2025–26 UCF Knights men's basketball team

2025–26 UCF Knights men's basketball
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Record21–11 (9–9 Big 12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Robbie Laing (10th season)
  • Tyson Waterman (3rd season)
  • Adam Hood (2nd season)
  • Dwayne Anderson II (1st season)
Home arenaAddition Financial Arena
2025–26 Big 12 men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 2 Arizona † 16 – 2   .889 32 – 2   .941
No. 5 Houston 14 – 4   .778 28 – 6   .824
No. 17 Kansas 12 – 6   .667 23 – 10   .697
No. 20 Texas Tech 12 – 6   .667 22 – 10   .688
No. 6 Iowa State 12 – 6   .667 27 – 7   .794
TCU 11 – 7   .611 23 – 11   .676
West Virginia 9 – 9   .500 18 – 14   .563
UCF 9 – 9   .500 21 – 11   .656
Cincinnati 9 – 9   .500 18 – 15   .545
BYU 9 – 9   .500 23 – 11   .676
Colorado 7 – 11   .389 17 – 15   .531
Arizona State 7 – 11   .389 17 – 16   .515
Baylor 6 – 12   .333 16 – 16   .500
Oklahoma State 6 – 12   .333 20 – 14   .588
Kansas State 3 – 15   .167 12 – 20   .375
Utah 2 – 16   .111 10 – 22   .313
† 2026 Big 12 tournament winner
As of March 17, 2026
Rankings from AP poll

The 2025–26 UCF Knights men's basketball team represents the University of Central Florida during the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, marking their third season as members of the Big 12 Conference. The Knights, in the program's 57th season of basketball, are led by tenth-year head coach Johnny Dawkins and play their home games at the Addition Financial Arena.

Previous season

The Knights finished the 2024–25 season 20–17, 7–13 in Big 12 Play to finish in a tie for 13th place. They defeated Utah in the First Round of the Big 12 Tournament, 87−72.[1] They lost in overtime of the second round to Kansas, 94–98.[2]

The Knights were invited to play in inaugural College Basketball Crown, a single-elimination, fully-bracketed men's college basketball postseason tournament featuring sixteen National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams not selected to participate in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.[3][4]

In their first round game, they defeated Oregon State in their first round game, 76–75.[5] They defeated fellow Big 12 Conference opponent Cincinnati in their quarterfinals game, 88–80 to reach the semifinals.[6] In their semifinal matchup, the Knights defeated Villanova, 104–98 in overtime.[7] In the championship game, they ended up losing 77−66 to Nebraska.[8]

Preseason

The Big 12 preseason coaches poll was released on October 16, 2025. All awards were voted on by the league's 16 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players. The Big 12 preseason media poll was released on October 30, 2025.

Roster

2025–26 UCF Knights men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
C 0 Jeremy Foumena 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) RS Jr Mississippi State Montreal, Québec, Canada
G 1 Themus Fulks 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) GS Milwaukee Winston-Salem, North Carolina
G 2 Riley Kugel 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 1210 lb (549 kg) Sr Mississippi State Orlando, Florida
G 3 George Beale Jr. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Hampton Suffolk, Virginia
F 4 Jamichael Stillwell 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Sr Milwaukee Atlanta, Georgia
G 5 Kris Parker 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS So Villanova Tallahassee, Florida
C 7 John Bol 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Ole Miss Boma, South Sudan
C 9 Elijah Hulsewe 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 270 lb (122 kg) RS Jr Bethune–Cookman Orlando, Florida
G 11 Carmelo Pacheco 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Mount St. Mary's Harrisonburg, Virginia
G 22 Chris Johnson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Stephen F. Austin Houston, Texas
G 24 Zach Johnson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr IV Greatness Academy Southern Pines, North Carolina
G 24 Tanner Jones 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr IMG Academy (FL) Memphis, Tennessee
G 33 Poohpha Warakulnukroh 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 177 lb (80 kg) RS Sr Montverde Academy Bangkok, Thailand
F 35 Devan Cambridge 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) GS Texas Tech Nashville, Tennessee
F 99 Jordan Burks 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Georgetown Decatur, Alabama
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: October 24, 2025

