Busting Brackets
Fansided

AAC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2022-23 season

By Holden Walter-Warner

Mar 14, 2021; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Houston Cougars players and coaches celebrate as confetti falls after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats in the American Athletic Conference tournament final at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ben Ludeman-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2021; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Houston Cougars players and coaches celebrate as confetti falls after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats in the American Athletic Conference tournament final at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ben Ludeman-USA TODAY Sports /
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C.J. Walker #21 of the UCF Knights (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
C.J. Walker #21 of the UCF Knights (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

455. . . . Knights . 6. team

The UCF Knights have finished sixth in the conference three times under Johnny Dawkins, including each of the last two years. It’s not the three-peat Dawkins is looking for, but it might be the one he gets.

Not all sixth-place finishes are created equal. In 2020-21, UCF went 11-12. Last year, the team went 18-12. Some of last year’s former players are back, but the Knights are still set up for a potential postseason bid.

It starts at the top with C.J. Walker. His numbers weren’t much better as a junior than as a sophomore, but the Oregon transfer has all the potential in the world to be the best player on this team and a legitimate All-AAC candidate.

Fellow senior Ithiel Horton should also play one of the biggest roles on the team. This will be the guard’s third school, following stints at Delaware and Pittsburgh. He averaged 9.8 points per game last season and has hit at least 37 percent of his threes every season.

The progression of Darius Johnson will be a big key. The guard started almost half of the team’s games last season, averaging a well-rounded 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game as a freshman. The AAC All-Freshman honoree should take the next step in 2022-23.

Big man Taylor Hendricks may not play a big role as a freshman, but he’s the highest-ranked recruit in school history. UCF may finally be ascending, right on time for their move to the Big 12 next season.