Orlando Sentinel · Mar 15
UCF headed to the NCAA Tournament for first time since 2018-19
UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins is seen on the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)After a seven-year absence, UCF is returning to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Knights earned an at-large bid to the 68-team field on Sunday and will be headed to the East Region. It’s the sixth overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but the first since the 2018-19 season.
Tenth-seeded UCF (21-11, 9-9 Big 12) will face UCLA (23-11, 13-7 Big Ten) in the first-round matchup in Philadelphia on Friday.