SI

UCF Celebrates Upset Over Kansas With Court-Storming So Wild a Commentator Wound Up Holding Someone’s Shoe

It was the Knights’ first Big 12 win in men’s basketball.

Madison Williams

UCF Celebrates Upset Over Kansas With Court-Storming So Wild a Commentator Wound Up Holding Someone’s Shoe
UCF Celebrates Upset Over Kansas With Court-Storming So Wild a Commentator Wound Up Holding Someone’s Shoe /
In this story:

The UCF Knights clinched their first Big 12 win in legendary fashion on Wednesday night, taking down No. 3 Kansas in a 65–60 win.

As time expired, the crowd at Addition Financial Arena stormed the court with passion and excitement.

Then, wild things began happening—like palm fronds ending up in the basketball nets and a fan’s shoe popping up in commentator Mike O’Donnell’s hands at the announcing table.

“I’ve got a shoe. Someone threw a shoe onto our scorer’s table,” O’Donnell said as the crowd took over. “I’m holding someone’s shoe. That’s how crazy it is at UCF right now. I don’t know whose this is! I don’t have a clue, but I’ve got a shoe.”

Shots of the crowd on the court showed fans jumping up and down, shouting and generally celebrating the Knights and this historic win.

Head coach Johnny Dawkins got in on the celebration too.

This was the Knights’ second Big 12 game, but it was the team’s home debut in the conference, having jumped from the AAC just this year. UCF fell to Kansas State 77–52 on Saturday in its conference debut. The Knights now hold a 10–4 record on the season.

Published
Madison Williams
MADISON WILLIAMS

Madison Williams is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where she specializes in tennis but covers a wide range of sports from a national perspective. Before joining SI in 2022, Williams worked at The Sporting News. Having graduated from Augustana College, she completed a master’s in sports media at Northwestern University. She is a dog mom and an avid reader.

Home/College