UCF Set for Historic Stretch as Knights Climb National Rankings
The UCF men’s basketball team is stepping into uncharted territory-and doing it with confidence. With a 14-2 record and a recent debut at No. 25 in the AP Top 25, the Knights are putting together one of the most impressive runs in program history.
But the road ahead? It’s about to get even tougher.
A Date With No. 1
This Saturday, the Knights will host No. 1-ranked Arizona, marking just the second time UCF has ever welcomed the top team in the nation to Addition Financial Arena. It’s the fifth time overall the Knights have faced a No. 1 team, and they’re still hunting for that elusive first win against an AP No. 1.
The last time UCF had a shot at the top dog was March 6, 2024, when they came up just short against then-No. 1 Houston, 67-59.
Head coach Johnny Dawkins is no stranger to these kinds of matchups-he’s faced the nation’s No. 1 eight times in his career across roles as a player, assistant, and head coach. His lone win came during his playing days at Duke, but he’s still searching for that breakthrough as UCF’s leader.
A Brutal Back-to-Back
Saturday’s showdown with Arizona is only the beginning. Just three days later, UCF will take on No. 2 Iowa State, making this the first time in program history the Knights will face the top two teams in the AP poll in back-to-back games.
This kind of stretch is rare air in college basketball. Over the last 30 seasons, only six other programs have faced the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in consecutive games. It’s a daunting challenge-but it’s also a massive opportunity for UCF to prove it belongs among the nation’s elite.
Road Woes Reversed
Before looking ahead, it’s worth appreciating just how far this team has come. UCF recently snapped an eight-game Big 12 road losing streak with an 82-73 win at Kansas State-its first ever victory at Bramlage Coliseum. The win pushed the Knights to 14-2 on the season and showcased the kind of composure that’s becoming a trademark of this group.
Themus Fulks was the engine behind that win, dishing out 12 assists-his fifth game this season with double-digit dimes. That sets a new program record for most 10-plus assist games in a single season. Riley Kugel continued his scoring tear, leading the team with 19 points for the fourth straight game.
Kugel Continues to Shine
Speaking of Kugel, the senior guard is starting to look like one of the most reliable scorers in the Big 12. He was recently named to the Big 12 Starting Five for Week Nine after a clutch performance in UCF’s 81-75 upset of then-No.
17 Kansas. Kugel dropped 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting, sealing the win with a late and-one that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
He’s now reached double figures in nine games this season, including a career-best 25-point outing against Vanderbilt, where he went 4-of-5 from deep and added four assists and five boards.
Holding Off Cincinnati
UCF’s most recent outing was another test of grit. In a back-and-forth battle with Cincinnati, the Knights held on for a 73-72 win at home.
Neither team led by double digits at any point, and the Bearcats briefly took the lead with under two minutes to go. But once again, Fulks came through in the clutch, hitting a go-ahead jumper with 13 seconds left before the defense locked in to preserve the win.
The Knights shot a blistering 57.7% from the field-easily their best mark against a Big 12 opponent since joining the conference. Kugel led all scorers with 19, while Jamichael Stillwell added 15 and Jeremy Foumena chipped in 12 points and a season-high eight rebounds. Fulks, of course, handed out another 12 assists.
Climbing the Ranks
UCF’s hot start hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Knights are one of just 22 Division I teams with two or fewer losses as of Jan. 15, and their AP Top 25 debut marks their first appearance in the poll since 2019. It’s also just the sixth time in program history they’ve been ranked.
This is the best start to a season under Johnny Dawkins, and the metrics back it up. UCF currently sits 35th in the NCAA NET rankings, having climbed as high as 30-by far their best position since joining the Big 12. They’re also 44th in KenPom, inching closer to the program’s all-time high of No. 34, last reached during that memorable 2018-19 season.
The resume is strong, too. UCF boasts nine Quad 1-3 wins, tied for the fifth most in Division I.
They’ve gone 2-2 in Quad 1 games, including a sweep of Texas A&M, while suffering losses to now-No. 11 Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State.
And the tests keep coming: eight Quad 1 and six Quad 2 games remain on the schedule.
Dawkins vs. Arizona
Saturday’s matchup with Arizona brings a familiar opponent for Dawkins. He’s faced the Wildcats 17 times in his career, going 3-14 overall. That includes a 1-3 mark as Stanford’s head coach, 0-1 at UCF, and 2-0 as an assistant at Duke.
He’s also seen Arizona at their best-twice facing them when they were ranked No. 1. Both times, his teams came close but couldn’t quite pull off the upset, falling by three and eight points, respectively.
The last meeting between UCF and Arizona came on Jan. 11, 2025, in Tucson, with the Wildcats taking an 88-80 win. This time, it’s on UCF’s home floor, with a ranked Knights squad and a chance to make history.
The Moment Ahead
There’s no sugarcoating it-this is the toughest stretch UCF has ever faced. But it’s also the most exciting. With a top-25 ranking, a deep and balanced roster, and a head coach who’s been through just about every big-game scenario imaginable, the Knights are primed for the spotlight.
Arizona and Iowa State are coming to town. The stage is set. Now it’s time to see if UCF can turn a strong start into something truly special.