Johnny Dawkins transforms UCF, guiding a revamped team to surprising wins and March Madness contention, earning national coach of the year buzz.
Thanks to an impressive start in non-conference and a 6-4 record in Big 12 play, the Knights are poised to return to March Madness for the first time since 2019.
UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins has been a huge reason why, leading a group of transfers that fill out a completely revamped lineup from the year prior.
Despite losing 100% of their scoring from last season, the Knights have mustered a 17-5 record and sit within the top half of a stacked Big 12 conference which currently project at least eight March Madness teams.
Dawkins was recently named a coach that "just missed the cut" for the top 12 National Coach of the Year candidates, falling just outside the list, according to ESPN. He currently ranks behind standout coaches like Arizona's Tommy Lloyd, who has led Arizona to a 22-0 record and Fred Hoiberg, who has transformed the Cornhuskers from a bottom-half Big Ten program to the No. 9 team in the country.
However, Dawkins is still working wonders, leading UCF to multiple big-time wins this season, taking down Big 12 powerhouses like Kansas and Texas Tech.
The Knights fell Wednesday 79-55 against Houston, falling to the No. 8 Cougars, but have played well as of late.
UCF is the only team within the top-seven within in the conference to remain unranked in the latest AP Poll, despite winning its last three.
Thanks to this impressive week, Dawkins was named the Coach of the Week by The Field of 68.
The Field of 68 posts these weekly superlatives each Monday, highlighting the best team, coach, player and more from the week prior.
This is the first time any UCF player or coach has made the list this season.
Dawkins led the Knights to two home wins, first defeating Arizona State in a last-ditch comeback effort. UCF trailed by eleven with just over five minute to play before storming back ahead on five-of-six shooting from deep to shock the Sun Devils and steal a win.
He addressed his team's continued fight to the media following the game.
"You know, we had to dig deep. We've had to do that a number of times this year," Dawkins said. "They've shown the ability to be able to do that. The one thing about them is they still believe we have a chance as long as there's a second on the clock and they just keep fighting. And they did it again tonight."
UCF carried this momentum into a pivotal match-up with Texas Tech, who was ranked No. 11 at the time. The Red Raiders are led by the duo of junior forward JT Toppin and sophomore point guard Christian Anderson, both of whom could be First Team All-Americans this season.
The Knights dominated, leading for over 36 minutes of game time and fending off runs from Texas Tech. Sophomore center John Bol had his second double-double of the season, scoring fourteen points and snagging ten rebounds.
Knights fans in attendance gave Bol his props, as cheers of "John Bol, John Bol" filled Addition Financial Arena.
UCF picked up its second ranked win of the season, holding on to an 88-80 victory and celebrating with another patented court storming.
Dawkins had talked throughout the season about his team playing a full 40 minutes of effort and good basketball. Following the game, he said he believed his team had done so.
I thought our guys just played a 40-minute basketball game. We've been challenging our guys all season long," Dawkins said. "When will we play 40 minutes? Not 35, not 30. And I thought it took it took a 40-minute game tonight in order to be successful."