UCF out to continue strong start as it hosts Mercer

Since taking over as head coach in 2016, Johnny Dawkins has always prioritized putting together a difficult nonconference schedule at UCF Knights.

For the most part, the Knights have been very successful in nonconference play under Dawkins. But UCF (8-1) hasn't had a start like this in quite some time.

The 8-1 mark is the best nine-game start since Dawkins took over. The Knights also come into Wednesday's game against Mercer Bears in Orlando, Fla., riding a seven-game winning streak -- the longest for the program since 2019, which is also the last time UCF made the NCAA tournament.

With a win over the Bears on Wednesday, UCF would match its longest winning streak since the 2004-05 campaign.

"I'm proud of our guys for the effort we've put out, but I want my guys to understand you're always striving to be better," Dawkins said. "I don't look at the overall record we have right now and I talk to them all the time about, 'Let's not grade ourselves versus our opponent. Let's grade ourselves against what our expectations are internally, what our standards are internally. Let's grade ourselves on that every night,' and that's what we'll continue to do."

The Knights' hot start to the season is even more impressive considering they didn't return a single contributor from last year's team. Dawkins had to put together just about an entire roster through the transfer portal and high school recruiting, and it's all paying off much quicker than anticipated.

Though newcomer starters Riley Kugel, Jodan Burks, Jamichael Stillwell and Themus Fulks lead most of the charge for the Knights, depth has been the biggest advantage for UCF so far this season, averaging 31.1 points per game from the bench. Through nine games, UCF has had six different players lead them in scoring.

Now the challenge against the Bears (7-3) will be to knock off any potential rust. UCF will be playing its first game in 10 days.

"I've been excited about our guys and what we've been working on over this last week and a half regarding things we need to improve on," Dawkins said. "So although we're not playing, there are other areas we need to improve on the court and I think we're working on those things as well."

As for Mercer, it is looking to bounce back from a close 70-63 road loss to Clemson, which snapped their five-game winning streak. Baraka Okojie is averaging 18.1 points per game and 5.8 assists this season, establishing himself as one of the best players in the Southern Conference.

Mercer also has four players who average double digits in scoring.

"We've just got a good collection of ballplayers. They come in, they clock in and they go 1-0 every day," head coach Ryan Ridder told The Macon Melody last week. "It's just fun to watch. These guys are winners."

Mercer's other losses were to then-No. 18 Tennessee and Winthrop.

--Field Level Media