MONSTER ENERGY BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL MEDIA DAYS

October 21, 2026

Johnny Dawkins

Dior Johnson

Cayden Vasko

UCF Knights

Media Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by the UCF Knights and their head coach Johnny Dawkins joining us now with student -- athletes Dior Johnson and Cayden Vasko.

Coach, welcome back to another run through the Big 12. At this point, you're a veteran here, you know what this league is about, you know what it takes to try to build something special. Where do you feel like you made the most progress with your squad in patient off-season?

JOHNNY DAWKINS: I think our guys have gotten better with our chemistry and with our continuity. 11 new players. Everyone is a coming from a program where they've done a certain thing. Now we have to put all the pieces together and be successful at one group.

I think the buy-in has been good with our guys. We're working hard towards getting our chemistry right.

THE MODERATOR: You mentioned the 11 new players. What is the biggest concern or challenge you encounter there as you try and build that cohesion?

JOHNNY DAWKINS: Just making sure all the pieces fit. It's very important when you're putting personnel out there, whether you're playing five guys or extending your rotations, you want to make sure the pieces fit so they all complement each other as best as possible.

That is some of the challenges we had making sure we understand who we have personnel-wise. We know who they were when we recruited them. Now when they're in your system, how does that all fit and work. That's what we're working through as a staff and team now.

THE MODERATOR: Cayden and Dior, you are part of 11 new faces. What type of culture did you encounter and what would you like to see happen within that culture as you build for those goals?

CAYDEN VASKO: I would say continuing every day to grow, like Coach said, building our team chemistry, stuff like that. We have a couple guys that have returned. They kind of helped maintain that culture from last year's squad. Just build off that every single day by coming in, staying together, having the right mindset, working.

DIOR JOHNSON: Just holding that culture to a high standard, a level five standard day in, day out. Keeping guys accountable. Making everything about everybody. Just taking it a day at a time.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, what are you hoping at the end of the season is the identity of this team?

JOHNNY DAWKINS: I always hope the same thing at the end of the season for us, is that we're a terrific defensive team. I think if you want to be successful, especially in our conference and around the country, you're going to have to understand the importance of defending. That's something that we want to see us doing well as the season progresses.

THE MODERATOR: What are both of you student-athletes anticipating Big 12 basketball will bring and be like?

DIOR JOHNSON: I know Big 12 basketball is a high-level league. Every possession matters. It's very exciting for the players and the fans. I'm very excited.

CAYDEN VASKO: Kind of the same thing. It's a little bit new for me. I played a couple games against some Big 12 teams before. It's just athletic, fast, physical. I'm super excited for that.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, we hear the phrase from so many here at media days, no nights off. What is the key to maintaining the proper level of play in such a physically demanding league?

JOHNNY DAWKINS: It's a gauntlet. For us, we have to understand taking care of your bodies, getting sleep, all the things that you have to do to make the right commitment to be successful in this league you have to do.

Durability. It's such a physical league, as our players have touched on, physicality of our league. Durability, making sure you are getting your rest, eating properly. All the things, like I said, you have to do. You have to be committed to those things in order to have any chance to be successful in this conference.

THE MODERATOR: What do you feel like UCF is doing best now as a basketball program?

CAYDEN VASKO: Honestly I would just say growing every day. Like coach said, he wants our mindset to be a defense-first mindset. I think we see that every single day by taking on that identity. It allows us to turn our defense into offense.

And not every day your offense is going to travel, and so one thing you can count on is having that mindset of sitting down and locking up because that brings energy for us on the offensive side of the thing as well.

DIOR JOHNSON: Practice has been great building the great habits we need to have a successful season, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, at what point do you think you will know fully what you have in your arsenal?

JOHNNY DAWKINS: Now we're at the beginning. It's still a ways away before we know exactly what we have. We're in the process of becoming the team we want to be of the I know that takes time.

All we're going to do is every day stack these days off, continue to look to improve. One day we wake up and all the places are in place, we're functioning at a high level. That's what I know where we want to be.

THE MODERATOR: The two transfers sitting next to you. For those that are not familiar with the game of Dior and Cayden, what type of players have you picked up?

JOHNNY DAWKINS: I think we'll see two players that have a very good understanding of the game. In Cayden's case, he's a big point guard, can play on and off the basketball. Provides some versatility in that regard for us. He brings really good leadership skills. He's one of our captains. He brings the versatility, like I said. The ability to command the locker room. Those are things that we need on our team.

Dior, a dynamic scorer. He can play multiple positions, on the perimeter as well. A man who really understands how to put the basketball in the hoop. A guy that's definitely a team-first player, but with an aggressiveness that you have to have, somebody who understands the importance of when you're closing games, in key situations, you know he wants the ball in his hand. You want players on your team that are confident like that.

THE MODERATOR: Dior has had some success against a Big 12 opponent. Dropping 40 in a game against Baylor. Hard to nitpick, but that's what we do. What have you been working on specifically to take your scoring prowess to another level?

DIOR JOHNSON: For me, I feel like it's just about staying consistent, keeping the same habits I had that helped me be successful last year, including that game. Staying consistent, levelheaded, not getting too high, too low. Staying in the gym, taking care of my body. The rest of the stuff will work out for itself.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, you're a guy who loves new seasons, energy. What has you genuinely most excited about this team, the Big 12?

JOHNNY DAWKINS: Well, I know the conference is going to be phenomenal, as it is every year. I'm always excited about the players I get to chance to work with. Year in and year out I get a chance to have personnel that come to UCF that want to be part of something special.

We're going to pour into them every single day. Our commitment to them is on and off the court. I love our players. I always do. I want them to love their experience.

Just having fun with our guys and looking to have success through having fun.

THE MODERATOR: Cayden, how is the community reception so far?

CAYDEN VASKO: It's been great so far. You know, just coming off a March Madness run like they did last year, you can see it and feel it on campus, talking with students, introducing myself.

We want to give them an experience so they can leave and have fun going to basketball games, look forward to doing something.

You can just feel it, the buzz walking around campus ands stuff like that, that it's starting to get back, that itch is starting to get back that hey want to have something to look forward to.

THE MODERATOR: The Knights have one of the more unique student section setups in basketball. Dior, what has you most excited about playing in front of that student section?

DIOR JOHNSON: The Fonz. Student section is great, man. They love basketball, they love the school. It's a very big university. They embrace sports. I'm so happy to be back and play for the students.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, appreciate the time.