Jay Bilas Predicts UCF’s March Madness Advancement: Find Out How Far

Mo. Basuony

Published: March 19, 2026 8:59 AM ET

Jay Bilas Predicts UCF’s March Madness Advancement: Find Out How Far

The UCF Knights are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. They will open the East Region first round against UCLA.

Game and seeding details

UCF enters as the No. 10 seed in the East. The Knights hold a 21-11 record this season.

UCLA is the No. 7 seed and finished 23-11. The first-round game is set for 7:25 p.m. on Friday, March 20. The site is Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

Jay Bilas’ forecast

ESPN analyst Jay Bilas projects UCF to upset UCLA in the opening round. Jay Bilas Predicts UCF’s March Madness Advancement: Find Out How Far was the premise of his bracket release.

Bilas cited UCLA’s injuries as a factor. He noted UCF’s balance on offense and physicality inside.

Why Bilas favors the Knights

Bilas highlighted UCLA guard Donovan Dent as one of the nation’s top point guards. He added that UCF counters with Themus Fulks and Jordan Burks.

He also pointed to Jamichael Stillwell’s defensive presence. Bilas compared Stillwell to a Big 12 version of Draymond Green.

Limits to the forecast

Despite predicting a first-round UCF win, Bilas does not expect the Knights to reach the Sweet 16. He forecasted a second-round matchup ending in a loss to No. 2 seed UConn.

Bilas called UConn a second-weekend team, even if he stopped short of naming them a Final Four pick.

Recent form and tournament history

UCF rallied late in the Big 12 tournament to force overtime and beat Cincinnati. The Knights then fell in the quarterfinals to Arizona.

The program’s last NCAA trip was 2019. In that tournament UCF beat VCU 73-58. Center Tacko Fall had 10 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks in the win.

UCF then lost by one point at the buzzer to top-seeded Duke, 77-76.