Beating Florida Foes
- UCF has found success against in-state opponents under head coach Johnny Dawkins, going 29-11 against teams from Florida since his arrival. The Knights cruised past Florida A&M this season and are set to face two more in-state foes with FGCU (Dec. 20) and Florida Atlantic (Dec. 23).
- UCF added two tallies to the win column last season with the 100-94 win over Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12 and the 86-66 victory over Jacksonville on Dec. 21.
- The Knights have topped Florida, Florida State, Miami, South Florida, Stetson, FIU, Jacksonville, Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M during Johnny Dawkins’ tenure as UCF’s head coach and added Florida Atlantic to that list last season.
Now you’re Dawkin; Knights Start 9-1
- Since head coach Johnny Dawkins took the helm in 2016, the Knights have never opened a season quite like this, as their electrifying 9-1 start stands as the best of his tenure
- Their win over Towson on Dec. 7 also pushed their streak to seven straight victories, the longest by a Dawkins-led team since the 2019 season, when the group made a March Madness appearance and recorded a similar seven-game run from Dec. 8 to Jan. 13
- Notes to Watch: If Dawkins and his squad sweep the rest of their non-conference schedule, they’ll finish 11-1, setting a new program benchmark for the best non-conference record. Dawkins has his core group locked down early, as the Knights have yet to lose with Riley Kugel, Themus Fulks, Jamichael Stillwell, Jordan Burks, and John Bol in the starting lineup.
Fulks Controls The Flow
- Milwaukee transfer Themus Fulks has quickly established himself as UCF’s floor general, second in the Big 12 and ranking seventh nationally with 6.9 assists per game in just 10 games. He delivered his most impressive performance in the Knights’ win over Quinnipiac, dishing out 13 assists, the most by a UCF player in more than a decade. That effort left him just one shy of the program’s single-game record of 14, held by Kingsley Edwards and Cory Perry.
- Notes to watch: Should Fulks maintain a seven-assist per game average across the regular season, he’d shatter the previous program single-season assist record of 183 set in the 1991-92 season by Sinua Phillips. Fulks is one of four players in the Big 12 with multiple 10-plus assist games and one of 11 across the Power Four. Heading into the final two nonconference games, Fulks has directly contributed 115 points himself and another 168 through his assists, giving him responsibility for 283 of UCF’s 873 total points. That means he has accounted for an impressive 32.4 percent of the Knights’ total scoring production this season.
The 4 Factor
- Number four, Jamichael Stillwell, who transferred from Milwaukee alongside Fulks, has become a dominant two-way presence for the Knights, already recording four double-doubles across 10 games, unsurprising for the senior who averaged 13 points and 10.7 rebounds last season. He ranks third in the Big 12 with 3.80 offensive rebounds per game, highlighted by a career-best 10 in the win over VMI, which ties him for second all-time in program history for offensive boards in a single game.
- Notes to watch: Stillwell is on pace to surpass UCF’s single-season double-double record of 12, set by Tacko Fall during the 2016-17 season. Notably, Stillwell recorded 16 double-doubles last season at Milwaukee. Fall also set UCF’s single-season offensive rebounding record in 2016-17 with 129, another benchmark Stillwell could challenge if he maintains his production on the offensive glass throughout the season. It is worth noting that Fall was a true center, but no forward has surpassed 100 offensive rebounds in a single season, a benchmark that Stillwell is already more than a quarter of the way toward reaching.
Rising Through The Ranks
- As of Dec. 13, UCF ranks 40th in the NCAA NET, its highest position since reaching 35th on Jan. 13, 2023. The Knights have generated more NET momentum this season than in their first two years in the Big 12, having sat 96th at this point in 2024 and 65th in 2023.
- Notes to watch: UCF’s six wins in quad 1-3 matchups as of Dec. 13 put them in a tie for second among Division I teams, just behind No. 2 Michigan, which leads with seven. UCF’s remaining schedule includes eight quad 1 games and seven quad 2 games. The Knights are 1-0 in quad 2, having swept Texas A&M in a home-and-home series, but fell in their lone quad 1 contest to No. 15 Vanderbilt. Dawkins’ 2018-19 team finished nonconference play ranked 46th in the NCAA NET Rankings, though they climbed as high as 26 before ending their season in the tournament’s second round.
