UCF thought it had put its time in the American Athletic Conference in the rearview mirror when it joined the Big 12 last July.
However, as fictitious mobster Michael Corleone found out in “The Godfather Part III,” just because you think you’re out doesn’t mean they won’t try to pull you back in.
UCF (17-15) faces a familiar opponent — one from their past — when former AAC member and in-state rival USF (24-7) travels to Orlando to face the Knights in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Tuesday night at Addition Financial Arena (9 p.m., ESPN+).
“It’s great to play USF,” said UCF coach Johnny Dawkins. “They probably feel the same way. Unfortunately, we’re not in the same league anymore, but that was always a great rivalry.
Slow start sends UCF to 2nd-round loss to BYU in Big 12 tourney
“The War on I-4 took on a special meaning for all of us as competitors, so we have to get our guys up to speed on exactly what it means.”
Guard Darius Johnson, forward C.J. Walker and forward Thierno Sylla are the only Knights to have participated in the rivalry series, which ended with a pair of losses to the Bulls last season.
“I remember asking Coach if we were still going to have the game against USF,” Johnson recalled. “Fortunately, it worked out, so we can play them.
“We have a lot of new guys on the team, and some of them don’t realize how big the rivalry is, so I tried to relate to them any rivalries they may have had in high school or at the AAU level.”
UCF wrapped up its first season in the Big 12 with seven conference wins, including a program-first three wins over ranked opponents: No. 3 Kansas, No. 23 Oklahoma and No. 23 Texas Tech.
The Knights also secured their first win in the conference tournament, blowing out Oklahoma State 77-62 in the first round before losing to BYU 87-73 in the second.
Big 12 men’s and women’s tournaments to remain in Kansas City through 2031
USF went on an incredible run in its first season under coach Amir Abdul-Rahim, winning 22 of its final 24 games to capture the AAC regular-season title. But the Bulls fell short in the conference tournament, losing to eventual tourney champ UAB in the semifinals.
UCF and South Florida personnel said they believed they did enough to earn a spot in the 68-team NCAA tournament field, but both were shut out and found themselves in the 32-team NIT field instead.
“We’re happy to be still playing, first and foremost,” Dawkins said. “Going to a postseason tournament, especially if you couldn’t make the NCAA, but to go to the NIT is a really good first step for the group.”
Junior guard Jaylin Sellers added, “I know it wasn’t what we expected us to do, but I’m cool with it, and I want to run it.”
This is the 49th meeting in the series, with USF holding a 27-21 advantage. The Bulls have won five of the last eight games, including twice in the 2022-23 season. Those losses still hang over Johnson, who scored 2 points in UCF’s 82-75 home loss.
“Last year was disappointing,” said Johnson, who is second on the team in scoring with 15.2 points per game. “To get them back is something I’m looking forward to.”
UCF knows it faces a challenge because USF is one of the better teams in the AAC in 3-point shooting, connecting on 36% of its long-range shots. The Bulls are reminiscent of another team the Knights recently faced.
“They’re very similar to BYU. They have a lot of guys who want to shoot the ball and they have a lot of guard play,” Johnson said. “We have to be talking on defense and making sure we limit [their] threes and stop them in transition.”
The victor will face this weekend the winner of top-seeded Villanova vs. VCU.
Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com
