Few would have thought it possible given the programs they inherited, but Johnny Dawkins and Katie Abrahamson-Henderson have an opportunity to lead their respective teams to a postseason tournament in their first year at UCF.
Dawkins' men, 19-10 overall following Sunday's home win against No. 15 Cincinnati, can clinch a first-round bye in next week's American Athletic Conference tournament with a win at USF on Thursday. They've won four games in a row and still have a chance to finish as high as third place in the league standings.
The Senior Day win against Cincinnati was UCF's fourth all-time against a ranked team and the first ever at CFE Arena.
Director of Athletics Danny White said Monday he's especially proud to see the team's hard work pay off, especially knowing how shorthanded they've been with only seven scholarship players.
"Just a big-time win," White said. "That's a program-building win. Obviously positions us well this year and we've got to take care of business in Tampa on Thursday. It positions the program really well moving forward for next year and really catapults us from a season-ticket sales perspective, recruiting and all those things."
Abrahamson-Henderson's women wrapped up their regular season on Monday, finishing with a 19-10 overall record and 9-7 within the league. They won six of their last seven games, including victories against top-25 USF as well as Tulane, both of whom are currently projected to make the NCAA Tournament.
"Coach Dawkins has done an unbelievable job in year one as has Coach Abe," White said. "I can't believe what's happened in just a quick, short year in both of our basketball programs."
For both programs, the goal remains the NCAA Tournament which likely requires winning the conference tournament.
On the men's side, a first-round bye as a top-five seed means UCF would have to win three games in three days as opposed to four games in four days if they were seeded lower. And for a team short on depth, it may prove to UCF's benefit not having to play a game this weekend like the rest of the league as they'll have eight days between the regular season finale at USF and next Friday's quarterfinals.
The women are seeded No. 4 in the American Athletic Conference Championship, which begins Friday in Uncasville, Conn. The Knights, with a first-round bye, will play No. 5 seed Tulane on Saturday at 12 noon. The winner of the 4/5 game will almost certainly meet No. 1 UConn in the semifinals on Sunday.
Falling short of winning the tournament, White believes both programs have made a great case for NIT and WNIT inclusion.
"I think on the women's side, we've definitely done enough to warrant a WNIT invitation," White said. "We've put in a bid for that. I'd be disappointed if we didn't receive that opportunity."
The WNIT field is 64 teams, just like the NCAA Tournament. White is hopeful they'd have an opportunity to host a first-round game.
If the men's team beats USF on Thursday and advances all the way to the championship game, White thinks they could be in the bubble "conversation" for the NCAA Tournament.
"I think our RPI is competitive," White said. "It's probably not where you want it, but we have quality wins and we're playing well at the right time. We also lost a couple of key games, but our worst losses are when we didn't have our point guard due to injury. I would think that we have a case. I intend to make it at the appropriate time, if we get there. We have to win some more games."
UCF's current RPI is 77. That number could drop even with a win at USF, given the fact the Bulls are ranked No. 304 among 351 Division I teams. More opportunities to enhance the resume await in the conference tournament. If UCF wins the quarterfinal, they would likely face Cincinnati or SMU in the semifinals, both of whom are ranked top 20 in RPI.
The NIT could be a more likely scenario.
"I think with (the Cincinnati) win, the men's team has earned the right to compete in the NIT and potentially make a run," White said. "I think either team could win the thing, the way both of our men's and women's teams are playing."
The latest NIT projections at DRatings.com and NYCBuckets.com slot UCF as a No. 5 and No. 6 seed, respectively. A higher seed is important because auto-bids are promised to first-place conference finishers who fail to win their conference tournaments. In 2016, a record 15 auto-bids were handed out in the 32-team field, leaving just 17 at-large NIT spots. The previous four years ranged from 10 to 13 auto-bids.
As for Thursday's game in Tampa, UCFAA and UCF SGA have coordinated efforts to arrange free bus travel for more than 200 students. White is hopeful to see a large Black & Gold contingent at the USF Sun Dome.
"I'll be there," White said. "The entire White crew will be there with all four of my kids. We're really excited about that."
