ORLANDO – UCF men's basketball head coach Johnny Dawkins announced the program's non-conference schedule for the 2022-23 season on Tuesday. Headlined by a trip to the Bahamas for the Baha Mar Classic, the Knights will play 12 non-conference games including eight home games at Addition Financial Arena.
The Knights open the season at home on Monday, Nov. 7, against UNC Asheville. On Friday, Nov. 11, UCF welcomes Florida State to Addition Financial Arena. Western Illinois heads to Orlando on Monday, Nov. 14, as the Knights first three games of the season will be played at home.
UCF will head to Nassau, Bahamas, Nov. 18-20 to compete in the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship, along with future Big 12 Conference foe Oklahoma State, Santa Clara and DePaul. The Black and Gold face Oklahoma State on Nov. 18 and either DePaul or Santa Clara 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.
After returning from the road trip, the Knights return home for their next four games. A matchup with Evansville opens the home stand on Nov. 23, followed by Miami visiting Addition Financial Arena on Sunday, Nov. 27. Last year, UCF earned a 95-89 road win at Miami, leading the Hurricanes, a team that advanced to the NCAA Elite 8 last season, for 39 of the 40 minutes.
Samford and Tarleton State head to Orlando, Dec. 4 and 11, respectively, before UCF makes the trip to Ole Miss on Dec. 14.
UCF will take on Missouri in the 28th annual AutoNation Orange Bowl Basketball Classic set for Dec. 17, at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
The Knights conclude their non-conference slate against Stetson at home on Dec. 21.
The 2022-23 American Athletic Conference schedule pairings have the Knights facing eight AAC teams twice during the regular season – once at home and once on the road. Cincinnati, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, South Florida, Temple, Tulsa and Wichita State are the teams that UCF plays both home and away.
UCF hosts SMU in the lone matchup between the teams during the regular season, while the Knights travel to Tulane.
The 2023 American Athletic Conference Championship returns to Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. For the third consecutive year, the men's and women's tournaments will be held at the same venue, with the men's championship slated to be held March 9-12.
The complete 2022-23 men's basketball composite schedule with dates, times and broadcast designations will be announced at a later date. The first conference play dates will be December 27-29 and league play will run through Sunday, March 5, 2023.