Dawkins details the Knights' triumphant Utah road trip and previews the crucial Baylor matchup, emphasizing team buy-in and staying present.
Coach Johnny Dawkins spoke to local media before Saturday's matchup against the Baylor Bears (14-14, 4-11 Big 12) at the Addition Financial Arena.
The UCF Knights (20-7, 9-6 Big 12) returned from a two-game road trip in Utah. They flew back home victorious, defeating the Utah Utes (73-71) and upsetting the No. 19 Brigham Young Cougars (97-84).
Here's everything Dawkins said when he spoke to local media on Friday.
On what it's like preparing for the Baylor Bears:
"It's been good. Guys have been working hard, you know, we're still in the same mode of trying to get better every day that we come to practice and or game. Our guys have still taken that same approach."
On if he's noticed an increase in team confidence and how it helps the group moving forward:
"No, it's good. You know, anytime you can have some success, I think that helps guys with their overall confidence, and they've been spirited all season long. They've been working on getting better. They know it's a process and, you know, we talk about it's time to sprint. We've started off the beginning of the season, you get to the middle of the season, then we're toward the end, and we need to be sprinting toward the end of the season, and our guys, I think, are taking that to heart. They're working hard, and they're continually trying to get better. That's what I like to see. Guys are still staying after practice, still working on ways to improve, and that's what you want to see even at this time of year."
On how impressed he is with the team's buy-in, despite little time spent together:
"I think it speaks to our staff. I think I have a terrific staff. Those guys have done an amazing job, first of all, as we're evaluating and looking to bring the right young people into UCF, as well as our players. They're overall buy-in because they care. They want to be really good. They want to win. And it starts with that. I think it always starts with caring. You have to care enough to get things done the right way. And I think they've done that. So, I've been really proud of them because when you're trying to put that many new players together, it can be challenging. But these guys have done a great job of buying in with everything that's kind of at stake with these last three regular-season games, and then going into the tournament, looking forward to obviously everyone's talking about March Madness."
On how he keeps his team grounded with three regular-season games remaining:
"I've told our guys all season long, and this way, you're hoping the maturity kicks in, and understanding what we've been preaching all season long is we want to stay in the present. We don't want to look in the future, and we don't want to look in the past. Only to take things that can help us get better. And so our guys need to stay in the moment, which is Baylor. And that's all we care about is who's our next opponent. Let's prepare properly for them. And then we move forward to what's next."
On what stands about about the Bears squad:
"[They're a] really, really talented team. Of course, a terrific coach [Scott Drew]. The coach has won a national championship. So, we know they're going to be well-prepared as well. They're going to compete. That's the thing about this league and about these coaches and these players. All of them are very competitive people. So, we know we're going to see a great Baylor team come out, give a great effort, and we have to match that with a great effort ourselves."
On if they is a player or matchup that stands out to him:
"They have several young players that I've been watching that are really, really talented, that are capable of hurting us, but I don't want to single any players out because they have a really good team. They have a number of guys that are capable of hurting us, and we need to be prepared for all of them."
On the statuses of guard Riley Kugel and forward Jamichael Stillwell:
"All those guys are still day-to-day, and they're still recovering, and as I said before, during this time of year, I don't think very many players on rosters, unless you're not playing a lot, are at 100%. So, guys are all battling different things on all the rosters, I'm sure. And we need to keep on, you know, getting the proper treatment. Our trainers have been great. Our doctors have been amazing to make sure we can prepare our guys as best we can to move forward."
On what he's liked about guard Chris Johnson's recent contributions:
"Chris has been terrific all season long for us. I think he's really grown into his role. I've really enjoyed coaching him, and he's gotten better. I think he's gotten better as he's understood our system more. And so, I'm excited for him. And he was huge for us on the road, you know, with regards to the contributions he's made both offensively and defensively. I thought he was really locked in. He was focused, and he gave us a big lift."
On if his team accomplished growing closer during the Utah road trip:
"I think we were. You know, we talked about how the road trips can be a benefit for you. With regards to, you know, you're kind of just with each other the entire time. And so, I think that can be good, especially if you know, you're working on how can we get closer? What can we do to help us continue to get better? And it's just us there. So, absolutely."
On if the road can be tough and challenging in the Big 12:
"It's incredible. It's very, very difficult to win on the road as you know. But, you know, it also gives you a chance to kind of bond and connect on a deeper level because you're together so much this time of the year. How beneficial is it to be able to win a close game, be able to pull out a win, especially on the road, you know, it's important. I think those games really help you, and from the standpoint of knowing that you can, in those situations, win in the ways we had to find ways to win in both of those games. Of course, the Utah game was a very close one-possession game at the end. But our guys did a great job of executing, making the right plays and it's great to have a senior leader like Themus Folks who who really understands those moments and he loves being in those situations and I think you've seen him all season long, you know, he's made plays for us, whether facilitating or of course making shots or free throws that have helped us win some games."
On how the team overcame the challenges of playing late games:
"We tried to have our guys understand that time zone is real and we're going to have to readjust our clocks because of the times that we're going to be playing. So, we don't keep secrets from our guys. We have conversations about those things so our guys know exactly what they're up against, and so that we can be prepared as we possibly can. And we always say the will to win is not enough. It's the will to prepare to win. So we try to give them as much information as you just mentioned there and talk about it, so our guys are prepared to do what they need to do and to understand that we need to be at our best at that different time."
On how the Utah road trip can help prepare UCF for the Big 12 and NCAA tournament:
"What we want to do is we want to make sure you're rehearsing what you may see down the road. And we start that off in the preseason with the type of games we played in exhibition. Whether you have, you know, an away game on a neutral site or two. We try to prepare our guys for situations that we may see down the road. And basically dress rehearsals. So, okay, how do we do? Did we do well? What do we need to adjust? We have our after-action meetings. We want to discuss the good and bad and the ugly of those situations, and hopefully, we can grow from it, so when that opportunity does come, we're more prepared."