UCF Versus TCU: A Basketball History and Current Standing

This article delves into the basketball history between the University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights and Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs, highlighting past matchups and focusing on the current performance and potential of the UCF Knights.

Historical Context

TCU holds a one-game win streak over UCF. In TCU’s lone appearance at Addition Financial Arena on Jan, the Horned Frogs beat UCF Mar.

UCF's Current Season Overview

As of Feb. 15, 2026, UCF has a wins-above-bubble score of 2.02. According to NCAA Stats, no team last season missed the tournament with a win-above-bubble score of 1.50, positioning the Knights favorably. Currently ranked 31st in wins above bubble, history suggests a strong likelihood of tournament qualification, as no team finishing at or better than this ranking in February has missed the tournament. UCF currently ranks 49th in the NCAA NET, climbing as high as 30th, its best NET ranking since joining the Big 12. The Knights are also 52nd in KenPom, nearing the program’s all-time best.

Key Players and Performance Highlights

Themus Fulks: The Floor General

Milwaukee transfer Themus Fulks has quickly become UCF's floor general, ranking second in the Big 12 and 12th nationally with 6.8 assists per game (163 assists) across 24 games. He delivered his most impressive performance in the Knights’ win over Quinnipiac on Nov. 25, dishing out 13 assists, the most by a UCF player in more than a decade. The Winston-Salem native has directly contributed 325 points himself and another 390 through his assists, giving him responsibility for 715 of UCF’s 1,962 total points. So far this season, Fulks has recorded three point-assist double-doubles this season: 11 points and 10 assists against Oakland, an impressive 24 points and 12 assists in the win over FAU, and a stellar in a road conference win against Kansas State. Against Arizona, he tallied 30 points, eight assists and five rebounds to become the fourth DI player in the last 30 years to have at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists against a No. Fulks totaled 13 points and 12 assists in an 82-73 win at Kansas State, becoming the first Knight with five double-digit assist games in a season. The fifth-year guard earned the first honor after helping UCF secure its first Big 12 road win of the season and scoring a career-best 30 points against No. 1 Arizona. The second honor came as Fulks led the Knights to their second ranked victory of the year against #11 Texas Tech.

Jamichael Stillwell: A Dominant Presence

Jamichael Stillwell, who transferred from Milwaukee alongside Fulks, has become a dominant two-way presence for the Knights, already recording six double-doubles across 24 games. Unsurprising for the senior who averaged 13 points and 10.7 rebounds last season. The Atlanta, Georgia, native reached 500 career rebound milestone on Feb. Stillwell is on pace to surpass UCF’s single-season double-double record of 12, set by Tacko Fall during the 2016-17 season.

Riley Kugel

Riley Kugel was named to the Big 12 starting five, released on Jan. The senior paced the Knights in a statement 81-75 victory over then-No. 17 Kansas on Jan. 3, scoring 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting. Kugel has reached double figures in nine games this year, with his standout outing coming against Vanderbilt. Five players scored in double figures, led by Riley Kugel’s 22 points and a career-high six three-pointers made.

Jordan Burks

After trailing 12 with 6:09 left, the Knights fired up a 21-6 run until the clock hit zero, punctuated by a Jordan Burks three from the left wing to give the Black and Gold a 78-76 lead with 34 seconds remaining. With the game tied at 72 and under a minute remaining, Jordan Burks delivered when it mattered most.

Bench Depth

Depth has been a defining trait for the 2025-26 roster, with seven different players leading the team in scoring through 24 games. A balance that has translated to one of the Big 12’s most productive benches, as the Black and Gold are averaging 24 points per game from their reserves, fifth-best in the conference, highlighted by a 51-point bench performance in the win over Florida A&M on Nov. The Knights’ bench reached a program high in 2010-11, scoring 828 points at an average of 25.5 per game. Among the UCF’s bench contributors are key sharpshooters like Carmelo Pacheco, who has scored 102 of his 114 points this season from beyond the arc. Transfers George Beale Jr. Both Beale Jr.

Key Victories and Milestones

Upsetting Ranked Opponents

UCF earned the ranking after a statement 81-75 win over then-No. 17 Kansas on Jan. The Knights have four quad 1 wins, having swept Texas A&M in a home-and-home series, beating No. 17 Kansas at home, winning at Colorado in a shootout, and defeating #11 Texas Tech in the Space Game. Knights Topple No. UCF and Kansas had battled every second, each team vying to start the Big 12 season 1-0. This is the second consecutive season the Knights have won their conference opener, and the first time they’ve beaten a ranked opponent since last year’s season home opener against then No. 13/15 Texas A&M. Their win over No. 17 Kansas on Jan.

Three-Point Shooting Prowess

UCF earned 10 or more three-pointers for the 14th time last season against Oregon State, hitting 10 or more threes in four of its last five games after not doing so for the entire month of February. The streak included tying a season-high 14 made threes vs. Kansas in the second round of the Big 12 Championship. To put in perspective the shooting capability of this year’s team, the Knights hit 10 or more three pointers just twice last season. The Black and Gold have knocked down a program record 328 three pointers last season, reaching the milestone during the College Basketball Crown first round. The Knights averaged 8.9 made three pointers per game, beating the previous record during Dawkins’ tenure at 8.8 during the 2021-22 campaign. Beyond Dawkins’ own record-breaking start, his group has already left its mark in the program record book, as the Knights set a new single-game record with 19 made three-pointers in their Dec. 20 win over FGCU, surpassing the previous mark of 17 set against Tulsa on Feb.

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Best Start in Program History

Since head coach Johnny Dawkins took the helm in 2016, the Knights have never opened a season quite like this, as their electrifying 12-1 start stands as the best of his tenure. Knights Eclipse No. The victory lifts the Knights to 17-4 overall, the most wins through the month of January in program history, and 6-3 in Big 12 play. UCF was one of three teams in the Big 12 with just one loss as they entered conference play, joined by Oklahoma State, No. 8 Houston and No. 19 BYU, while No. 1 Arizona and No.

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