Knights dominate, achieving 19 wins at lightning speed. Discover how a rebuilt roster achieved this remarkable feat.
The UCF Knights (19-7, 8-6 Big 12) aim to replicate their success from seven years ago in 2019 when they made the NCAA Tournament.
Ken Landis, the assistant athletic director for UCF, posted on X about the 2026 Knights being the second-fastest team to reach 19 wins on Saturday. Landis' post came shortly after guard Themus Fulks propelled UCF over the Utah Utes (10-17, 2-12 Big 12) with the game-winning free throws.
What's impressive about this season's success, as Landis pointed out in his post, is that the team retained zero returning scorers. Auburn forward Keyshawn Hall led the Knights in scoring, averaging 18.8 points last season.
Guards Darius Johnson (17.4) and Jordan Ivy-Curry (13.1) were seniors who started their professional careers overseas. Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam averaged 10.4 points.
UCF lost 59.7 points in scoring from Hall, Johnson, Ivy-Curry and Thiam. However, coach Johnny Dawkins was able to bounce back with his activity in the transfer portal.
Guards Riley Kugel (14), Themus Fulks (14), and forwards Jamichael Stillwell (11.9)and Jordan Burks (13) combine for 52.9. The top four Knights this season are also showing promise in conference play, yielding an over .500 record.
"This league, it is a gauntlet every single night, every opponent," Dawkins said in his postgame press conference after defeating Utah. "I mean, everybody's just one basket away, two baskets away from records being a lot different, and it's just a function of I thought our guys did a great job just finding a way at the end to make plays and win the game."
The 2019 UCF squad that made the NCAA Tournament reached 19 victories on Feb. 16 in a 79-72 victory over Memphis.
Coach Dawkins and his team are now one win away from back-to-back 20-win seasons, but their next challenge is daunting.
They face No. 23 Brigham Young and its superstar freshman AJ Dybantsa, who leads the country in scoring with 24.9 points, on Tuesday.
Dawkins said he wants his team to enjoy their victory over Utah, but they have to lock in and prepare for BYU after their celebration is over.
"We need to make sure that we start giving all of our attention to them," Dawkins said. "But, as we know, every single game is going to be very tough and challenging."
The Knights will face the Cougars on ESPN2 at 11 p.m. at the Marriott Center.
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