UCF basketball set to debut a more versatile roster

As Darius Johnson entered the practice courts for UCF’s basketball media day, the senior guard greeted a small group of journalists with a familiar smile.

Johnson, who is back for his fourth and possibly final season, has appeared in 88 games (62 starts) with the Knights. He and fellow senior Jaylin Sellers are the core of this season’s team.

“We were big pieces of our team last year and we’re probably going to be big pieces of our team this year,” said Johnson.

“They’re great in the locker room and they understand my program on and off the court and police that environment and that’s what you have to have,” said coach Johnny Dawkins.

Johnson (15.2 points per game) and Sellers (15.9) are among a handful of returning players for the Knights, who added 11 newcomers in the offseason, including nine transfers.

Dallan Coleman (Georgia Tech), Jordan Ivy-Curry (UTSA), Keyshawn Hall (George Mason), Elijah Hulsewe (Bethune-Cookman), Rokas Jocius (La Salle), Dior Johnson (Clarendon College), JJ Taylor (Memphis), Benny Williams (Syracuse) and Mikey Williams (Memphis) all began their career elsewhere.

Freshmen Moustapha Thiam and Cameron Simpson signed as true freshmen.

“They all are a work in progress, but the thing that they have bought is they’ve all had success, where they were, they all were very successful on that level,” Dawkins said of his newcomers. “They’re very versatile. Several of these players can play multiple positions for us and that’s how we like to play.”

The nine transfers combined for 57.9 points per game last season, led by Ivy-Curry (17.1) and Hall (16.6).

With so many new faces, chemistry is the biggest hurdle facing the Knights.

“That’s a process, but the guys have been willing, they’ve been working very hard at it and we’ve been getting better daily because of their willingness to want to get better and compete,” said Dawkins, 61.

Added Darius Johnson: “We know what the Big 12 is like, so we just want to ensure the team knows what they’re getting into [with] the toughness and the physicality and the right approach.”

UCF (17-16) was projected to finish last in the Big 12 last season but surprisingly finished 12th in the 14-team league. Along the way, the Knights upset No. 3 Kansas and defeated three ranked teams in a season for the first time in school history.

But the team ran out of gas late, losing four of its last six games, including 83-77 loss to USF in the first round of the NIT.

Year 2 in the Big 12 is expected to be different with four new schools — Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah — joining the league in July while traditional bluebloods Texas and Oklahoma departed for the SEC.

UCF, projected to finish 11th in the conference, has a schedule with nine games against teams ranked in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Still, Dawkins expects his team to compete for a title.

“We always have the highest of expectations,” he said. “We will always have a championship type of mindset, period. That’s where I come from, and that’s where I believe in teaching our young men. I never want to go into any season with low standards.”

Matt Murschel can be reached at [email protected]

Last season’s record: 17-16, 7-11 Big 12

Projected 2024-25 finish: 11th in Big 12

Season opener: Monday vs. No. 13 Texas A&M, Addition Financial Arena, 7.

Notable games: vs. FAU (Nov. 12); vs. Wisconsin (Nov. 22); vs. Pitt/LSU (Nov. 24 in W. Va.); vs. Kansas (Jan. 5); at Arizona (Jan. 11); vs. Houston (Jan. 18); at Iowa State (Jan. 21); at Kansas (Jan. 28); vs. Cincinnati (Feb. 5); at Baylor (Feb. 8); vs. Iowa State (Feb. 11).

Top returning players: Guards Darius Johnson and Jaylin Sellers are back for another season, giving the Knights an experienced core to run their offense. The duo ranked in the top 10 in scoring in the Big 12, with 6-foot-4 Sellers (15.9 points per game) finishing in the top four and 6-1 Johnson (15.2) ranked ninth. Sellers revealed he had surgery to repair a broken left hand before the 2023 season, and that negatively impacted his shooting. He’s back to 100%.

Others to watch: G Jordan Ivy-Curry (17.1 ppg., 5.2 rpg.); G Keyshawn Hall (16.6 ppg., 8.1 rpg.); F Benny Williams (5.4 ppg., 3.9 rpg.); G Dallan Coleman (5.9 ppg., 2.4 rpg.); C Elijah Hulsewe (4.4 ppg., 4 rpg.); F Rokas Jocius (8.5 ppg., 5.4 rpg.).

Developing chemistry: The roster underwent another offseason overhaul with nine transfers and two freshmen. Coach Johnny Dawkins has stressed building chemistry quickly, which could occur during a more challenging non-conference schedule.

Stay healthy: The Knights were forced to use 11 different starting lineups last season as injuries limited starters such as guard Shemarri Allen (30 starts) and forwards Ibrahima Diallo (19) and CJ Walker (15). Keeping everyone rested and healthy with the Big 12 shifting to a 20-game conference schedule could be critical.

Shoot better: UCF finished at the bottom of the conference in field-goal accuracy (42%) and next-to-last in 3-point accuracy (32%). Poor shooting quite often led to the Knights trailing early. To make matters worse, the team shot just 70% from the free-throw line. Dawkins believes he’s upgraded the lineup with better shooters.