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 21, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at No. 6 Duke
Brotherhood Run 		L 71–96 
 22 – Kugel   7 – Kugel   4 – Fulks  Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314)
Durham, NC
October 26, 2025*
12:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		LSU L 68–75 
 21 – Kugel   7 – Stillwell   7 – Kugel  Addition Financial Arena (5,409)
Orlando, FL
Non-conference regular season
November 3, 2025*
8:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Hofstra W 82–78  1–0
  19 – Kugel   7 – Burks   8 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (6,029)
Orlando, FL
November 8, 2025*
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Vanderbilt L 93–105  1–1
  25 – Kugel   6 – Cambridge   4 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (6,018)
Orlando, FL
November 11, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Florida A&M W 97–60  2–1
  19 – Pacheco   7 – Burks   6 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (5,577)
Orlando, FL
November 14, 2025*
8:00 p.m., SECN+ 		at Texas A&M W 86–74  3–1
  21 – Burks   9 – Stillwell   9 – Fulks  Reed Arena (9,099)
College Station, TX
November 17, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Oakland W 87–83  4–1
  20 – Stillwell   13 – Stillwell   10 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (5,559)
Orlando, FL
November 20, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN2 		vs. Pittsburgh
Legends Classic 		W 77–67  5–1
  18 – Tied   18 – Stillwell   4 – Tied  Ocean Center (1,006)
Daytona Beach, FL
November 25, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Quinnipiac W 102–91  6–1
  18 – Foumena   7 – Tied   13 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (5,173)
Orlando, FL
November 29, 2025*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		VMI W 82–57  7–1
  21 – Stillwell   14 – Stillwell   5 – Tied  Addition Financial Arena (4,905)
Orlando, FL
December 7, 2025*
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Towson W 86–61  8–1
  20 – Fulks   6 – Stillwell   8 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (5,346)
Orlando, FL
December 17, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Mercer W 81–63  9–1
  17 – Burks   10 – Stillwell   3 – Tied  Addition Financial Arena (5,195)
Orlando, FL
December 20, 2025*
5:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Florida Gulf Coast W 102–80  10–1
  23 – Burks   13 – Stillwell   5 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (5,481)
Orlando, FL
December 23, 2025*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		vs. Florida Atlantic W 85–80  11–1
  24 – Fulks   11 – Bol   12 – Fulks  ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (1,057)
Lake Buena Vista, FL
Big 12 regular season
January 3, 2026
2:00 p.m., Peacock 		No. 17 Kansas W 81–75  12–1
(1–0) 		 19 – Kugel   8 – Cambridge   3 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (8,808)
Orlando, FL
January 6, 2026
8:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 25 at Oklahoma State L 76–87  12–2
(1–1) 		 15 – Kugel   11 – Cambridge   4 – Tied  Gallagher-Iba Arena (5,057)
Stillwater, OK
January 11, 2026
5:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 25 Cincinnati W 73–72  13–2
(2–1) 		 19 – Kugel   8 – Foumena   12 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (7,899)
Orlando, FL
January 14, 2026
8:00 p.m., Peacock 		at Kansas State W 81–73  14–2
(3–1) 		 19 – Kugel   19 – Tied   12 – Fulks  Bramlage Coliseum (7,033)
Manhattan, KS
January 17, 2026
4:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 1 Arizona L 77–84  14–3
(3–2) 		 30 – Fulks   6 – Tied   8 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (10,000)
Orlando, FL
January 20, 2026
8:00 p.m., CBSSN 		at No. 9 Iowa State L 57–87  14–4
(3–3) 		 15 – Tied   7 – Burks   5 – Fulks  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
