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2023–24 Houston Cougars men's basketball team

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2023–24 Houston Cougars men's basketball
Big 12 regular season champions
Charleston Classic champions
NCAA tournament, Sweet Sixteen
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 3
Record32–5 (15–3 Big 12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • K.C. Beard
  • Kellen Sampson
  • Quannas White
Home arenaFertitta Center
Seasons
2023–24 Big 12 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No.Houston 15 3   .833 32 5   .865
No. 8 Iowa State 13 5   .722 29 8   .784
No. 16 Baylor 11 7   .611 24 11   .686
Texas Tech 11 7   .611 23 11   .676
BYU 10 8   .556 23 11   .676
No. 19 Kansas 10 8   .556 23 11   .676
Texas 9 9   .500 21 13   .618
TCU 9 9   .500 21 13   .618
Oklahoma 8 10   .444 20 12   .625
Kansas State 8 10   .444 19 15   .559
Cincinnati 7 11   .389 22 15   .595
UCF 7 11   .389 17 16   .515
Oklahoma State 4 14   .222 12 20   .375
West Virginia 4 14   .222 9 23   .281
2024 Big 12 tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2023–24 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represented the University of Houston in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars were led by tenth-year head coach Kelvin Sampson. The team played their home games at the Fertitta Center as first-year members of the Big 12 Conference.

Houston finished the regular season 28–3, 15–3 in conference play, and were regular-season champions of the Big 12 in their first year in the conference. In the Big 12 tournament, Houston defeated TCU and Texas Tech before losing to Iowa State in the championship game. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the #1 seed in the South Regional. They defeated Longwood in the First Round and Texas A&M in overtime in the Second Round to advance to their fifth consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearance. There they were defeated by Duke after losing their starting point guard, Jamal Shead, to an ankle sprain during the game.

Previous season

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The Cougars finished the 2022–23 season 29–2, 17–1 in AAC play to win the AAC regular season championship. They defeated East Carolina and Cincinnati to advance to the AAC tournament championship game where they lost to Memphis. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the #1 seed in the Midwest Regional. They defeated Northern Kentucky and Auburn to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth consecutive year. There they lost to Miami (FL).

On November 28, 2022, the team reached the number one ranking in the AP Poll, marking the first time they had held the top spot since 1983. The season marked Houston's last as a member of the AAC. They became a member of the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023.[1][2]

Offseason

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Departing players

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Houston Departing Players
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Marcus Sasser 0 G 6'2" 195 Senior Dallas, TX Graduated/declared for the 2023 NBA draft; selected 25th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies
Darius Bowser 4 C 6'9" 250 Graduate Student Gaffney, SC Exhausted eligibility
Tramon Mark 12 G 6'5" 195 Redshirt Sophomore Dickinson, TX Transferred to Arkansas
Jarace Walker 25 F 6'8" 240 Freshman New Freedom, PA Declared for the 2023 NBA draft; selected 8th overall by the Washington Wizards
Reggie Chaney 32 F 6'8" 230 Graduate Student Tulsa, OK Exhausted eligibility

Incoming transfers

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Houston Incoming Transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
LJ Cryer 4 G 6'1" 185 Senior Katy, TX Baylor
Damian Dunn 11 G 6'5" 195 Redshirt Senior Kinston, NC Temple

2023 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Kordelius Jefferson
CG
Arlington, TX Martin High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) May 16, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 79
Joseph Tugler
PF / C
Houston, TX Cypress Falls High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) May 25, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN grade: 83
Jacob McFarland
C
Moreno Valley, CA Rancho Verde High School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sep 23, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN grade: 82
Cedric Lath
C
Abidjan, Ivory Coast Balboa School (CA) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Nov 16, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: RivalsN/A   247Sports:3/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:   247Sports: 23
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.

