Houston Men's Basketball 2026 NCAA Tournament Capsule

 
Houston Cougars
 
Big 12 (28-6, 14-4)
 
 
Big Wins: 1/6 Texas Tech (69-65), 3/13 vs Kansas (69-47)
Bad Losses: 11/25 vs Tennessee (73-76), 1/24 at Texas Tech (86-90)
Coach: Kelvin Sampson
 
Probable Starters:
Chris Cenac Jr., Freshman, Forward, 9.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg
Joseph Tugler, Junior, Forward, 8.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.5 bpg
Kingston Flemings, Freshman, Guard, 16.4 ppg, 5.3 apg, 3.9 rpg, 1.6 spg
Milos Uzan, Senior, Guard, 11.1 ppg, 4.0 apg, 2.6 rpg
Emanuel Sharp, Senior, Guard, 15.3 ppg, 1.8 apg, 2.9 rpg
 
Key Role Players:
Kalifa Sakho, Senior, Forward, 2.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg
Isiah Harwell, Freshman, Guard, 3.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Chase McCarty, Freshman, Forward, 4.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Mercy Miller, Sophomore, Guard, 4.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg
 
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 77.6 (141st in nation, 11th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 62.7 (3, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.1 (194, 12)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.3 (22, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.9 (97, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.5 (166, 11)
Free-Throw Percentage: 77.1 (25, 1)
Rebound Margin: 3.0 (101, 7)
Assists Per Game: 15.0 (115, 10)
Turnovers Per Game: 8.3 (1, 1)
 
Recent Postseason Appearances:
 
2025NCAARound of 64 win over SIUE
2025NCAARound of 32 win over Gonzaga
2025NCAARegional Semifinal win over Purdue
2025NCAARegional Final win over Tennessee
2025NCAANational Semifinal win over Duke
2025NCAANational Final loss to Florida
2024NCAARound of 64 win over Longwood
2024NCAARound of 32 win over Texas A&M
2024NCAARegional Semifinal loss to Duke
2023NCAARound of 64 win over Northern Kentucky
2023NCAARound of 32 win over Auburn
2023NCAARegional Semifinal los to Miami FL
2022NCAARound of 64 win over UAB
2022NCAARound of 32 win over Illinois
2022NCAARegional Semifinal win over Arizona
2022NCAARegional Final loss to Villanova
2021NCAARound of 64 win over Cleveland State
2021NCAARound of 32 win over Rutgers
2021NCAARegional Semifinal win over Syracuse
2021NCAARegional Final win over Oregon State
2021NCAANational Semifinal loss to Baylor
2019NCAARound of 64 win over Georgia State
2019NCAARound of 32 win over Ohio State
2019NCAARegional Semifinal loss to Kentucky
2018NCAARound o f 64 win over San Diego State
2018NCAARound of 32 loss to Michigan
2017NITFirst Round loss to Akron
2016NITFirst Round loss to Georgia Tech
2013CBIFirst Round win over Texas
2013CBIQuarterfinal loss to George Mason
2010NCAARound of 64 loss to Maryland
2009CBIFirst Round loss to Oregon State
2008CBIFirst Round win over Nevada
2008CBISecond Round win over Valparaiso
2008CBISemifinal loss to Tulsa
2006NITFirst Round win over BYU
2006NITSecond Round loss to Missouri State
2005NITOpening Round loss to Wichita State
 
*all team stats through 3/8