UCLA to Face UCF in NCAA Tournament First Round

Knights led by veteran coach Johnny Dawkins in battle with Bruins

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:25pm

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The UCLA Bruins will begin their NCAA Tournament run on Friday with a first-round matchup against the 10th-seeded UCF Knights. UCF, located in Orlando, Florida, is making its second NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Johnny Dawkins, a former Pac-12 coach. The Knights have a decent offense but struggle defensively, while UCLA will look to attack them with pressure on both ends of the floor.

Why it matters

This game represents an opportunity for UCLA to advance in the tournament and potentially make a deep run. UCF, despite its mediocre record and defensive struggles, has the potential to pull off an upset if the Bruins don't come out focused and ready to play their brand of basketball.

The details

UCF is led by veteran head coach Johnny Dawkins, who previously coached at Stanford. The Knights have a balanced offensive attack, ranking 30th nationally in average possession length and 48th in three-point shooting percentage. However, their defense has been a weakness, ranking 235th in effective field goal percentage allowed and 236th in turnover rate forced. UCLA will look to exploit these defensive deficiencies by attacking the rim and forcing turnovers.

  • The game will tip off on Friday, March 21, 2026 at 4:25 p.m. local time.
  • If UCLA wins, they will advance to play the winner of Furman and the game on Sunday, March 23, 2026.

The players

Johnny Dawkins

The head coach of the UCF Knights, Dawkins previously coached at Stanford for 8 seasons before taking over the UCF program 10 years ago.

Themus Folks

The senior point guard for UCF, Folks is a capable scorer who shoots over 40% from three-point range, but he has also struggled with turnovers at times.

Jamichael Stilwell

The power forward for UCF, Stilwell is a strong rebounder who has had some difficulties scoring against high-major competition this season.

John Bol

The 7'2" center for UCF, Bol is a shot-blocking and rebounding presence, though he remains a raw offensive player.

Tyler Bilodeau

A key player for UCLA who will need to be healthy for the Bruins to have success against UCF's defense.

Donovan Dent

Another important Bruin who will need to be at full strength for UCLA to advance past the first round.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready to attack UCF's defense from the opening tip. Their weaknesses on that end of the floor present opportunities for us to get easy baskets and set the tone.”

— Mick Cronin, UCLA Head Coach (UCLA Athletics)

“UCF has some talented players, but we know if we play our game and execute on both ends, we can come out on top. This is the NCAA Tournament, and we're ready for the challenge.”

— Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA Forward (UCLA Athletics)

What’s next

If UCLA defeats UCF, they will advance to play the winner of Furman and the game on Sunday, March 23, 2026.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between UCLA and UCF represents an opportunity for the Bruins to showcase their defensive intensity and take advantage of the Knights' defensive vulnerabilities. A strong performance could set the stage for a deep NCAA Tournament run for UCLA.