ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – March 22, 2017 may have been a turning point for UCF Basketball. Or maybe it was March 23, 2016, exactly one year ago today.
When Director of Athletics Dr. Daniel J. White announced the hiring of Johnny Dawkins as the head coach of the Knights everything changed. Handed a team that went just 12-18 a year ago, and suiting up only seven scholarship players every game, Dawkins has done what he does best. He has won.
At 24-11, Dawkins has led the Knights to one of the best seasons in program history. The UCF record for wins in a season during its Division I era is 25, set back in 2004-05. In 45 total seasons of Knights Basketball, which includes 14 years of Division II play, the all-time record is 26 (1977-78).
With two more wins Dawkins would tie that record in his first season in Orlando. With two more wins he would do something he's done twice before as a head coach…win the National Invitation Tournament.
UCF has never won an NIT title. In fact, last week's first round NIT victory over Colorado was the program's first ever postseason NIT or NCAA Tournament victory. It's a new era. Dawkins has now led the Knights to three straight postseason victories after winning at top seeded Illinois State on Monday and defeating Illinois Wednesday night in front of a record crowd at CFE Arena.
It hasn't been smooth sailing for the Black and Gold all season long. When the Knights lost four in a row and six of seven to fall to 15-10, they could have rolled over. They did anything but, winning six in a row, including a 53-49 home victory over then No. 15 Cincinnati.
"Everyone had to take a look in the mirror; we had to take a look at ourselves and determine which way we wanted to go," Dawkins said. "You're either going to fold or you're going to fight through it. Our guys did the latter; they fought through the adversity. They were able to come through this and you see who they are: they're winners."
After a 30-point blowout of perennial power Memphis in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament, the Knights' dream of reaching the NCAA Championship was snapped by eventual AAC Champion SMU in the league's semifinals.
But again, the Knights kept their focus. When the field for the NIT was announced, and UCF earned its second ever trip to the tournament, the goal was set. The goal was to keep winning.
The 79-74 victory over Colorado got things started again. The 18-point comeback and last second win at top seeded Illinois State got their blood boiling. But selling out CFE Arena for the first time ever, and treating the home town fans to a 68-58 victory over the Big Ten's Illinois? That was pure fun.
"Winning has meant a lot to them," Dawkins said of his players. "They really want to go out there and represent our community, represent UCF. I love that about them. These kids are playing for the name on the front of their jersey, not the name on the back. To do anything special, that's what you have to play for. You can't play for yourself. You have to play for others."
When the final buzzer sounded and the fans donning black rushed the court to celebrate with their favorite players and coaches, it all came together. That moment on March 22, 2017 was possible because of what happened on March 23, 2016.
"I look back at my college days and think about the experiences I had as a student-athlete," Dawkins said. "They're some of the best days of your life. This is a memory they're going to have for the rest of their life, storming the court, interacting with the players and coaches after a win like that. Are you kidding me? It doesn't get any better than that."
But it could get better than that for these Knights. Because these Knights love to win. And there are two more opportunities to win standing in front of them. UCF will take on TCU in the NIT semifinals Tuesday at New York's iconic Madison Square Garden. The winner will play either Georgia Tech or Cal State Bakersfield in the championship game Thursday.
"It's surreal," A.J. Davis said. "You know it is great to be in Madison Square Garden. I have seen the Garden since I was a kid. It's a dream come true for me. It's just unreal to see where this team has come in one year from where we started. Nobody thought we'd be here, but we believed in us and now we are in the final four of the NIT. It is just a dream come true."
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