Chasing Ghosts: Can once-elite Houston get all the way back?
Guy V. Lewis led Houston to five Final Fours. Can Kelvin Sampson return the Cougars to the status of the Phi Slama Jama era?
2019 ScheduleAll times ET
2019 Schedule
1st in American
- 11/10W 101-54
- 11/14W 79-68
- 11/19W 82-55
- 11/24W 76-62
- 11/28W 58-53
- 12/118W 65-61
- 12/4W 79-56
- 12/8W 63-53
- 12/12W 82-76
- 12/16W 68-64
- 12/20W 60-50
- 12/23W 75-44
- 12/29W 80-59
- 1/2W 74-56
- 1/6W 90-77
- 1/9L 73-69
- 1/12W 79-70
- 1/16W 69-58
- 1/19W 69-60
- 1/23W 94-50
- 1/27W 77-65
- 1/31W 73-66
- 2/7W 77-68
- 2/1025W 65-58
- 2/14W 71-63
- 2/17W 85-50
- 2/23W 71-59
- 2/27W 99-65
- 3/2L 69-64
- 3/7W 90-79
- 3/1020W 85-69
- 3/15W 84-45
- 3/16W 61-58
- 3/1724L 69-57
- 3/2214W 84-55
- 3/2411W 74-59
- 3/292L 62-58
- Full Schedule
Your guide to 13 early-season college basketball tournaments
The fields for 13 early-season college basketball tournaments were announced Thursday. Here's your handy guide to all 13 ESPN-aired events.
This Just In
Former Kansas guard Quentin Grimes, the best available transfer according to ESPN's rankings, announced his commitment to Houston on Thursday. Grimes chose the Cougars over Texas A&M. He's expected to apply for a waiver to be eligible immediately at Houston, as The Woodlands, Texas native is transferring back to be closer to home. It's unclear whether the NCAA's rule changes earlier this week regarding waivers will impact Grimes' hopes to play right away. If Grimes isn't given a waiver, he will have to sit out the 2019-20 season and have three years of eligibility remaining.
Houston lands top transfer Grimes from Kansas
Former Kansas guard Quentin Grimes, the best transfer player still available in ESPN's rankings, chose the Cougars over Texas A&M.
College basketball's winners and losers of the NBA draft deadline
Wednesday was the deadline for player entry in the 2019 NBA draft. Here are the college teams with bigger (or fewer) worries.
UNC a big mover in Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2019-20
North Carolina secured the services of Cole Anthony, and makes a big move up the college basketball preseason rankings for 2019-20.
Loaded Michigan State leads Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2019-20
The Spartans have nearly everyone back from their Final Four team and project as next season's team to beat.
Sampson signs long-term deal with Houston
Kelvin Sampson, who had been a candidate for the Arkansas job, has signed a contract extension to remain at Houston through the 2024-25 season.
Herro late 3-pointer lifts Kentucky over Houston, to Elite 8
Tyler Herro hit a 3-pointer with 25.8 seconds left to give Kentucky the lead after Houston had erased a double-digit lead, and the Wildcats escaped their NCAA Midwest Regional semifinal with a 62-58 win over Houston Friday night.
Jay Bilas' NCAA tournament rankings: Sweet 16 edition
The cream has risen to the top in the 2019 NCAA tournament. The Bilastrator is here to ID the creamiest of the Sweet 16.
Ranking the Sweet 16 teams by tradition -- 2019 NCAA tournament
Sixteen programs remain in the 2019 NCAA tournament. Not all 16 fan bases have an equal level of expectation for what happens next.
Courtside: Sweet 16, Elite 8 Preview
Seth Greenberg, Dan Dakich and Chris Cotter break down every game of the Sweet 16, including those in the South (2:05), Midwest (10:08), East (17:10) and West (26:33). Plus, they look ahead to potential Elite 8 matchups (32:35). Who will advance to the Final 4 in Minneapolis? The guys discuss!
Reseeding the 2019 NCAA tournament field for the Sweet 16
There are a whole lot of familiar faces in this Sweet 16. Here's how we're ranking them heading into the second weekend.
Houston moves into Sweet 16 for first time in 35 years
Houston's fans chanted "Sweet 16" in the final minute of the Cougars' NCAA Tournament win over Ohio State.
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
With the victory over Ohio State, Houston is back in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since the Hakeem Olajuwon/Clyde Drexler, Phi Slama Jama era (1984).
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
Points in the paint: Houston 24, Ohio State 6. Confounding, considering how much Kaleb Wesson dominated off the block inside during the Friday win over Iowa State. The Buckeyes' perimeter shooting is keeping them in the game, though. They're 10 of 23 from downtown.
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
Houston's Corey Davis Jr. and Ohio State's Keyshawn Woods got into a scuffle just as the first half buzzer sounded. Officials are reviewing to see what exactly happened.
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
Fresh off a Houston NCAA tournament record seven 3s made, Corey Davis Jr. has two early ones from downtown against Ohio State. The Buckeyes can't afford to let Davis get going again.
Reseeding the 2019 NCAA tournament field for the round of 32
We started with 68 on Tuesday night. Now we're down to 32. Here's how we rank them heading into Saturday.
Houston gets comfortable in NCAA tourney, routs Georgia St.
It's beginning to look like old times for Houston in the NCAA Tournament.
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
Houston's Corey Davis Jr. produced one of the finest openers of this NCAA Tournament. Davis broke an American Athletic Conference with seven made 3s in an NCAA Tournament game, to go along with 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists without a turnover. The Cougars roll by 30.
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
The record for most 3s by a Houston player in an NCAA Tournament game was five, per ESPN Stats & Info. Corey Davis Jr. has six tonight and counting...
Jake Trotter ESPN Staff Writer
Houston's stingy defense is smothering Georgia State. Through one half, the Panthers have only two assists and are shooting just 36 percent from the field. The Panthers are either going to have to start making contested 3s -- they're capable -- or moving the ball better to get back in this one.
Cincinnati defeats Houston 69-57 for AAC title
Jarron Cumberland had 33 points and eight rebounds to lead No. 24 Cincinnati past No. 11 Houston 69-57 for the championship of the American Athletic Conference on Sunday.
2018-19 American Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 16-2 | - | 33-4 |
| Cincinnati | 14-4 | 2 | 28-7 |
| UCF | 13-5 | 3 | 24-9 |
| Temple | 13-5 | 3 | 23-10 |
| Memphis | 11-7 | 5 | 22-14 |
| Wichita State | 10-8 | 6 | 22-15 |
| South Florida | 8-10 | 8 | 24-14 |
| Tulsa | 8-10 | 8 | 18-14 |
| UConn | 6-12 | 10 | 16-17 |
| SMU | 6-12 | 10 | 15-17 |
| East Carolina | 3-15 | 13 | 10-21 |
| Tulane | 0-18 | 16 | 4-27 |
Team Stats
Points Per Game75.8
Rebounds Per Game40.8
Assists Per Game15.0
Points Allowed60.86th
2020 Recruits
| NAME |
|---|
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Tournament History
| Final Fours | 5 |
| Tournament Record | 26-24 |
| Championship Seasons | None |
| Tournament Appearances | 19 |