March Madness is officially here and for Houston Cougars fans, it’s the most special time of the year. Houston basketball is back in the NCAA tournament for the seventh straight year, and for the third consecutive time as a number one seed. Keep reading for three reasons why Houston can win it all.
Houston NCAA tournament information
Region: Midwest (No. 1 seed)
First round opponent: No. 16 seed SIUE, Thursday at 1 p.m. CST
Potential threats in the region:, no. 9 Georgia, no. 8 Gonzaga, no. 5 Clemson, no.4 Purdue, no. 3 Kentucky, no.2 Tennessee
After sweeping the 2024-25 Big 12 titles, Houston had a watch party on Sunday and saw themselves with yet another number one seed, something that did not come to a surprise as the Cougars went on an incredible run to finish the season on a 13 game win streak, ranked no. 2 overall in the AP poll.
However, head coach Kelvin Sampson does not take it for granted at all.
“I started in a school that didn’t care about basketball, now we are where we are and I still remember those days where we had to beg for everything,” Sampson said. “Now to be where we are today is awesome, I also know how fortunate you have to be to make the tournament.”
The selection show gave the team a chance to realize the opportunity that is in front of them after all the hard work that was put in for months leading up to this moment.
“We started this back in June, waking up at six in the morning, working out every day, and going into March, it’s thinking about all the sacrifices we make to get to this point,” junior guard Emanuel Sharp said.
The uncharacteristic 4-3 start to the season with tougher competition strengthened the Cougars and helped bring them to this point.
“Not many of our previous teams have struggled early in the season like we did, and that helped us win out in the Big 12. That got us ready, this team has a different feeling about it,” Sharp said.
While Houston has the right mindset, here are three reasons why UH will be the ones to cut down the nets in San Antonio and win the national championship.
#1: Shooting
What was considered to be one of the weaknesses of Houston over the years has turned into one of their strengths. The strong shooting of the Cougars this season, currently ranked third in the country in three-point percentage at just under 40%, has been considered a huge jump in potential and one of the main reasons why this team can be the one to get it done.
“This is the best shooting team that I’ve been a part of,” redshirt sophomore guard Terrance Arceneaux said.
Houston has three players shoot over 40% from beyond the arc, junior point guard Milos Uzan at 43%, and two of the best shooters in the game with junior guard Emanuel Sharp (43%) and graduate guard LJ Cryer at 42%. Both Sharp and Cryer rank in the top 10 of the Big 12 in 3-pointers made.
Not only them, but Arceneaux can get hot and make threes, along with graduate guard Mylik Wilson who has improved his shot so much with a 39% clip from three. Wilson drilled the game-tying three in overtime at Kansas as part of the incredible comeback Houston had in January.
The Cougars have also improved their free throw percentages, something that was considered a big weakness before. Both Cryer and Sharp shoot around 90% from the line, with Sharp having the second best percentage in the Big 12. Uzan, Arceneaux, Wilson and even Roberts have been able to consistently make them when needed recently. Roberts has improved from 51% last season to 64% now.
Even senior forward Ja’Vier Francis, who was shooting just 52% from the free throw line last season, has improved to 71% this season.
Kelvin Sampson implemented the plan that whoever needs to work on their free throws has to make 150 a day. Clearly, that has been working.
In the tournament, there will be times where the offense gets stagnant and some players aren’t making shots, but this team has what it takes to overcome that, with stingy defense and many offensive playmakers who can each take over on any given night.
“Having a plethora of shooters and guys that can take on that load is the differentiation between this team and those teams before,” ESPN GameDay analyst Jay Williams said, who was a great shooter during his days at Duke.
While Williams believes this is the most talented team under Sampson, at the same time it doesn’t mean their run will be deeper. It can come down to what the bracket looks like as well as having some luck on your side.
#2: Depth
What has hurt Houston in the past at times was a lack of depth, a lot of times due to injury. With this Cougars team at the moment, they are almost fully healthy heading into the NCAA tournament. Even if you have depth, you need quality players off the bench and that is exactly what UH has.
“Every player is a starter on this team, we’ve got a lot of confidence in our bench,” Roberts said.