Bench Brigade
- Depth has been a defining trait for the 2025-26 roster, with six different players leading the team in scoring through nine games. A balance that has translated to one of the Big 12’s most productive benches, as the Black and Gold are averaging 30.2 points per game from their reserves entering the final three nonconference contests, third-best in the conference, highlighted by a 47-point bench performance in the win over Quinnipiac.
- Notes to watch: The Knights’ bench reached a program high in 2010-11, scoring 828 points at an average of 25.5 per game. So far, the 2025-26 reserves have amassed 302 points, hinting that this year’s bench could emerge as one of the most efficient in recent history.Among the UCF’s bench contributors are key sharpshooters like Carmelo Pacheco, who has scored 54 of his 66 points this season from beyond the arc so far. Pacheco ranked fourth in NCAA Division I in three-point field goal percentage last season at 46.4 percent and is looking to match that again, currently maintaining a strong 41.9 percent. Beyond scoring, the bench has contributed 116 rebounds so far, echoing Coach Dawkins’ 2023-24 unit, which set a program record with 475 rebounds, a mark this year’s group is already more than a quarter of the way toward.
Stillwell Tabbed to Big 12 Starting Five
- UCF senior Jamichael Stillwell was named to the Big 12 Starting Five, the first Knight in program history to earn the weekly honor
- The Big 12 Starting Five recognizes five top performers across the league each week
- Logged second double-double of the season in the win over Pittsburgh: 12 points, 11 rebounds, 32 minutes
- Recorded first double-double of the season (and UCF’s first of the year) vs. Oakland: 20 points, 14 rebounds, 8-of-13 shooting
Legends Classic Sweep
- UCF wrapped up the Legends Classic with a 2-0 slate against Pitt and Quinnipiac
- The Knights earned a 77–67 win over Pitt in the Legends Classic at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach
- The Knights outrebounded the Panthers 37–28 and shot 52.5% while holding Pitt to 38.9%
- Riley Kugel was named Legends Classic MVP with 18 points and four assists
- Themus Fulks also scored 18 points and tied his career high by going 3-for-3 from three
- Jamichael Stillwell posted a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double
- The Black and Gold came out victorious against Quinnipiac, 102-91, in Addition Financial Arena
- Five players hit double digits in points for the Knights: Jeremy Foumena (18), Kugel (16), Jordan Burks (13), John Boll (13) and Chris Johnson (11)
- The Knights got themselves into a 10-point deficit early in the second quarter, but UCF quickly found its rhythm and strung together a quick 7-0 run over the span of a minute, cutting the deficit to 64-63
- UCF went on to hold the Bobcats scoreless for nearly seven minutes, Foumena recorded back-to-back dunks that punctuated the surge and stretched the Knights’ lead to 72-66.
- From there, the Black and Gold never looked back, surrendering only 19 points until the final minute. They piled up 15 defensive rebounds and forced five turnovers in the second half to seal a 102-91 victory
Paint Beasts
- UCF recorded back-to-back games (Quinnipiac 11/25 and VMI 11/29) with 54 points in the paint, marking the most ever in the Johnny Dawkins era
- Through nine games, UCF averages 43 points in the paint, which is a 13.5 point improvement from last year
On Point from the Long Range
- The Knights are currently ranked 28th in the nation with a 38.7 three-point percentage
- Riley Kugel leads the teams with 20 three pointers made this season, which ranks him 20th in the Big 12 conference
- Transfers George Beale Jr. and Carmelo Pacheco shot the three-ball above 40% last season
- Both Beale Jr. Pacheco averaged 6.3 three-point attempts per game on their two previous teams, respectively
- UCF earned 10 or more three-pointers for the 14th time last season against Oregon State, hitting 10 or more threes in four of its last five games after not doing so for the entire month of February. The streak included tying a season-high 14 made threes vs. Kansas in the second round of the Big 12 Championship. To put in perspective the shooting capability of this year’s team, the Knights hit 10 or more three pointers just twice last season. Additionally, UCF has five games where they’ve shot 50% or better from the floor after doing that four times in the previous campaign.
