Riley Kugel’s return to UCF has not started the way the Knights hoped.
After a summer with the Los Angeles Clippers’ Summer League group, the veteran guard is back in Orlando and trying to shake off a brutal shooting slump that has followed him into UCF’s 3-0 start. Last season, Kugel was the team’s go-to scorer, putting up a career-best 14.4 points per game while knocking down 3-pointers at a 38.7% rate. This year, though, the production has been nowhere close to that level.
Through three games, Kugel is averaging only five points per game and shooting 24% from the field. He opened the season 0-for-11 from beyond the arc, a cold stretch that has kept him from finding any real rhythm.
The roughest night came in UCF’s 96-95 win over Florida Gulf Coast, when Kugel started but didn’t score, missing all three of his shots in 13 minutes. That kind of line stands out for a player who was UCF’s leading scorer a season ago, even if his late addition to the official roster suggests there may still be time for things to settle in.
His last two games have been better only in small steps. On Tuesday against South Alabama, Kugel finished with five points on 2-for-8 shooting, but he did finally hit his first 3-pointer of the season. That could be the first sign of the lid coming off.
Kugel’s value to UCF was clear last year, especially when conference play began. He led the Knights in scoring in their first four Big 12 games, and Kansas was UCF’s conference opener on the way to what became a special season under Johnny Dawkins.
After the season, Kugel declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, went undrafted, and joined the Clippers’ Summer League squad. That stint gave him a chance to work against NBA-level talent and in front of top league coaches, and UCF is counting on that experience to show up now that he’s back.
The Knights return to action Friday against Georgia Southern, which is 1-2 with losses to Georgia Tech and Mercer. Kugel’s role in the starting lineup will keep drawing attention until he starts looking more like the scorer UCF had last season.
In Other News...
UCF Heads Into Arizona State With A Backfield Problem To Solve
UCF is heading into its trip to Arizona State with a backfield issue it has to sort out, and the timing is not ideal. Duke Watson will miss the game because of injury, leaving the Knights to adjust their running game on the fly as they prepare for a road matchup that already carried plenty of weight.
The injury report does not stop there, either. Tyler Gibson, DJ Bell, Kahmel Johnson, Demari Henderson and Dylan Burk are also out, while several others are still listed as questionable or probable. Waden Charles is doubtful with an undisclosed injury, adding another layer of uncertainty to a UCF offense that may have to lean on depth and quick answers to get through the week. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Just Delivered The Kind Of Road Win Fans Have Been Waiting For
For a team that had been fighting through self-inflicted mistakes on the road, the trip to Kansas offered a cleaner version of UCF football. The Knights played with noticeably better communication and leaned on veteran leadership to keep things under control, and the result was the kind of disciplined performance that had been missing away from home.
The most striking part was how little the officials had to call on the Knights, a sign the operation finally looked organized from start to finish. Just as important, the win ended a long slide in road games and gave UCF a much-needed proof point that the problems that had followed it away from Orlando can be corrected. [Read more 🡒]
Johnny Dawkins Just Gave UCF Fans A Reason To Dream Bigger
UCFs early-season buzz has not been limited to what Johnny Dawkins is building on the floor. The Knights have landed commitments from three four-star recruits over the past two weeks, a run that gives the program a different kind of momentum as it continues to stack talent around a roster that is off to a 3-0 start. With Dior Johnson and Carmelo Pacheco helping drive the unbeaten opening, the on-court product has matched the recruiting surge in a way that should resonate with fans looking for a bigger picture.
The latest addition only adds to the sense that UCF is trying to change the shape of its future in the paint. Bol Kuany joins fellow South Sudanese 7-footer John Bol in giving the Knights a frontcourt foundation that looks unusually long and promising, and it is the kind of recruiting win that can alter how a program is viewed beyond one season. Dawkins has already given UCF reason to feel good about the present, but the way this class is coming together suggests the ceiling may be climbing just as quickly. [Read more 🡒]