A first: Knights picked to win AAC

The UCF basketball team was picked to win the American Athletic Conference title, earning the prestigious recognition for the first time in school history.

Knights senior point guard B.J. Taylor, an Orlando Boone High alum, also was named the AAC preseason player of the year.

UCF finished on top of a preseason poll of the league’s coaches released Monday.

The Knights, led by thirdyear coach Johnny Dawkins, received 114 points and six first-place votes, edging defending champion Cincinnati, which earned 107 points and three firstplace votes.

UCF has won four basketball conference championships since moving to the Division I level during the 1984-85 season, but the Knights have never been picked to win a title by league coaches.

In addition to UCF and Cincinnati, the talent-rich AAC features Wichita State, Houston, Memphis, UConn, Temple and SMU — all teams capable of vying for the league crown.

The Knights return a strong mix of players anchored by Taylor and center Tacko Fall, with Taylor earning preseason All-AAC first team honors and Fall landing on the second team.

After key players on UCF’s roster were hindered by injuries last season, Chad Brown, Ceasar DeJesus, Dayon Griffin and Chance McSpadden all gained valuable experience.

Aubrey Dawkins, a former Michigan star who has sat out the past two seasons due to NCAA transfer rules and injuries, is finally slated to join the Knights’ lineup.

The Knights also will have George Washington transfer Collin Smith, junior college transfer Frank Bertz and freshman Dre Fuller Jr. available this season.

Taylor said the players are fired up to make the most of their opportunities now that a lineup filled with talented seniors is finally at full strength.

“It's been a long journey, but I'm excited that we're going to make this the best season in UCF history,” Taylor told the Sentinel earlier this preseason.

UCF will tip off the 2018-19 season against Rider at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at CFE Arena.