College Basketball Preview: Can Wichita State Make a Good First Impression in the AAC?

Team on the Rise: UCF Knights

UCF was the pleasant surprise a year ago. After being picked to finish eighth by the media during the preseason, the Knights put together an 11-7 campaign, good for fourth in the AAC. Their 24-12 overall record earned them an NIT selection, where they lost to eventual champion TCU in the semifinals.

The Knights leaned heavily on defense, ranking sixth in the nation according to our metrics. The most important piece of their defense is still on the team in 7-foot-6 junior center Tacko Fall, who ranked first in the country in Defensive Rating and sixth in blocked shots a year ago. Fall was also no slouch on the offensive end, averaging just under 11 points per game, third on the team.

Outside of returning their best defensive player, the Knights are also bringing back their top scorer, junior guard B.J. Taylor. After missing the 2015-16 season with a foot injury, Taylor averaged 17.4 points per contest, good for fourth in the American.

The future appears bright for second-year head coach Johnny Dawkins and the Knights, which has a decent shot at ending in a trip to the NCAA tournament.