The Black and Gold tip off the campaign at home, hosting FIU on Nov. 6. It will be the eighth straight season that UCF has opened the season with a home contest. The Knights are 6-1 in season openers under Dawkins.
UCF will play its only true road contest of the year on Nov. 10, traveling south I-95 to pay a visit to Miami. This is the third straight season and fourth time in the last five campaigns that the two sides will meet. The Hurricanes have made the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons, reaching the Final Four last season before falling to the eventual national champion, UConn. Miami was bounced by the 2022 national champion Kansas in the Elite Eight the year prior. The Hurricanes wrapped up the 2022-23 season sitting No. 21 in the final edition of the NET rankings.
The Knights will host Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 16, a home game sandwiched between the only games on UCF’s non-conference schedule that won’t be played inside Addition Financial Arena.
UCF will head north for its in-season tournament, taking part in the Jacksonville Classic. While the four-team bracket isn’t set yet, the opponents are. The Knights will play two of the following three teams: Charlotte, George Mason and Akron. The tournament runs from Nov. 19-20. The 49ers won the CBI last season while Akron and George Mason did not advance past their conference tournament semifinals. All three opposing teams in the tournament finished in the top 140 in the NET rankings with Charlotte at 98, Akron at 105 and George Mason at 139.
The Black and Gold return home for a string of games against A-Sun opponents. UCF will host Stetson three days after Thanksgiving on Nov. 26, followed by Lipscomb on Dec. 2 and Jacksonville on Dec. 6. The Knights are a combined 47-28 against those three opponents all-time.
UCF will match up with Ole Miss on Dec. 10 in the second game of a home-and-home that was on last year’s schedule. The Knights jumped out to a 21-0 lead in Oxford and eventually came away with the 72-61 victory in UCF’s first win over the Rebels in program history.
The Knights return to the hardwood after a week-long gap between games for final exams, hosting Maine on Dec. 18. The non-conference schedule concludes with Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman coming to Orlando for games on Dec. 21 and Dec. 29, respectively.
UCF is 22-8 against Florida foes under Dawkins’ direction with wins over Florida, Florida State, Miami, South Florida, Stetson, Jacksonville and Bethune-Cookman. FIU and Miami are on UCF’s slate to begin the campaign and serve as two of the six total contests against in-state rivals.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2023-24 UCF men’s basketball season are on sale now! Visit our ticketing central page to secure your seats for our inaugural season as part of the Big 12 Conference. Tickets for individual games will go on sale at a later date.