Roster

[edit]
2023–24 Houston Cougars men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 1 Jamal Shead 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Manor HS Manor, TX
C 2 Cedric Lath 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 265 lb (120 kg) RS Fr Balboa School Abidjan, Ivory Coast
G 3 Ramon Walker Jr. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Shadow Creek HS Pearland, TX
G 4 LJ Cryer 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Baylor Katy, TX
F 5 Ja'Vier Francis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Jr Montverde Academy New Orleans, LA
G 8 Mylik Wilson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) RS Sr Texas Tech Rayville, LA
G 11 Damian Dunn 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS Sr Temple Kinston, NC
C 12 Jacob McFarland Current redshirt 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Rancho Verde HS Moreno Valley, CA
F 13 J'Wan Roberts 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) RS Sr Shoemaker HS Saint Thomas, USVI
G 15 Kordelius Jefferson Current redshirt 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Martin HS Arlington, TX
G 20 Ryan Elvin (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Sr Cedar Ridge HS Round Rock, TX
G 21 Emanuel Sharp 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS So Bishop McLaughlin CHS Tampa, FL
G 23 Terrance Arceneaux 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Beaumont United HS Beaumont, TX
F 25 Joseph Tugler 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Fr Cypress Falls HS Houston, TX
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 28, 2023*
3:00 p.m.
No. 7 UNC Pembroke W 86–47 
 21  Cryer   9  Tugler   8  Shead  Fertitta Center (6,746)
Houston, TX
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 7 Louisiana–Monroe W 84–31  1–0
 20  Sharp   7  Tied   8  Shead  Fertitta Center (6,832)
Houston, TX
November 11, 2023*
12:30 p.m., ESPN+
No. 7 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi W 82–50  2–0
 17  Roberts   9  Roberts   4  Tied  Fertitta Center (7,145)
Houston, TX
November 13, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 6 Stetson W 79–48  3–0
 21  Cryer   7  Francis   8  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,104)
Houston, TX
November 16, 2023*
5:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 6 vs. Towson
Charleston Classic quarterfinals
W 65–49  4–0
 18  Cryer   11  Roberts   8  Shead  TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
November 17, 2023*
3:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 6 vs. Utah
Charleston Classic semifinals
W 76–66  5–0
 15  Sharp   12  Roberts   5  Shead  TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
November 19, 2023*
7:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 6 vs. Dayton
Charleston Classic championship
W 69–55  6–0
 18  Cryer   9  Francis   4  Shead  TD Arena (3,841)
Charleston, SC
November 24, 2023*
3:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 6 Montana W 79–44  7–0
 24  Cryer   9  Arceneaux   7  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,451)
Houston, TX
December 1, 2023*
5:30 p.m., FS1
No. 6 at Xavier
Big East–Big 12 Battle
W 66–60  8–0
 23  Cryer   12  Roberts   4  Tied  Cintas Center (10,472)
Cincinnati, OH
December 6, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 3 Rice
Rivalry
W 75–39  9–0
 15  Cryer   9  Arceneaux   8  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,159)
Houston, TX
December 9, 2023*
3:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 3 Jackson State W 89–55  10–0
 25  Sharp   10  Arceneaux   6  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,122)
Houston, TX
December 16, 2023*
1:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 4 vs. Texas A&M
The Halal Guys Showcase
W 70–66  11–0
 21  Sharp   11  Roberts   8  Shead  Toyota Center (12,152)
Houston, TX
December 21, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 3 Texas State W 72–37  12–0
 17  Sharp   7  Wilson   3  Cryer  Fertitta Center (7,231)
Houston, TX
December 30, 2023*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 3 Penn W 81–42  13–0
 16  Cryer   9  Francis   4  Tied  Fertitta Center (7,216)
Houston, TX
Big 12 regular season
