way execution that turns close games into blowouts.
Head coach Johnny Dawkins wasn’t surprised by the offensive outburst, but he made it clear that the defensive cohesion was the key.
“The offense will come, you know. These guys are good offensive players,” Dawkins said after the win.
“They don’t mind sharing the basketball, but we have to be, you know, equally connected defensively. And I thought we were in the second half.”
That second-half intensity has become a theme for this UCF team. They’ve now won eight straight, and it’s not just the wins-it’s how they’re doing it. Balanced scoring, unselfish ball movement, and a defense that shows up when it matters most.
Next up, the Knights face another in-state foe in Florida Atlantic. The Owls come in at 8-4 and just had a three-game winning streak snapped with a road loss to Saint Mary’s. But don’t sleep on FAU-they’ve got pieces that can cause problems, especially up front.
Oregon State transfer Maxim Logue is one to watch. He’s coming off a season-best 15-point performance and has shown flashes of being a real difference-maker in the paint.
“Maxim, I think if you put him out there, he is going to get you 10 and 6, 15 and 8, whatever it was, if you give him enough time to produce,” said FAU head coach John Jakus. “On the glass, he had an advantage today because of his wingspan.
His raw talent is all there. He certainly is a gifted basketball player.”
That sets up an intriguing matchup between Logue and UCF’s improving frontcourt. The Knights have been steadily getting better in the paint, and this will be another test of just how far that group has come.
The game tips off Tuesday, December 23 at 2 p.m. ET. While it won’t be televised, fans can catch the action on FM 96.9 / AM 740 The Game or follow along with live stats.
After that, UCF will get a well-earned holiday break before diving into Big 12 play. And they’re not easing into it either-Kansas comes to town on January 3. That’s the kind of matchup that can set the tone for the rest of the season.
But first, one more non-conference hurdle. If the Knights bring their second-half energy from the FGCU game into Tuesday’s showdown, they’ll be in a strong position to close out 2025 with another win-and keep this historic run rolling.