January 24, 2026
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Colorado W 95–86  15–4
(4–3) 		 22 – Kugel   10 – Bol   8 – Fulks  CU Events Center (6,528)
Boulder, CO
January 27, 2026
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Arizona State W 79–76  16–4
(5–3) 		 17 – Kugel   10 – Bol   6 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (6,621)
Orlando, FL
January 31, 2026
12:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 11 Texas Tech W 88–79  17–4
(6–3) 		 21 – Fulks   10 – Tied   7 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (8,511)
Orlando, FL
February 4, 2026
7:00 p.m., FS1 		at No. 8 Houston L 55–79  17–5
(6–4) 		 9 – Kugel   7 – Bol   6 – Stillwell  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
February 8, 2026
2:00 p.m., CBSSN 		at Cincinnati L 72–92  17–6
(6–5) 		 16 – Johnson   9 – Stillwell   6 – Johnson  Fifth Third Arena (9,969)
Cincinnati, OH
February 14, 2026
6:00 p.m., FS1 		West Virginia L 67–74  17–7
(6–6) 		 19 – Fulks   8 – Burks   7 – Folks  Addition Financial Arena (8,081)
Orlando, FL
February 17, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		TCU W 82–71  18–7
(7–6) 		 23 – Burks   7 – Burks   6 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (6,990)
Orlando, FL
February 21, 2026
9:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Utah W 73–71  19–7
(8–6) 		 24 – Fulks   6 – Bol   5 – Johnson  Jon M. Huntsman Center (7,686)
Salt Lake City, UT
February 24, 2026
11:00 p.m., ESPN2 		at No. 19 BYU W 97–84  20–7
(9–6) 		 24 – Tied   12 – Stillwell   11 – Fulks  Marriott Center (18,062)
Provo, UT
February 28, 2026
7:00 p.m., FS1 		Baylor L 86–87  20–8
(9–7) 		 26 – Kugel   7 – Bol   10 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (8,735)
Orlando, FL
March 3, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Oklahoma State L 104–111 OT 20–9
(9–8) 		 22 – Fulks   9 – Tied   6 – Fulks  Addition Financial Arena (8,011)
Orlando, FL
March 6, 2026
8:00 p.m., CBSSN 		at West Virginia L 62–77  20–10
(9–9) 		 16 – Tied   9 – Burks   4 – Fulks  WVU Coliseum (11,312)
Morgantown, WV
Big 12 tournament
March 11, 2026
3:00 p.m., ESPNU 		(8) vs. (9) Cincinnati
Second round 		W 66–65 OT 21–10
  18 – Stillwell   16 – Stillwell   7 – Fulks  T-Mobile Center (12,477)
Kansas City, MO
March 11, 2026
3:00 p.m., ESPN 		(8) vs. (1) No. 2 Arizona
Quarterfinal 		L 57–78  21–11
  14 – Fulks   11 – Stillwell   5 – Stilwell  T-Mobile Center (14,745)
Kansas City, MO
NCAA Tournament
March 20, 2026
7:25 p.m., TBS 		(10 E) vs. (7 E) UCLA
First round 		      Xfinity Mobile Arena 
Philadelphia, PA
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
E=East.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Rankings

See also: 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP———————RVRV*25RVRV—RV——RVRV——
Coaches—————————RVRVRV—RV———RV——

*AP did not release a week 8 poll.

References

  1. ^ "Second Half Surge Powers Men's Hoops Past Utah in 87-72 First Round Win".
  2. ^ "Men's Hoops Drops 98-94 Overtime Heartbreaker vs. Kansas in Second Round".
  3. ^ "What is the College Basketball Crown: Everything to know about the postseason tournament on Fox". FoxSports.com. March 6, 2025. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  4. ^ "College Basketball Crown". Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  5. ^ "Men's Hoops Advances in College Basketball Crown with 76-75 Win Over Oregon State".
  6. ^ "Men's Hoops Advances to Crown Semifinal with 88-80 Win Over Cincinnati".
  7. ^ "Men's Hoops Advances to Sunday's College Basketball Crown Final".
  8. ^ "Men's Hoops Falls Short of College Basketball Crown Title".
  9. ^ "Houston Tabbed As Big 12 Men's Basketball Favorite, TTU's Toppin Named Preseason Player of the Year".
  10. ^ "Big 12 Media Votes Houston As Preseason MBB Conference Favorite".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.