Amid all the talk about UCF basketball’s prospects for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, coach Johnny Dawkins is urging the Knights to keep their approach straightforward. Focus on what they can control, rather than getting caught up in March Madness, seedings or bubble watches.
“What we want to do is continue to take it one game at a time,” said Dawkins. “I won’t look past our next opponent and I don’t want my players looking past them as well. That’s all we can control.”
UCF (18-7, 7-6 Big 12) is hitting the road for the next five days as the Knights embark on a two-game trip to Utah. They will face the Utes this Saturday at 9 p.m. on ESPN+ and then take on No. 22 BYU on Tuesday at 11 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN2.
It’s the perfect opportunity for some team bonding, according to Dawkins.
“The one thing you know we need to do is we need to make sure we spend some quality time together on the road,” said Dawkins. “When you’re on the road, there aren’t as many distractions. It gives us time to spend together and continue getting to know each other.
“That time is invaluable, even during this time of the year, just being together in those situations, whether it’s telling stories or laughing with each other or game prep, it’s important for us to spend that quality time with each other.”
Utah (10-16, 2-11 Big 12) is last in the Big 12 standings, having lost 12 of its last 14 games. The Utes ended a seven-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 61-56 win at West Virginia.
UCF, meanwhile, snapped a season-high three-game losing streak with an 82-71 win over TCU on Tuesday.
It was a much-needed win for the Knights, who were coming off a disappointing 74-67 loss to West Virginia, in which UCF saw its 14-point lead evaporate over the final 11 minutes.
UCF led nearly wire-to-wire against the Horned Frogs, building a 19-point advantage with 10 minutes left in the second half. But when TCU made a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 10 with 7:02 left, the Knights found themselves in an uncomfortable position once again.
UCF guard Themus Fulks (1) scores past TCU forward Xavier Edmonds (24) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Jordan Burks celebrates after making a three point shot during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Riley Kugel (2) keeps the ball away from TCU guard Jayden Pierre (1) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Riley Kugel (2) leaps over players going after the ball during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF band members cheer during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Jordan Burks (99) scores over TCU guard Jayden Pierre (1) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Themus Fulks (1) drives through defenders during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF dancers cheer during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF coach Johnny Dawkins makes a point during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Jordon Burks (99) reaches in to knock the ball away from TCU guard guard Tanner Toolson (55) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Jordan Burks (99) scores beside TCU forward Micah Robinson (5) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Jordan Burks (99) shoots a three point shot over TCU forward Micah Robinson (5) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Jamichael Stillwell (4) hangs on to the ball between TCU defenders Liutauras Lelevicius (3) and Brock Harding (2) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF coach Johnny Dawkins celebrates during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Themus Fulks (1) passes in front of TCU forward Micah Robinson (5) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF center Jeremy Foumena screams in celebration after scoring during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Riley Kugel catches a pass during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Themus Fulks (1) scores past TCU forward Xavier Edmonds (24) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
TCU head coach Jamie Dixon points during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Jamichael Stillwell scores during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forwrard Devan Cambridge pulls down a rebound during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Jamichael Stillwell (4) passes around TCU guard Jayden Pierre (1) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF athletic director Terry Mohajir is pictured during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Devan Cambridge (35) reaches for a rebound during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Jamichael Stillwell (4) looks to pass beside TCU center Vianney Salatchoum (23) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Riley Kugel (2) shoots over TCU forward Micah Robinson (5) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF players gather during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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UCF guard Themus Fulks (1) scores past TCU forward Xavier Edmonds (24) during the TCU at UCF college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
“Coach called a timeout and he said, ‘The basketball gods have put us in this situation again,’” said forward Jamichael Stillwell. “It’s rare that you get to redo things. This was a time for a redo.”
The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward returned to the lineup after missing the loss to WVU. He finished with 9 points and 6 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Instead of crumbling, UCF attacked, pushing the lead back to 18 before eventually pulling out the win.
Not only was it an important lesson, but the victory was also a significant boost for the Knights as they aim to strengthen their case for an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. If successful, this would mark the first time the program has returned to the tournament since the 2018-19 season.
Dawkins’ squad enters this weekend’s play at No. 46 in the latest NCAA NET rankings, which are a metric used to determine a team’s NCAA Tournament resume. UCF has four Quad 1 wins (over top-30 teams) against Texas A&M, Kansas, Colorado and Texas Tech.
Sites such as ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and Fox Sports have the Knights projected anywhere from a No. 7 to a No. 10 seed. The team could solidify a spot by finishing .500 or better in conference play. No Big 12 team has missed the 68-team field after finishing .500 in league play since 2004.
That would mean UCF would need to win at least two of its remaining five regular-season games to lock in a spot.
While Dawkins would prefer his team focus on one game at a time, it can be difficult to do so.
“Of course, you look at it, but at the end of the day, it really doesn’t mean anything until the end of the season,” said Stillwell. “We can look at it now and they’ve got us projected as a 7th or 8th seed, then we lost a game and now we’re a 10th or 11th seed. It really doesn’t matter until the end, so we’ve just got to finish strong and finish the season on the right note.”
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.