Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball: Introducing 4 new official members for 2023-24 season

By Jason Burgess

Nov 10, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; A general view of the Big 12 logo on the floor before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Southern Tigers at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; A general view of the Big 12 logo on the floor before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Southern Tigers at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Central Florida head coach Johnny Dawkins Ncaa Basketball Oregon Ucf In The Nit Ucf At Oregon
Central Florida head coach Johnny Dawkins Ncaa Basketball Oregon Ucf In The Nit Ucf At Oregon /

Central Florida Knights

Filling out the threesome from the American that is headed to the Big 12 is central Florida who makes the jump after winning 19 games last season. The Knights don’t have as much of a storied basketball history as their AAC cohorts Houston and Cincinnati. All but one of the Knights’ NCAA tournament appearances were under longtime coach Kirk Speraw, with their latest one in 2019 under current head coach Johnny Dawkins.

Dawkins had to spend the summer rebuilding his roster because the only returning players who saw floor time last season are junior guard Darius Johnson and forwards Thiemo Sylla and CJ Walker, Walker only saw action in four games last season due to injury.

The Knights welcome six transfers, five of which are eligible to play immediately with Jaykwon Walton from Wichita State being the only guy who has to sit out. Shemarri Allen is a pesky guard who averaged 17 points, five rebounds, 2.7 assists, and two steals for Kansas City last year. The other shooting guard joining Allen is Jaylin Sellers who averaged over 13 points per game and shot 45% from deep for Ball State.

The frontcourt newcomers consist of the forward tandem of Marchelus Avery and Omar Payne. Avery netted eight points and 4.5 rebounds in 18 minutes with New Mexico State and Payne played rotational minutes at Jacksonville averaging five points and three rebounds. Center Ibrahima Diallo is a 7’0 220lb. big body in the middle who was a force on the boards, averaging six boards per game to go along with six points in just 17 minutes per game.

The Knights may have lost a lot, but have a lot coming in to supplement what Dawkins has left over, which could mean an even bigger learning curve joining the Big 12.

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