ORLANDO – The UCF men's basketball team will head to Nassau, Bahamas this November as the Knights will tip off in the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship, along with Oklahoma State, Santa Clara and DePaul.
The basketball action tips on Friday, Nov. 18. The first-round matchups on Friday feature Oklahoma State vs. UCF and DePaul vs. Santa Clara, with the championship and consolation being played on Sunday, Nov. 20. The four games of the Bahamas Championship will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network with game times to be announced later. Louisville was crowned as the tournament's inaugural champion a year ago.
The Knights finished the 2021-22 campaign in the second round of the AAC tournament before falling to Memphis, who made it all the way to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Overall, UCF finished the season 18-12 overall, including 9-9 in conference play.
The Knights will have a fresh look in 2022-23 as just two starters return in point guard Darius Johnson and forward C.J. Walker. Tyem Freeman and PJ Edwards round out the rest of the returners. In total, the black and gold will look to replace 69 percent of minutes played and 72 percent of points scored lost from the 2021-22 roster.
But head coach Johnny Dawkins has reloaded with transfers Ithiel Horton (Pitt), Brandon Suggs (East Carolina), Lahat Thioune (Utah) and Michael Durr (Indiana), as well as signing the program's highest rated recruit in its history in top-60 forward Taylor Hendricks.
The rest of UCF's 2022-23 schedule will be announced soon.
In only its second year, "Baha Mar Hoops" will play host to the largest event in the sport of college basketball when 20 men's and women's teams play this Thanksgiving at Baha Mar, the leading resort destination in The Bahamas. The 10-day slate of games includes UCF, Oklahoma State, DePaul and Santa Clara playing in the men's Baha Mar Hoops "Bahamas Championship" and five NCAA Tournament women's teams participating in the Baha Mar Hoops "Pink Flamingo Championship." In total, 24 games will be played across three events Nov. 18-27 at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center.
Ticket & Hotel Information
Fans can book rooms now at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar at the tournament rate by visiting www.bahamarhoops.com. Tickets will go on public sale later this summer. Fans can follow, like and interact on social media at @BahaMarHoops and using hashtag #BahaMarHoops.