Last updated: November 1, 2026
UCF men’s basketball opens its 2026-27 season Monday, November 2, against Florida Gulf Coast, coming off its first NCAA Tournament trip since 2019 but without three of its top four scorers. Coach Johnny Dawkins, newly extended, now has to rebuild a Big 12 contender around returning guard Riley Kugel, a returning Dior Johnson and 11 newcomers.
Quick summary
- UCF went 21-12 (9-9 Big 12) in 2025-26 and lost 75-71 to UCLA as a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
- Dawkins signed a three-year extension in May after back-to-back 20-win seasons.
- Themus Fulks, Jordan Burks (Oklahoma State) and Jamichael Stillwell (Texas Tech) are gone; Kugel returns for a fifth year.
- The Knights lost a 90-76 overtime exhibition at Kentucky on October 28 after leading late in regulation.
Where UCF Men’s Basketball Stands
Last season was the best of the Dawkins era. According to the 2025-26 season record, UCF finished 21-12, went 9-9 in the Big 12 and beat three ranked teams: No. 17 Kansas (81-75), No. 11 Texas Tech (88-79) and No. 19 BYU (97-84). As the No. 8 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, the Knights beat Cincinnati 66-65 in overtime before falling to Arizona.
In the NCAA Tournament, No. 10 seed UCF lost 75-71 to No. 7 UCLA in Philadelphia on March 20. It was the program’s sixth NCAA bid. The Knights also averaged 80.7 points per game, the most since Dawkins took over in 2016-17, and their nine Big 12 wins were a high since joining the league in 2023.
2025-26 at a glance
- Record: 21-12 (9-9 Big 12)
- Big 12 Tournament: beat Cincinnati 66-65 (OT), lost to Arizona
- NCAA Tournament: No. 10 seed, lost 75-71 to No. 7 UCLA
- Ranked wins: Kansas, Texas Tech, BYU
Who Left and Who Returns
The AP season preview frames the challenge simply: UCF lost three of its top four scorers.
- Themus Fulks, who averaged 14 points and set the program’s single-season assist record with 222, finished his eligibility.
- Jordan Burks (13.3 points per game) transferred to Oklahoma State.
- Jamichael Stillwell transferred to Texas Tech.
The new core
- Riley Kugel returns for a fifth year as the leading returning scorer after averaging 14.4 points and 3 rebounds.
- Dior Johnson is back in Orlando after a season at Tarleton State, where he was the WAC Sixth Man of the Year and averaged 24 points per game.
- Arturo Dean, a redshirt senior guard, sat out last season after transferring from Oklahoma State. His brother Mister Dean arrives from Charleston.
In all, UCF has 11 newcomers. Follow the roster on the UCF men’s basketball page on RallyFuel.
Exhibition Recap: Kentucky 90, UCF 76 (OT)
UCF closed its preseason in Lexington on October 28. Spectrum News reported that the Knights erased a 10-point deficit and led 70-69 with under 30 seconds left before Kentucky’s Alex Wilkins tied it at the buzzer, and the Wildcats pulled away in overtime.
UCF Men’s Basketball Schedule Highlights
- Nov. 2: Florida Gulf Coast at home, the season opener
- November: Mississippi State at home
- Nov. 20: at Vanderbilt
- Dec. 16: FIU at home, an in-state game
- Jan. 6 and 9: at Arizona and at Arizona State
- Jan. 16: Baylor at home
- March 6: regular-season finale at TCU
🗳️ Vote: Make your prediction for UCF vs. Florida Gulf Coast on RallyFuel (Nov. 2)
🗳️ Vote: Make your prediction for UCF vs. FIU on RallyFuel (Dec. 16)
Three Questions for the Season
Can the guards replace the scoring?
Kugel and Johnson give UCF two proven scorers, but Big 12 defenses are a step up from what Johnson faced in the WAC.
Who controls the paint?
Without Burks and Stillwell, UCF needs its newcomers to hold up on the glass in a physical league.
Can UCF beat expectations again?
The Knights outperformed their preseason projection last year. With a remade roster, repeating that would put them back in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
The NIL Angle
Roster turnover is the cost of a breakout year: productive players draw interest from other programs and the pros. See how the league compares in our Big 12 basketball NIL budgets breakdown, and read how UCF and Cincinnati climbed into the Big 12 together in Crashing the Gates. For opening-week games nationwide, check college basketball opening night 2026.
FAQ
When does UCF men’s basketball start the 2026-27 season?
UCF opens at home against Florida Gulf Coast on Monday, November 2, 2026.
How did UCF do in the 2026 NCAA Tournament?
UCF was a No. 10 seed and lost 75-71 to No. 7 UCLA in the first round on March 20, 2026.
Who is UCF’s basketball coach?
Johnny Dawkins, who took over in 2016 and signed a three-year extension in May 2026.
Who are UCF’s top returning players?
Fifth-year guard Riley Kugel (14.4 points per game) leads the returners, and guard Dior Johnson rejoins the team after averaging 24 points at Tarleton State.
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Explore the UCF school page, see the league on the Big 12 page, check the RallyFuel NIL Score, browse athlete profiles and make your predictions with RallyFuel Predictions.
