UCF's Jamichael Stillwell and John Bol Prepare for NCAA Tournament Despite Injuries Jamichael Stillwell, UCF's 6-foot-8 senior forward, has become a key figure in the Knights' March Madness campaign despite overcoming significant injuries. The player, known as "Mr. Stand on Business" from his junior college days at Miami-Dade, emphasized his commitment to excellence both on and off the court. "That's the way I live, for real — standing on business, getting it done, just being a man of my word," Stillwell said. His philosophy extends beyond basketball, reflecting a dedication to living life with passion and integrity. Stillwell, who has been sidelined by two torn ligaments in his right ankle, has made a remarkable recovery. He walked to the team bus for Wednesday's sendoff in a boot, practiced fully at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and is expected to start in the NCAA Tournament opener against UCLA. The 245-pound forward has been a dominant force for UCF, posting eight double-doubles and ranking third in the Big 12 in offensive rebounding (3.2 per game). Despite his injuries, Stillwell has maintained a disciplined approach, focusing on daily recovery and minimizing practice reps to protect his ankle. "Just battling day by day," he said. "Trying to not really take off reps in practice, getting treatment and just really resting it." The Knights' March Madness run has been marked by resilience, as injuries plagued the team during their 9-9 Big 12 stretch. However, the squad appears to be in full health heading into the NCAA Tournament, with most key players back to full participation. Sophomore center John Bol, who missed time due to an undisclosed injury during the Big 12 quarterfinal against Arizona, confirmed he is "ready to go.#ncaa_tournament #big_12 #ucf #jamichael_stillwell #john_bol
