The 2024-25 season was a season of firsts for Houston under legendary coach Kelvin Sampson: It was the first to win the Big 12 by at least four games since Baylor in 2020-21; it was the first in school history in men’s and women’s basketball to achieve 35 total wins, eclipsing the previous record of 33 set in 2022-23; and it was the first UH men’s hoops team in the modern era since the bracket expanded to play in the final game of the college basketball season.
Now the Cougars are back on the prowl hunting for a sweeter finish to offset the sour — and incomprehensible — note they left off on last season.
Gone are LJ Cryer and J’Wan Roberts from that special team, the leading scorer and the primary vessel of courage and toughness, respectively. But back are the following: Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan, Joseph Tugler and Mercy Miller.
They also add in five-star freshman Chris Cenac Jr. as part of a four-player signing class that ranked No. 2 in the Team Rankings for the 2025 cycle. If any team is worthy of preseason No. 1 status given its returners and additions, it’s the Cougars. There’s a real chance they have the best defensive player in college basketball (Tugler), the best veteran guard in college basketball (Uzan), the best coach in college basketball (Sampson) and two lottery-level freshmen in Cenac Jr. and Isiah Harwell.
Purdue, Duke and Kansas all have strong cases to be preseason No. 1. But for my money: there is Houston, and there is everyone else.
Here’s what I’m expecting next season.
The Houston Cougars suffered utter heartbreak in the National Championship game last April. The team will be a bit younger this year, but the sky is the limit for the Cougars. Can they avenge that heartbreak next season? Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander discuss the 2025-2026 Houston Cougars in the 2nd episode of the 2025 Summer Shootaround.
Projected starting lineup
PG Milos Uzan | 6-4 | 190 |…
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