UCF basketball continues to make waves in the college basketball world, but the Knights were unable to crack the top 25 rankings this week despite their impressive upset win over No. 11 Texas Tech. This marks the second time this season that UCF has fallen just short of breaking into the national rankings.
While the Knights received 39 votes in the Associated Press poll and 15 votes in the USA Today coaches’ poll, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot in the top 25. However, UCF’s recent success cannot be ignored.
This past weekend, the Knights secured their second top 15 win of the season and third straight victory over a Big 12 opponent. Their latest triumph over Texas Tech was a thrilling 88-80 upset at Addition Financial Arena. This followed their previous upset over No. 3 Kansas on January 3rd.
Despite not being ranked, UCF remains a strong contender in the Big 12 conference. The team currently holds a 17-4 overall record and a 6-3 record in conference play, placing them sixth in the standings. Their NCAA NET ranking of 37 is also the seventh-best in the conference.
With their upcoming game against No. 8 Houston on Wednesday, the Knights have the opportunity to secure their fourth straight conference win for the first time since the 2020-21 season when they were part of the American Athletic Conference. This game will be a tough challenge, as UCF has not defeated Houston in their past 10 meetings.
Despite not being ranked, UCF has its sights set on returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 season. That year, the Knights nearly upset top-seeded Duke in the second round. With the team’s current success, it seems likely that they will make a strong push for a tournament berth.
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Next up, the Knights will look to continue their winning streak against the Cougars and aim for a spot in the top 25 rankings. Keep your eyes on UCF basketball as they continue to make a name for themselves in the Big 12 and beyond.
