Orlando Magic Daily
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2017 Central Florida 85 Nos. 1-17: The Best of the Best

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - AUGUST 31: UCF mascot Knightro takes the field before the football game between the visiting FIU Panthers and the UCF Knights on August 31, 2017 at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - AUGUST 31: UCF mascot Knightro takes the field before the football game between the visiting FIU Panthers and the UCF Knights on August 31, 2017 at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Johnny Dawkins, UCF Knights, Cincinnati Bearcats
CINCINNATI, OH – FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Johnny Dawkins of the Central Florida Golden Knights calls a player off the bench during the first half of the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on February 8, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

10. Johnny Dawkins, UCF Basketball

When UCF finished its 2016 season, the program could not seem to be lower. True, they had the promising freshman in Tacko Fall. But B.J. Taylor was hurt the entire year and the roster seemed like it lacked much star power after that. When the Knights fired Donnie Jones, players began jumping ship.

It looked like the Knights were going to have a bare bones roster and need to build things up slowly as they introduced Johnny Dawkins as their new head coach.

But Dawkins brought with him legitimacy. The former Duke Blue Devils guard and Stanford Cardinal coach had plenty of cache to his name. He would begin opening doors for the “sleeping giant” in Florida. It may take a year to build up the recruiting and work with what he had, but it would come.

Or it would come all at once. No one imagined Dawkins would have such an impact immediately — especially again after so many transfers and departures from the program, including marksman Adonys Henriquez and veteran big man Justin McBride.

The Knights went from 12-18 in 2016 to 24-12 in 2017. Their season was capped off with a surprise run to the NIT Finals at Madison Square Garden that included victories over the  Colorado Buffalos, Illinois State Redbirds and Illinois Fighting Illini. A home upset over a ranked Cincinnati Bearcats team was a highlight too.

UCF was well ahead of schedule. Dawkins, infusing the team with his energy and approach, had changed the outlook for this program. All of a sudden, it seems UCF is set to take off and do great things as a basketball program.

The Knights are not merely here for a moment. Dawkins seems set to make them a permanent fixture. That seemed unimaginable two years ago. Now it seems like the program has no limits to where it can go.

Amazing what changing the voice and injecting some energy can do.