After a disjointed year due to COVID-19, UCF men's basketball coach Johnny Dawkins believes the return to a regular calendar will pay dividends for his program, particularly for his younger players who didn't get the full benefit of participating in strength and conditioning and skills training last summer.
We caught up with Dawkins at the recent Oviedo Charge On Tour, which marked his first face-to-face media session since March 2020.
UCF started the 2020-21 season with a bang, notching non-conference victories against Auburn and No. 15 Florida State, then beginning conference play with a win against Cincinnati. Things went downhill after that as COVID team stoppages postponed games and eliminated many practices due to contact tracing. The Knights stumbled through the first half of the AAC slate, losing eight of nine games at one point.
Things began to pick up after that as UCF finished the regular season winning six of their last eight games, and the two losses in that span were decided by just one point.
Dawkins said his team has already jumped right into strength and skills training, something they weren't able to do last year.
"That's huge for us," Dawkins said. "Last year, spring and summer, even part of the early fall, we couldn't get with our guys because of COVID stoppages. Having our guys here now and all summer will only help them continue to develop. Our freshmen can catch up as the full summer will help them transition into next season."
UCF recently made a transfer portal addition with former UNLV big man Cheikh Mbacke Diong, a team captain with the Runnin' Rebels who averaged 8.9 points and 7.4 rebounds last season.
"We've done pretty well in the portal over the years," Dawkins said. "This year we were able to land a young player who I think will be a real good asset for us. A center, Mbacke (Diong), a 6-11 scorer in the low post who can defend well. He'll add to our frontline depth which is important for us. That was a key piece. I'm glad he signed with UCF."
Returning sophomore Jamille Reynolds is expected to hold down the front court with Diong. Reynolds showed flashes of his ability during his first season and Dawkins expects him to take a big step forward in his second year.
"I think Jamille has the biggest upside of any player on our team," Dawkins said. "Him not having a preseason last year was very difficult. He's working very hard on strength and conditioning. If he continues to work and improve on his offensive skills, the sky is the limit for the young man. I'm really execited for what he can bring to the program and for himself in the future."
Isaiah Adams and C.J. Walker entered their names into the NBA Draft, though the expectation is both will return.
"Testing the waters is not a bad thing," Dawkins said. "You have an opportunity to find out what you need to do going forward. Everyone that tests the waters has a different reason. Some have an idea they may be returning. Some may think they have an opportunity to play professionally. Both are okay. The key is to get feedback in order to develop, not just for us but for them to play beyond college. Guys understand we're trying to aid them in that process."
The 2021-22 non-conference schedule is shaping up to be perhaps the most challenging in school history.
"We're always going to play the best schedule," Dawkins said. "Last year our schedule was the No. 1 strength of schedule in the country and this year should be similar. We have Oklahoma and Michigan coming to our place. That will be great. We go on the road to Auburn. They'll be very good. We go to Miami. We play Florida State again in a neutral site at the Orange Bowl Classic. Another good preseason schedule which is going to test us for our conference. The only way we can do that is play teams like that."
