Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Alum Draws Praise for Debut Season in Big 12

Duke basketball treasure Johnny Dawkins might not have much job security at UCF, but some argue that should no longer be the case.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
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There's no guarantee Duke basketball great Johnny Dawkins gets another year at UCF. However, following the Knights' 77-62 win over Oklahoma State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Tuesday, Burner Ball's "Trilly Donovan" and CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein suggested he's done enough in their eyes to remain at the helm in Orlando.

After all, as Rothstein noted on social media, it's been a "really impressive Year 1 in this league under Johnny Dawkins" considering the program is only one win shy of its overall total last season when UCF was a member of the considerably weaker AAC. In other words, significant improvement is evident despite the similar record.

And although "Trilly Donovan" has applied the "hot seat" label to Dawkins throughout the season, the following post indicates agreement with Rothstein that the 60-year-old is doing an admirable job, especially in light of "allegedly cut funding" by UCF director of athletics Terry Mohajir:

The Knights, now 17-14 overall, finished 7-11 in Big 12 regular-season play, highlighted by a 65-60 home victory over then-No. 3 Kansas in early January.

No. 12 seed UCF, needing to cut down the nets at the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City on Saturday to make the NCAA Tournament field for the first time since 2019, next faces No. 5 seed BYU at 12:30 p.m. ET for a chance to advance to play No. 4 seed Texas Tech in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Dawkins, a four-year Blue Devil star in the 1980s and longtime assistant under Mike Krzyzewski whose Duke basketball jersey number (24) forever hangs from Cameron Indoor Stadium's rafter, is in his eighth year at UCF (148-101) after leading Stanford for eight years (156-115).

His career record as a head coach is 304-216, a 58.5 winning percentage.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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