How about that win for Johnny Dawkins and the UCF Knights! An 88-80 upset win over No. 11 Texas Tech is just what the doctor ordered when it comes to putting together a tournament-worthy resume for March Madness.
The game between UCF and Texas Tech was fairly back and forth throughout the contest, but it felt like every time Texas Tech made a run, UCF bounced back and kept the Red Raiders at arm’s length. It was an incredibly balanced day in the stat sheet for the Knights, with four different athletes reaching double digits in scoring. Jordan Burks, Jamichael Stillwell, John Bol, and Themus Fulks were incredible, combining for 62 of the Knights’ 88 points.
UCF 2026 NCAA Tournament Resume
Now, taking a look at their tournament resume, it keeps getting better and better. The Knights have been ranked this season at No. 25, and it’s safe to assume they’ll return to the list on Monday. They sit 17-4 overall with a conference record of 6-3. Their losses really don’t look that bad, however, as they’ve dropped games to No. 1 Arizona, No. 8 Iowa State, and Oklahoma State on the road. Now that resume reads like an NCAA Tournament team, and if it doesn’t to you, it’s time to get your eyes checked.
UCF now has three Quad 1 wins and is 3-4 in Quad 1 games, with zero Quad 2, Quad 3 or Quad 4 losses. The Knights rank No. 42 in NET as well.
How about the job that Johnny Dawkins has done in Orlando? According to Jeff Goodman, his roster cost somewhere around three million dollars, which puts the group as one of the most cost-effective teams in the Big 12. Looking around, teams like Kansas State and Baylor invested heavily in their rosters to miss the tournament outright, spending triple, if not four times as much as UCF.
It’s impossible not to jump on the Knights’ bandwagon right now, and with this win in their back pocket, it’s safe to say they should see the court in March for the Big Dance.
