The beginning of the UCF Men’s Basketball season has, to say the least, not gone as expected. In the weeks leading up to the season and even in the season opener on November 10th, two players were unable to play and one got hurt in the second half of the game.

UCF guard Aubrey Dawkins, Coach Dawkins’ son, revealed a few weeks ago that he will miss the entire 2017-2018 season. A video of the younger Dawkins revealing the news was posted on the UCF Men’s Basketball twitter page.” I’m definitely heartbroken,” explained Dawkins. “I know my teammates are going to have a great run this year.”

Along with Dawkins, Tacko Fall, a 7’6 Center, missed the season opener. Coach Dawkins was available for comment on the situation with Fall. “He’s been nursing a minor injury, he’s got a sore hip,” explained Dawkins. “I can’t say when he’s going to play again but it’s not going to hold him out much longer.”

The injury bug hasn’t run its course just yet. B.J. Taylor went down in the second half of Friday’s opener with what appeared to be a foot injury. “The only thing I know is that he hurt his foot,” Coach Dawkins explained when asked about the status of Taylor. “Hopefully he’ll be ok but we will have to wait and see.”

UCF appeared to be lethargic during the first half of the season opener against Mercer. “Defensively in the first half I think we played with some jitters,” Coach Dawkins said. UCF allowed 47 total points in the first half but clamped down in the second half and ultimately came away with a tough defensive win. Final score was UCF 88, Mercer 79.

With all of the injuries UCF has already faced, Coach Dawkins and the rest of the coaching staff will have to continue to figure out lineups as the season progresses.

UCF’s next game is at home again on Nov. 15 at 7pm at CFE arena.