When the University of Houston officially joined the Big 12 conference in July 2023, there were many outside UH who did not believe the basketball program was capable of instant success in the new conference.
That has been proven wrong over the last two seasons, as Houston basketball has won back to back Big 12 regular season titles, and won the 2025 Big 12 tournament championship over Arizona, 72-64. The Cougars have more Big 12 titles than seasons spent in the conference so far.
Over the past two Big 12 seasons, Houston has a 34-4 record which is beyond incredible and has caught the eye of the entire nation.
“I am shocked. I thought it would take some time to adjust to the caliber of the Big 12. It speaks volumes about how they recruit,” ESPN GameDay analyst Jay Williams said. “The foundation here is portable and that can be dropped in any conference and it will translate to success. I am shocked that it translated so quickly to dominance.”
The Cougars went 19-1 in conference play this season, which is the best record and most wins in Big 12 single season history. Overall, this 2024-25 Big 12 season has to be considered the greatest of all time in the history of the conference.
Houston became the first program to win two straight regular season titles after joining a major conference in more than 100 years, with the last being Idaho in 1923. The 2024-25 team was the fifth in school history to win both the conference regular season and tournament championship.
Other prominent achievements include a now three game win streak over Kansas, as UH beat the Jayhawks on an emotional senior night in the home finale, 65-59. In typical Houston fashion, the Cougars forced 20 turnovers and 16 steals, en route to out rebounding KU and put up 26 more shots.
How did this happen? Well, the program and culture stayed the same, the results just got more impressive now that Houston is in a power-four conference, arguably the best college basketball conference in the country in the Big 12.
The reality is that the way Houston plays, they are suited to compete and be successful in any situation. The Cougars have made seven straight conference championships going back to the American Athletic conference.
Going into the Big 12 was not even something that was mentioned a lot by Kelvin Sampson during last season as he prepared the team the same using the same principles.
“A lot of people were down on this team because they came from the American, but a team that plays that hard can go to any conference and win,” graduate guard LJ Cryer said.
When the Cougars started the season with a 4-3 record and losses to Auburn, Alabama and San Diego State, many had taken Houston off of their radar. Head coach Kelvin Sampson said at the point that “they will hear about us later.”
“We’ve got to be consistent in not making those detailed mistakes. When we do that, we’ll start winning,” Sampson said.
Win they did. Since that point on Nov 23, UH has only lost one game, that too in overtime to no. 9 Texas Tech. The Cougars haven’t even lost in regulation since Nov. 9 in that tightly contested game vs Auburn. In all those losses, Houston also had the lead and was in a position to win.
“It tested us early, because that’s how some of the games will be in March. Playing tournament teams early exposed us to our strengths and weaknesses for stuff we can work on going into the big 12,” Roberts said.
With another 30 win season, Houston went 26-1 the rest of the way, and won both the Big 12 regular season and tournament title.
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Those early November losses ended up being a key learning moment from the team, as they haven’t looked back since. The Cougars had a reason for playing those competitive games early to quickly improve from that point on.
“I’d rather us lose those games and learn from it than win and pay the price for it later on,” junior guard Emanuel Sharp said.
Even in the 2024 Big 12 season when Houston started 1-2, there was concern and talk for the Cougars facing tougher competition. UH then went 14-1 in the conference, and won the first outright Big 12 title in program history.
The talk this year was having former point guard and leader Jamal Shead leave, but the Cougars culture of tough defense, rebounding and effort will always keep them competitive. Houston brought back four starters this season, which extended their bench. Junior point guard Milos Uzan continued to grow and eventually broke out during conference play as well.
The team ended up learning how to improve early in November instead of potentially late in March, where the consequences are season ending. UH was battle tested early through adversity and the results have been showing.
“That is what was best for our team, so we can learn early. Every year we start 13-0 heading into conference play so this year it’s a different look for us and that’s a good thing,” Sharp said. “We’re trying to get further in the tournament this year, further than the sweet 16 and elite eight and this year we can do it.”
Big 12 Success on the Road
Most notably, UH went undefeated on the road in Big 12 games with a mark of 10-0, the best in conference history. The Cougars will carry their 14 game road winning streak, the longest in college basketball, into the next season.
Houston wrapped up the regular season with a come from behind win over Baylor in Waco, 65-61. Houston was down heading into halftime, but once again stepped up in the second half. Former Baylor Bear Cryer had 23 in the effort.
UH also got prominent road wins at Kansas (Allen Fieldhouse), Arizona (McKale Center), Texas Tech, Kansas State, West Virginia and UCF.
“I like that villain role, going onto somebody else’s court and win,” Sharp said.
Like the rest of the team, sophomore guard Terrance Arceneaux loves playing in those road games.
“Seeing their fans get quiet after we win the game and we’re hype, it’s a fun feeling,” Arceneaux said.
This was the first Big 12 season for Arceneaux as well, a difference from last season where he went down with a torn achilles in December 2023.
Arceneaux had mentioned how Houston came into the conference this season with a target on their back, so they had to stay together and keep playing hard. The Cougars were also more versatile in the Big 12 season this season, having the ability to play four guards in the lineup.
This is something UH was comfortable with in the semi final and championship of the Big 12 tournament, with the Beaumont native entering the starting five in place of Roberts, where he can play the four.
“We’re set up and ready for anything,” Arceneaux said, who also believes he is a much better rebounder this season.
The historic road success and making every opponent’s stadium the Coogs’ House shows the kind of team they are, where nothing has fazed them.
It’s the ability to stick to the culture of playing hard defense and rebounding that allows Houston to win Big 12 games even when things don’t go perfect or if there is a bad shooting night.
The team understands that they can’t take the night off on any day due to the level of competition in the conference.
“We’re built for it, we’re ready for the moment,” graduate forward J’Wan Roberts said.