- The Black and Gold have knocked down a program record 328 three pointers last season, reaching the milestone during the College Basketball Crown first round. The mark tops the 295 made triples during the 2022-23 season.
- The Knights averaged 8.9 made three pointers per game, beating the previous record during Dawkins’ tenure at 8.8 during the 2021-22 campaign. The high clip has helped UCF to its highest scoring offense under Dawkins as well.
1K Point Club
- Riley Kugel recorded his 1,000th career point against Oakland on Nov. 17.
- Kugel tallied 18 points in the game, marking his fifth consecutive game with double digits in points.
- The Orlando native joins fellow teammates: Themus Fulks and Devan Cambridge, as they have both scored over 1,000 points in their career.
Complete Sweep against Texas A&M
- UCF took down Texas A&M, 86-74, on Nov. 14 at Reed Arena in College and last season opened up the season against then No. 13/15 earning a 64-61 win inside Addition Financial Arena on Nov. 4, 2024.
- The Knights dug their way out of a 14-point hole in the second quarter, mounting a 15-7 run powered by back-to-back threes from Jordan Burks to pull within striking distance at 61-59 with 7:42 remaining. Burks finished the night with a career-high 21 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, also a career-best for made three-point shots in a single game.
- UCF erased an 11-point deficit with seven minutes to go to come from behind to beat No. 13/15 Texas A&M 64-61 last season in the home opener on Nov. 4, 2024.
- Texas A&M was the third ranked opponent UCF has played on opening night in the program’s D-I history, joining tilts against No. 16 Florida State (11/25/88) and No. 25 Miami (11/19/99). Neither of those resulted in a win.
- Last year’s ranked victory was the 11th in program history and the ninth under head coach Johnny Dawkins.
Dominant Team Victory vs. Florida A&M
- The Knights shined in the first half, as 12 different players scored a bucket. This marks the most players to record a bucket in a game since playing Kansas State Jan. 6, 2024.
- UCF’s 24 team assists is the most in a game since recording 23 assists vs. Bethune-Cookman Dec. 29, 2023.
- The Black and Gold were lighting it up from beyond the arc, knocking down 13 three-pointers and shooting 65% from downtown. This marks UCF’s best shooting percentage from three with 20-plus attempts in a game since shooting 60% vs. Michigan Dec. 30, 2021.
- Jordan Burks recorded a career-high performance with 17 points and came up with a crucial block and an offensive rebound in the closing second to help lead the team.
- The fronds were in full effect in the in-state battle, as Florida A&M shot 12-22 from the charity stripe. Florida A&M’s 55% from the free throw line is the lowest by a team in Addition Financial Arena since Houston’s 50% Mar. 6, 2024.
Top 25 In Height
- According to KenPom, the Black and Gold are rnaked 23rd nationally with an average height of 6’5”.
- There are only three teams that UCF will face that are on-average taller, those being Arizona, Arizona State, and Cincinnati.
Setting the Stage
- In the Knights’ season opener against Hofstra, 10 new Knights stepped on the hardwood in Addition Financial Arena for the first time donning the Black and Gold
- Three Knights delivered career-best performances in the win. Orlando native Riley Kugel sparked the offense early, knocking down a career-high five three-pointers in the first half. Jordan Burks added a career-best 17 points and led the team with seven rebounds, while John Bol chipped in a personal-best seven points to round out the strong individual efforts.
SINGLE GAME AND SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
UCF men's basketball single-match and season tickets are on sale now. Be sure to catch all the action at Addition Financial Arena. Tickets can be purchased online at ucfknights.com/tickets or by calling the ticket office at (407) 823-1000.
ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.