ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – The complete 2017-18 UCF men's basketball schedule – highlighted by home games against Missouri, Memphis, Cincinnati, UConn, SMU and Wichita State – was released Friday as the season is less than two months away.
"We're very excited for the season to be just around the corner and we're looking forward to the challenges this schedule will present us this year," UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins said.
The Knights, who were extremely successful under Dawkins in his first season in Orlando, will face a number of those challenges early on as they play in the always competitive AdvoCare Invitational Nov. 23-26 at ESPN's Wide World of Sports.
UCF takes on Nebraska in the first round, before playing either West Virginia or Marist in round two at HP Field House. The Mountaineers have been ranked as high as 13th in national preseason polls released this summer.
Immediately following the three tournament games, the Knights will host Missouri and the number one ranked recruit in the nation Michael Porter. The Nov. 30 game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. tip on ESPN2 at CFE Arena.
Mizzou has received plenty of off-season praise, including USA Today's preseason ranking of 24th in the nation this fall. Similarly, after a solid season in 2016-17, Avery Johnson's Alabama seems primed for a breakout campaign. After falling in the first round of the NIT a year ago, the Crimson Tide have been ranked as high as 19th in the country this summer.
"The non-conference games, with the likes of the Alabama and Missouri contests, and the AdvoCare Invitational, will be a great test for us early on," Dawkins said. "They will really help prepare us for a very challenging American Athletic Conference schedule."
The American portion of the schedule doesn't allow the Knights to warm up, as they will head on the road to play at defending regular season and conference tournament champion SMU to start things off on Dec. 27.
One of UCF's defining victories last season was over then No. 15 ranked Cincinnati on Senior Day. This year the Knights will do battle with the Bearcats – who are again in every preseason Top 25 – in Orlando on Jan. 16 with a return road trip scheduled for Feb. 6 (game will be played at Northern Kentucky with renovations underway at Cincinnati's arena).
The 2017-18 season will be the first with perennial NCAA Tournament team Wichita State as a member of The American. The Shockers, who won the Missouri Valley Conference and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, have been ranked as high as fourth in the nation heading into the fall.
UCF will first meet Wichita State on the road Jan. 25 in a game scheduled for 9 p.m. on ESPN2. The Shockers will then make their first appearance in CFE Arena Mar. 1. That game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN.
"The American is a premier basketball conference and it will prove that once again this season," Dawkins said. "Adding Wichita State to what was already a formidable group of league opponents makes this year's conference schedule that much more exciting as a competitor."
After the Knights conclude the regular season at home against Tulane on March 4, they will stay in town as The American Championship will be played at the Amway Center in Orlando. The tournament is scheduled for March 8-11 with the championship game set for 3:10 p.m. on CBS.
SCHEDULE NOTES
- Every game is scheduled to air on ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, ESPN2, ESPN, CBSSN or CBS
- Up to seven regular season games airing on ESPN or ESPN2
- Potentially seven regular season games against NCAA Tournament teams from 2016-17
- Potentially eight regular season games against teams currently in preseason Top 25
- 16 home games at CFE Arena
- 20 in Central Florida area with three at ESPN Wide World of Sports and one at Stetson
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2017-18 campaign are on sale now. Fans looking to purchase new tickets can call (407) 823-1000 or click here: www.ucfknights.com/jointhefamily to secure them today.
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