Key UCF Basketball Injuries Impacting March Madness

Mo. Basuony

Published: March 20, 2026 8:40 PM ET

Key UCF Basketball Injuries Impacting March Madness

Below are the key facts extracted from the provided article.

Season: 2025-26 UCF men’s basketball campaign with late-season injuries.
UCF will appear in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.
Three players highlighted for injury monitoring: John Bol, Riley Kugel, Jamichael Stillwell.
John Bol: team’s tallest player, started every game this season, experienced chest pain in Big 12 quarterfinal versus Arizona.
Bol briefly left the game, returned, then exited again after recording his fourth foul. He later joined the bench and was seen by coach Johnny Dawkins, who reported Bol was okay and likely day-to-day.
Riley Kugel: Orlando native and one of UCF’s leading scorers. He missed two games earlier in Utah, both wins. He was a game-time decision after colliding with the scorer’s table late in an overtime win over Cincinnati but played.
Jamichael Stillwell: forward and leading rebounder. He missed games at Iowa State (Jan. 20) and West Virginia (Mar. 6). He had his ankle stepped on during the BYU win and has been listed as game-time decision since.
Stillwell showed strong rebounding after returning but has experienced an offensive slowdown. He shot 5-for-14 across the Big 12 Tournament and recorded higher-than-average rebounds since his comeback.
UCF must submit NCAA Tournament player availability reports. Initial reports are due at 9 p.m. venue time the night before. Game-day reports are due two hours before tip-off.
The Knights will learn their first opponent on Selection Sunday for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

UCF heads into the NCAA Tournament with health questions surrounding key contributors. The team avoided many major absences early. Injuries surfaced late in conference play and the Big 12 Tournament.

This overview details the Key UCF Basketball Injuries Impacting March Madness. The pieces below focus on each player’s status and potential tournament impact.

John Bol: chest issue and availability

John Bol has started every game this season for UCF. He is the roster’s tallest player and a regular presence in the lineup.

Bol experienced chest pain during the Big 12 quarterfinal against Arizona. He left the floor twice and leaned on trainers while walking to the locker room.

He later returned to the bench before the game ended. Coach Johnny Dawkins reported Bol was seen after the contest and appeared to be stable. The team described his status as likely day-to-day heading into the tournament.

Riley Kugel: scoring role and recent scare

Riley Kugel is one of UCF’s leading scorers and a native of Orlando. He missed only two games this season, both during a trip to Utah that yielded wins for the Knights.

Kugel collided with the scorer’s table late in an overtime game against Cincinnati. He was listed as a game-time decision but ultimately played in that matchup.

Jamichael Stillwell: ankle concern and production

Jamichael Stillwell leads UCF in rebounds. He missed two games this season, against Iowa State on Jan. 20 and West Virginia on Mar. 6.

Stillwell suffered an ankle incident when it was stepped on during the win over BYU. Since then, he has frequently appeared as a game-time decision on availability reports.

He has continued to rebound effectively, often posting numbers above his season average. Offensively, however, he has slipped, shooting 5-for-14 across Big 12 Tournament play. That performance included his largest single-game miss totals this season.

Staffers describe the injury as a nagging issue that he has managed while playing. Only a setback in practice would likely force him out of a tournament game.

Tournament reporting and timeline

Under NCAA rules, teams must submit a player availability report the night before each tournament game. The initial report is due at 9 p.m. local venue time.

A second report is required two hours before tip-off on game day. Those reports will clarify any lingering questions about Bol, Kugel, and Stillwell.

UCF will learn its first-round opponent on Selection Sunday for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Filmogaz.com will track updates to the Knights’ injury reports as the event approaches.