Houston Cougars tip off March Madness play
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Emanuel Sharp (21) is gearing up for his final March Madness. Photo: Scott Wachter/Getty Images
The Houston Cougars men's basketball team is ready for a chance at redemption.
Why it matters: After last year's bitter loss to the Florida Gators in the championship game, the Coogs are ready to turn the page and make another deep run in the NCAA tournament.
Driving the news: Houston will face the Idaho Vandals on Thursday in Oklahoma City in the first round. Tipoff is at 9:10pm on truTV.
By the numbers: Houston earned the No. 2 seed in the South Region after reaching the Big 12 Tournament final, losing 79-74 to the Arizona Wildcats, which got the No. 1 seed in the West Region.
- The Cougars are 28-6 heading into the tournament.
The intrigue: Florida is the No. 1 seed in the South Region, setting up a potential rematch in the regional finals.
Catch up quick: The Cougars have earned tournament berths eight years in a row.
- In 2025, they reached their first national championship game since the Phi Slama Jama era of the 1980s. Houston also made it to the Final Four in 2021, the Elite Eight in 2022 and Sweet 16 in both 2023 and 2024.
Yes, but: As the team — and college basketball — has evolved over the years, head coach Kelvin Sampson is increasingly relying on freshman and less-experienced players to contend for this year's title.
- Eight of the 14 players on the roster are freshmen or sophomores, including Pearland native Bryce Jackson.
What they're saying: "This is the first time where we've jumped off the deep end and just depended on freshmen — and we paid the price in a lot of games," Sampson told the Houston Chronicle this week.
- "But I understood it. You just have to accept it. Once you make the decision, you don't get to second-guess it."
Between the lines: Veterans are also playing big roles.
- Fifth-year senior guard Emanuel Sharp is averaging 15.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this season.
- Guard Milos Uzan, also a fifth-year senior, is averaging 11.1 points, 4 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game.
What's next: Houston would face the Texas A&M Aggies in the second round if both teams with their first-round matchups.