Arceneaux is a strong offensive scorer inside the paint who also has the ability to take over with his streaky shooting from three. The sixth man is also a great rebounder and holds his own defensively with his versatility, even playing the four at times.
Wilson, who had his career moment at Kansas, now has a great jump shot in the midrange and from beyond the arc. Wilson is an excellent defender who can steal, and is considered Houston’s best rebounding guard, according to Sampson.
Finally, the big man off the bench is senior forward Ja’Vier Francis, who has a lot of experience. Francis was the starting big man for the Cougars last season on a Big 12 title team that made it to the sweet 16. Francis is a crucial piece for Houston basketball, who obviously makes his mark in rebounding and defense, but also can score inside the paint and get crucial points when things break down.
The depth was on full display on the national stage in the Big 12 tournament. When Roberts went down with a sprained ankle in the quarterfinal vs Colorado, the results did not change.
“When a brother is down, the next man is up and they took care of that,” Roberts said.
Houston won the semifinal vs BYU and championship vs Arizona, even with their leader down and someone who is considered that guy by Seth Greenberg of ESPN College GameDay. This team does have the ability to step up even with a crucial player missing.
“It shows our heart knowing that one of our best players, if not the best player on your team, is down and we were able to rally together and still find a way to win,” Sharp said. “That’s what matters, and that speaks to the culture and toughness to pull together and win without a player like J’Wan.”
With the unfortunate injuries the past three seasons to Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark in 2022, to Sasser again in the conference tournament the next season and then Shead in the middle of the sweet 16 game last season, the health hasn’t been there. Hopefully for Houston, 2025 is where luck stays on their side.
“One thing I’ve learned over the years with seeding is that I’d rather have health than seed. When I pray, I don’t pray for a 2, 3 or 1, I pray that we stay healthy. For us, it just comes down to whether this team stays healthy,” Sampson said.
#3: Heating up at the right time
While Houston basketball may have started off slow in November, the Coogs have won 26 out of their last 27 entering the first round and have not lost in regulation since the second game of the season on Nov. 9 to Auburn. Uzan is playing at a career high level, along with Emanuel Sharp completely back to his best. In order to win six games in a row in a single elimination tournament, you have to be on a streak.
“I think we’re playing our best basketball. Emanuel’s ankle is good, J’Wan is coming back, we’re going in the right direction,” Uzan said. “We’re reaching every goal we’ve set for ourselves and we’re trying to get one more.”
Cryer, who feels blessed to be part of this run, mentioned you can’t overwork yourself heading in, instead you’ve got to be somewhat relaxed.
However, once in the game, it’s a whole other story. March Madness means another level of effort for these players to get it done.
“Sometimes you tell yourself that I’m tired and I can’t go anymore, but you’re not playing for yourself. When you’re tired, you’ve got to try and break through that,” Cryer said.
With plenty of magical upsets, a one seed like Houston cannot take anything lightly.
“In the tournament, every game is going to be hard, the moment you let up, that might be the turning point of the game,” Roberts said.
The experience of the Cougars can also play a factor. This is an older team for Houston, with three graduates in the rotation, along with players who have had at least multiple years in the program.
“Every year it’s the same amount of nerves, but once we get into the game, we’re comfortable,” Sharp said.
Houston basketball does not have to make this complicated. The Cougars don’t have to change, they just have to keep on playing with the right attitude and effort. UH has the second ranked scoring defense in the country at 58.5 PPG and also in the top 10 in turnover margin and turnovers per game.
“I’m excited, can’t wait to get it going and see what we do. I’m ready to hoop,” Uzan said, who has a 3.2 assist-turnover ratio, second in the big 12.
Sampson offered some honesty after the Big 12 championship win.
“We’ve played Auburn and Alabama, I don’t think we’re better than either one of those teams, but I think we can play with them,” Sampson said.
Houston basketball has what it takes to make the Final Four and win it all. While the path is not necessarily the easiest, if the Cougars keep playing the way they have, they’ll find themselves with a chance to make history.
“It’s my last go around and I’ve got to make this count,” Roberts said. “I don’t want to jinx it, but I think this is the one.”