3 Takeaways: Houston Basketball’s Performance At Players Era Tournament

Houston basketball wrapped up the Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas last week, and it was a mixed bag of results. The Cougars went 2-1 during the tournament this season after struggling with a 1-2 record in 2024. 

Houston is now 7-1 on the early season and took on some quality competition as the Cougars continue to test themselves and learn. Houston notably started 4-3 last year after this tournament and won 31 of their next 32 to reach the national championship. Here are three takeaways from the three games they played. 

Takeaway #1: Veteran experience came through against Syracuse

Houston basketball went against the Orange on Monday night in their first game of the Players Era, and it was expected to be a comfortable Cougars win. That was not the case at all. Houston and Syracuse continuously went back and forth in an entertaining game that went to overtime. UH was able to come out on top 78-74 in a surprising thriller. 

Syracuse was in the lead for the majority of the first half and was right there, matching Houston’s physicality in all facets. The Cougars took control with under five minutes to go and increased their lead to 11. However, UH went on a three-minute scoring drought, and Syracuse miraculously tied it at 67 to send it to overtime. 

Houston’s two senior guards, Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp, delivered when the Cougars needed them the most. The two experienced leaders showed their composure as they’ve been in these moments before. UH scored 11 points in overtime, and those two contributed all of them. 

Uzan started the period with a layup, and Sharp gave the Cougars a five-point lead after hitting back-to-back jumpers, including a 3-pointer. Uzan wrapped up the game by going 4/4 from the free throw line. Sharp and Uzan each scored 26 points on the night, and they combined for seven 3-pointers. Uzan added seven rebounds and five assists. 

Takeaway #2: Physicality at its highest

Houston basketball suffered its first loss of the season against No. 17 Tennessee in a tight 76-73 defeat. Both teams play a very physical style of basketball, and ultimately, the Volunteers were the ones who came out on top. A big discrepancy in the matchup came at the free throw line, and head coach Kelvin Sampson was not pleased about that. 

Given that Tennessee had 18 more free throw attempts, his complaint was valid. Both teams were driving to the rims and attacking, but the calls against Houston were more consistent than the calls against the Volunteers. Tennessee deserves credit for knocking down 23-of-29 shots at the line, but Houston only had 11 attempts. That did not help the Cougars, but it was not the only reason why they lost. 

Houston basketball was up by double digits multiple times in the first half and even held an advantage in the second half. The Cougars’ offense went on more than a five-minute scoring drought from 15:46 to the 8:22 mark in the second half as the Vols took the lead and never gave it up. Part of that may be not getting the foul calls at the rim.

“The thing that keeps you out of that (drought) is the free throw line. That’s the difference. Look how many free throws they shot…that’s why we told our guards to drive it, and they did. Both teams were playing tough, aggressive defense,” Sampson said. 

The strong Houston defense also failed to get critical stops at the end. 

Either way, this was the highest quality opponent Houston played, and there was a lot to learn. Freshman point guard Kingston Flemings once again announced his presence at the highest level as he scored an incredible early career high 25 points on 10/15 shooting, and kept the Cougars in it right till the end.

Takeaway #3: Late collapses

Houston basketball struggled in stretches offensively in each of the three games, and that was surprisingly on display against Notre Dame in the final Player’s Era game. While the Cougars won 66-56 over the Fighting Irish, Houston was completely dominating early. 

UH quickly got out to a 22-point lead as they were on fire from downtown; however, the Coogs became silent for the final three minutes. Notre Dame cut the deficit down to 14 at halftime and eventually made it all the way down to four points with over 12 minutes to go. 

The Cougars’ offense once again went on another scoring drought of more than three minutes that gave the Irish a chance to come back. It was a close game, but Houston had it under control and made all their free throws. 

The late scoring droughts in each of the games really hurt them, especially against the Volunteers. It looked like the game against the Irish would be a blowout, but that was not the case. Houston has to work on their ability to create better shots and more ball movement to put games away when they have the chance.