"We have to get back in the gym": UCF coach Johnny Dawkins on suffering historic 51-point blowout against Kansas Jayhawks 

UCF coach Johnny Dawkins endured one of the toughest nights of his career as his Knights suffered a historic 99-48 home loss to the then-No. 7-ranked Kansas Jayhawks on Sunday.

The blowout marked the largest home loss in UCF history and tied the program’s all-time worst defeat, matching a 51-point loss against Florida in 1984.

The Knights were thoroughly outplayed, especially on the boards, as Kansas dominated the rebounding battle 63-32. The loss was a stark contrast to UCF’s triumph over the then-No. 3 Jayhawks last year, a 65-60 victory that ranks as the Knights’ biggest upset in program history.

After the game, Dawkins emphasized the need for his team to regroup and refocus.

“We have to get back in the gym,” Dawkins said to reporters. “We have to start working toward what we have to do to be successful in this conference.”

Despite the setback, Dawkins remains optimistic about the season. Since joining UCF in 2016, he has compiled a 158-106 record, with the Knights entering Sunday’s matchup on a six-game winning streak with a 10-3 overall record and a 1-1 start in conference play.

UCF’s struggles against Kansas underlined areas for improvement, particularly in rebounding. Dawkins is focused on helping his Knights bounce back as they prepare to host the Colorado Buffaloes on Wednesday.

“We’ve had good moments this season, but games like this remind us how much work we still need to do,” Dawkins said. “It’s about getting better every day and being ready to compete at the highest level.”

With the season still young, UCF has time to recover and make its mark in the Big 12. Wednesday’s matchup against Colorado offers a chance for the Knights to get back on track.

Johnny Dawkins praises Kansas after UCF’s 99-48 blowout loss

UCF coach Johnny Dawkins offered a candid assessment of the Kansas Jayhawks’ performance after his Knights suffered a historic 99-48 loss on Sunday — the worst home defeat in school history.

“I thought that Kansas played a great game,” Dawkins said. “They came in with a really good focus and made a lot of connecting plays, especially offensively.

"When they didn’t make a play offensively, I thought they did a really good job of getting second and third shot opportunities that led to points for them. We have to be better.”

The Jayhawks’ relentless performance overwhelmed UCF from the opening tip. Kansas dominated and capitalized on multiple second chance opportunities to build an insurmountable lead.

Offensively, the Jayhawks showcased their cohesion, converting key plays into points and keeping UCF off balance throughout the game.