UCF Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Knights

Key Non-Conference Games

Nov 15 – Cal State Fullerton – Myrtle Beach Invitational
Nov 16 – St Joseph’s or Wake Forest – Myrtle Beach Invitational
Nov 17 – Myrtle Beach Invitational
Nov 29 – Alabama
Dec 2 – @ Missouri

UCF’s non-conference schedule is not going to be confused for being all that difficult. They could potentially only play two tournament teams from last year during this stretch in Alabama and Missouri. They do play in the Myrtle Beach Invitational but the competition is not the greatest there either. This should set up the Knights to have a good record when they start AAC play.

After playing Rider and FAU, the Knights finally step up their competition when they head to Myrtle Beach. They should get by Cal State Fullerton and would play either St Joseph’s or Wake Forest. Either one of those teams will definitely be a step up in the level of play. They do have the ability to beat either one of those teams and if they do they would likely face West Virginia in the finals. Western Kentucky is also on the other side of the bracket and they look like a potential tournament team also. If UCF can get out of the invitational with two wins they should be happy.

When they come back they do host Alabama who many are high on in the SEC and that will be a good home test. After that, they head to Missouri for their toughest true road game of the non-conference schedule. Missouri could give them problems but they lost Jontay Porter for the season, so they may be ripe for an upset. If UCF can at least get a split in these two games they should feel really good about how they are playing going into the conference season.

All in all, UCF should have at least eight wins and possibly as many as 12 going into the conference season. Staying healthy will be key during this stretch and set them up well for AAC play.