HARTFORD, Conn. (UCFKnights.com) – The first season with Johnny Dawkins at the head of the UCF men's basketball program has already been a success. The Knights have won 20 games for the first time in four years, earned their first ever bye in the American Athletic Conference Tournament, and won just their fourth game ever against at Top 25 opponent.
Dawkins' squad is not satisfied. Tomorrow the Knights (20-10, 11-7) open The American Championship in the quarterfinals against Memphis with the goal of winning three games in three days to take home their first conference title since 2005.
Since the inception of the American Athletic Conference for the 2013-14 season, this marks the first time UCF has earned a bye to the quarterfinals. The Knights finished with an 11-7 record in the league to secure the four seed in the tournament.
It was the most American Conference wins for the Knights by a full five games. Last season's 6-12 mark was their previous best.
Friday's quarterfinal match-up pits the Knights against fifth seeded Memphis (19-12, 9-9) in a 2 p.m. contest on ESPN2. The two teams split the regular season series with each winning on its home floor. Memphis won 70-65 at FedEx Forum on Jan. 22, before the Knights took care of the Tigers 72-57 at CFE Arena on Feb. 4.
A win in the quarterfinals would put UCF into the semis of The American Tournament for the first time ever. In the first semifinal on Saturday, scheduled for 3 p.m. on ESPN2, the Knights would meet the winner of top seeded SMU and the winner of a first round game between eighth seeded Temple and ninth seeded East Carolina.
Two wins and the Knights would advance to Sunday's Championship game, slated for 3:15 p.m. on ESPN. All of UCF's games during the tournament will also air on FM 96.9 The Game and the iHeart Radio app. All contests will be played at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.
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