Former American Athletic Conference rivals South Florida and UCF are set to duke it out in Orlando in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament in their first matchup since February 2023.
South Florida finished first in the AAC during the regular season but failed to get past UAB in the conference tournament semifinals with a 10-point loss.
In its first year in the Big 12, UCF finished 7-11 in conference play and 17-15 overall. The Knights took down Oklahoma State in the first round of the Big 12 tournament but eventually fell to BYU in the second round, 87-73.
South Florida head coach Amir Adbur-Rahim managed a 24-7 overall record and 16-2 in conference play to finish his first year at the helm, earning unanimous AAC Coach of the Year honors.
Three UCF players, Ibrahima Diallo, Darius Johnson and Jaylin Sellers, received All-Big 12 Honorable Mention awards. Johnson ranks in the top 10 in scoring in the conference, and both Diallo and Omar Payne are tied for first in the Big 12 in blocked shots with 1.5 per game.
Here’s what you need to know about Tuesday’s matchup between South Florida and UCF, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is South Florida vs. UCF on today?
- TV channel: N/A
- Live stream: ESPN+
South Florida leads the head-to-head race against UCF with 27 wins to 21 losses, with the Bulls winning three of the last five. Both teams are coming off disappointing conference tournament losses and are hungry for a win to keep playing in March.
Fans looking to stream South Florida vs. UCF can watch live exclusively on ESPN+.
South Florida vs. UCF start time
- Date: Tuesday, March 19
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
The NIT game between South Florida and UCF is set to tip off at 9 p.m. ET from Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Fla.
This is UCF’s second consecutive appearance in the NIT, and third under coach Johnny Dawkins. Last year, UCF exited after a second-round loss to Oregon. Dawkins won the NIT twice (2011-12, 2014-15) while at Stanford during his head coaching career.
Despite winning 22 of their last 24 games, South Florida missed out on an NCAA Tournament bid. The Bulls’ resume included wins against ranked Memphis and Florida Atlantic teams and a brief stint in the AP Top 25.
2024 NIT schedule, scores
The NIT begins with Round 1, which is slated for Tuesday, March 19, and Wednesday, March 20. The entire schedule for Round 1 is included below.
Round 1: Tuesday, March 19
| Game | Time (ET) | Location | TV Channel/Live Stream |
| Providence vs. Boston College | 7 p.m. | Amica Mutual Pavilion | ESPNU/Sling |
| Georgia vs. Xavier | 7 p.m. | Stegeman Coliseum | ESPN/Sling |
| Ohio State vs. Cornell | 7 p.m. | Value City Arena | ESPN2/Sling |
| LSU vs. North Texas | 7 p.m. | Pete Maravich Assembly Center | SEC Network/ESPN+ |
| Virginia Tech vs. Richmond | 9 p.m. | Cassell Coliseum | ESPN2/Sling |
| Butler vs. Minnesota | 9 p.m. | Hinkle Fieldhouse | ESPNU/Sling |
| Iowa vs. Kansas State | 9 p.m. | Carver-Hawkeye Arena | ESPN/Sling |
| Utah vs. UC Irvine | 11 p.m. | Jon M. Huntsman Center | ESPN2/Sling |
Round 2: Wednesday, March 20
| Game | Time (ET) | Location | TV Channel/Live Stream |
| Seton Hall vs. Saint Joseph’s | 7 p.m. | Prudential Center | ESPN2/Sling |
| Indiana State vs. SMU | 7 p.m. | Hulman Center | ESPN+ |
| Bradley vs. Loyola Chicago | 7 p.m. | Carver Arena | ESPN+ |
| Princeton vs. UNLV | 8 p.m. | Jadwin Gymnasium | ESPN+ |
| Wake Forest vs. App. State | 8 p.m. | LJVM Coliseum | ESPN+ |
| Cincinnati vs. San Francisco | 9 p.m. | Fifth Third Arena | ESPN+ |
| Villanova vs. VCU | 9 p.m. | Finneran Pavilion | ESPN2/Sling |
| UCF vs. South Florida | 9 p.m. | Addition Financial Arena | ESPN+ |
