Winning with Class - Johnny Dawkins Reaches 300 Career Win Milestone

UCF’s inaugural home game in Big 12 Conference play more than lived up to the hype. The Knights earned a 65-60 win over No. 3 Kansas, the highest ranked opponent the Black and Gold had ever beaten. It represented the first win in UCF’s new league and was just the second defeat of a Big 12 foe in program history.

The Jayhawks jumped out to an early advantage, jumping out to a 16-point edge late in the first half. UCF was able to cut the deficit to eight before the half, setting themselves for a furious comeback. The Knights shot 47.8% in the second half compared to Kansas’ 31.8%, aiding in the rally. The Black and Gold took their first lead with 13:14 remaining in the game at 45-44 and trailed only once by a single point after that, holding off the Jayhawks for a monumental victory.

Coach Dawkins and his squad put on a show in front of the third-largest crowd in program history in front of a sold out Addition Financial Arena, just the second sell-out in the venue’s existence for a men’s hoops contest.

The win represented Dawkins’ second win against the Jayhawks as a head coach, joining his triumph over Kansas as the head coach of the Stanford Cardinal March 23, 2014 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Overall, Dawkins improved to 4-0 against the Jayhawks in his career, after he also bested Kansas twice as a player with Duke in the 1985-86 season. Against Self, Dawkins also improved to 4-0, having previously beaten his now-fellow head coach as an assistant coach with Duke in the tournament’s second round in 1999 when Self was at Tulsa, and in 2000 Dawkins bested Self when the latter was with Illinois as well.

History was made in Columbia, S.C. as UCF got its first taste of March Madness since 2005 and for the first time under Coach Dawkins during the 2018-19 campaign. The Knights’ trip to the NCAA Tournament was earned via an at-large bid, the first in program history, resulting in the program’s fifth overall appearance at the Division I level.

A nine-seed, UCF matched up with VCU in the first round, an eight-seed who earned the Atlantic-10 regular season title. The Rams jumped out to a 7-2 lead in what was a defensive battle for the first seven minutes. UCF quickly worked its way back into the game, jumping in front 9-7, using a 7-0 run in 54 seconds to take the lead. VCU kept it close for most of the remaining first half, but never retook the lead. The Knights closed out the first half by going up 10 at 34-24 and proceeded to step on the gas out of halftime, pulling in front by as many as 21 points midway through the second.

Tacko Fall posted a double-double on the evening, tallying 13 points and 18 rebounds while adding five blocks. B.J. Taylor led the way with 15 points and snatched three steals, while Aubrey Dawkins also scored double-digit points, posting 14 with seven rebounds.

Coach Dawkins and company had made history, earning the first NCAA Tournament victory at the Division I level in program history. The team built its tournament resume throughout the year, but really boosted it with back-to-back wins against ranked foes. The Black and Gold beat No. 6 Houston on the road on Mar. 2 before hosting No. 19 Cincinnati and coming out on top five days later.

The first season under Coach Dawkins was a thrilling one, and it ended with a run to the NIT Semifinals. The Knights earned an NIT berth and made a compelling run that began with a home win against future Big 12-conference mate Colorado. UCF then visited Illinois State, snapping the Redbirds’ 22-game home winning streak with a 63-62 come from behind victory.

The Knights returned home following the win, hosting Illinois with a trip to the semifinals on the line. The game became the first sellout crowd in Addition Financial Arena’s history (then named CFE Arena), filling the stands with 10,011 fans. UCF built a lead as many as 19, but a pesky Fighting Illini team didn’t go away easy.

Four members of the Black and Gold finished the night with 10 or more points, with B.J. Taylor leading the way with 17. A.J. Davis and Matt Williams each had 16 points, with Williams making a team-high four three-pointers. Tacko Fall had a 10 point, 10 rebound evening with three blocks.

When the clock hit zero, Knight Nation stormed the court to the tune of New York, New York blaring over the speakers, as UCF had punched its ticket to Madison Square Garden where the NIT semifinals and final would be played. Coach Dawkins grabbed a microphone, climbed into the student section and hoisted an apple high, addressing the fans who were still partying on the floor.

The 2017 NIT appearance was the second in program history, but the win over Colorado was the first.

Coach Dawkins’ first victory was one that was never in doubt. In fact, the first three of his games at the helm of the Knights resulted in 20+ point victories as UCF beat Nicholls to open the year, followed by victories over Mississippi State and Charleston in the Gildan Charleston Classic. UCF won seven of its first eight games under Dawkins, on its way to an NIT berth later in the year.

Five Knights registered double-digit points in game one of the Dawkins era, with Matt Williams leading the way with 20 points thanks to 6-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc. Tacko Fall and Nick Banyard registered double-doubles on the night, posting 16 points and 16 rebounds along with 10 points and 12 rebounds, respectively. Tank Efianayi tallied 16 points while B.J. Taylor cashed in on 14.

Coach Dawkins and his Stanford squad pieced together a fantastic year in his fourth year as head coach. Leading the Cardinal, Coach Dawkins and company won their first five games and first 10 of 11 contests, setting up what would be a magical season.

Stanford earned hosting right in the first three rounds of the 2012 NIT. They opened the tournament by topping Cleveland State 76-65 before squeezing by Illinois State 92-88. That was the last game that was close on the Cardinal’s run to an NIT title. Stanford hosted Nevada and beat them 84-56, punching the team’s ticket to the NIT semifinals in New York. In the semis, Stanford handled UMass, setting up a showdown with Minnesota in the championship game. Dawkins and his team cruised to a 75-51 victory, earning Stanford its second NIT title in the program’s history.