When UCF lost 7-foot-2 center Moustapha Thiam to the transfer portal last season, it was like a gut-punch to many Knights fans. But when the Senegalese product landed at rival Cincinnati, it was downright infuriating.
Thiam makes his much-anticipated return to Addition Financial Arena on Sunday (5 p.m., ESPN+) as it’s safe to say he’ll receive quite a welcome.
“I wish him well,” coach Johnny Dawkins said of his former player. “I wish all those guys well. I enjoyed coaching them, but it’s a different time. Guys can make decisions year by year and do different things, so I just root for him to have success and I root for us to have success.”
Thiam transferred to Cincinnati after leaving the UCF program last season in a very messy divorce that also saw the departure of assistant coach Mamadou N’Diaye, who reportedly brokered the deal for the Senegalese product.
The sophomore is averaging 10.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game for UC.
“He’s a bigger player. He’s a more experienced player than when we had him, of course, because he’s growing into his role,” Dawkins added.
The Bearcats (8-7, 0-2 Big 12) lost their first two conference games to Houston and West Virginia and are hoping to avoid a three-game losing streak for the first time since the end of last season.
UCF (12-2, 1-1 Big 12), meanwhile, had its 11-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday night after losing at Oklahoma State, 87-76.
“We have to get back to doing what we’ve done well throughout the season and that’s defending and rebounding the basketball,” Dawkins said of the team’s focus this week.
UCF shot a season-low 37.5% from the field against the Cowboys, well below its average of 48%. That also included hitting just 21.2% (7 of 33) from 3-point range. It was the second-lowest shooting percentage of the season.
The Knights also allowed a team to shoot better than 50% from 3-point range for just the second time this season as OSU connected on 52.6% (10 of 19) of its long-distance shots.
“As a team, we have to do better than what we did last game,” said redshirt junior center Jeremy Foumena. “We know what we did wrong. We were kind of divided in the last game, but we know what it takes to win. So we have to be together and be as one.”
The loss occurred one day after the Knights were ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since 2019.
Foumena and senior guard Riley Kugel were teammates last season at Mississippi State when the Bulldogs went through a similar situation.
“Last year, we were No. 25 at Mississippi State and then we ended up losing the very next game,” said Kugel, who is averaging a team-high 14.1 points per game. “[It’s about] staying on the right track and not falling into all the rankings and stuff because our identity is within ups and how we react.”
Added Dawkins: “I’ve tried to have our guys understand the importance that you have to eliminate the noise and it’s just the people in the locker room and in our circle discussing what we’re trying to do. Only the players and our staff really know what we’re going through on a day-to-day basis, so we try to keep that circle as tight as possible.”
Knights’ GM stepping away
UCF announced that Chris Wash has stepped down as general manager of the basketball program, effective immediately. The move was made prior to the Knights’ game at Oklahoma State on Tuesday night.
According to a statement from Wash’s representation, he is “stepping away to prioritize pressing family matters, including a recent health diagnosis within his immediate family that requires his time, focus and presence.”
Wash joined Dawkins’ staff last June.
“I wish Chris well. We all go through different things in life and I understand that. It’s unfortunate, but we all understand and we wish Chris well,” said Dawkins.
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