January 6, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 3 West Virginia W 89–55  14–0
(1–0)
 20  Cryer   7  Sharp   11  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,387)
Houston, TX
January 9, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 2 at Iowa State L 53–57  14–1
(1–1)
 20  Sharp   8  Roberts   3  Tied  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
January 13, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 2 at TCU L 67–68  14–2
(1–2)
 20  Roberts   13  Roberts   5  Tied  Schollmaier Arena (6,151)
Fort Worth, TX
January 17, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPNU
No. 5 No. 25 Texas Tech W 77–54  15–2
(2–2)
 29  Shead   7  Roberts   10  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,586)
Houston, TX
January 20, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 5 UCF W 57–42  16–2
(3–2)
 16  Cryer   7  Tied   5  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,184)
Houston, TX
January 23, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 4 at No. 21 BYU W 75–68  17–2
(4–2)
 23  Cryer   9  Sharp   4  Shead  Marriott Center (16,553)
Provo, UT
January 27, 2024
11:00 a.m., ESPN
No. 4 Kansas State W 74–52  18–2
(5–2)
 17  Shead   8  Francis   3  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,260)
Houston, TX
January 29, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 4 at Texas W 76–72 OT 19–2
(6–2)
 25  Shead   8  Tied   4  Shead  Moody Center (11,313)
Austin, TX
February 3, 2024
3:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 4 at No. 8 Kansas L 65–78  19–3
(6–3)
 24  Cryer   13  Roberts   9  Shead  Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
February 6, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 5 Oklahoma State W 79–63  20–3
(7–3)
 23  Shead   6  Tied   4  Tied  Fertitta Center (7,205)
Houston, TX
February 10, 2024
3:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 5 at Cincinnati W 67–62  21–3
(8–3)
 20  Roberts   8  Roberts   4  Shead  Fifth Third Arena (12,715)
Cincinnati, OH
February 17, 2024
12:00 p.m., CBS
No. 3 Texas W 82–61  22–3
(9–3)
 26  Cryer   11  Shead   6  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,904)
Houston, TX
February 19, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 2 No. 6 Iowa State W 73–65  23–3
(10–3)
 26  Shead   7  Francis   6  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,895)
Houston, TX
February 24, 2024
11:00 a.m., CBS
No. 2 at No. 11 Baylor W 82–76 OT 24–3
(11–3)
 18  Sharp   8  Roberts   10  Shead  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
February 27, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 1 Cincinnati W 67–59  25–3
(12–3)
 22  Cryer   5  Tied   11  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,352)
Houston, TX
March 2, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 1 at Oklahoma W 87–85  26–3
(13–3)
 23  Cryer   5  Tied   6  Shead  Lloyd Noble Center (10,960)
Norman, OK
March 6, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 1 at UCF W 67–59  27–3
(14–3)
 25  Cryer   8  Francis   8  Shead  Addition Financial Arena (9,390)
Orlando, FL
March 9, 2024
3:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 1 No. 14 Kansas W 76–46  28–3
(15–3)
 13  Shead   8  Roberts   8  Shead  Fertitta Center (7,933)
Houston, TX
Big 12 tournament
March 14, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN
(1) No. 1 vs. (8) TCU
Quarterfinals
W 60–45  29–3
 14  Sharp   10  Roberts   5  Shead  T-Mobile Center (17,186)
Kansas City, MO
March 15, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN2
(1) No. 1 vs. (4) No. 25 Texas Tech
Semifinals
W 82–59  30–3
 20  Cryer   9  Francis   10  Shead  T-Mobile Center (19,135)
Kansas City, MO
March 16, 2024
5:00 p.m., ESPN
(1) No. 1 vs. (2) No. 7 Iowa State
Championship
L 41–69  30–4
 10  Shead   10  Wilson   3  Shead  T-Mobile Center (19,135)
Kansas City, MO
NCAA tournament
March 22, 2024
8:20 p.m., TNT
(1 S) No. 2 vs. (16 S) Longwood
First Round
W 86–46  31–4
 17  Tied   6  Wilson   9  Shead  FedExForum (13,797)
Memphis, TN
March 24, 2024
7:40 p.m., TNT
(1 S) No. 2 vs. (9 S) Texas A&M
Second Round
W 100–95 OT 32–4
 30  Sharp   8  Roberts   10  Shead  FedExForum (13,506)
Memphis, TN
March 29, 2024
8:39 p.m., CBS
(1 S) No. 2 vs. (4 S) No. 13 Duke
Sweet Sixteen
L 51–54  32–5
 15  Cryer   8  Tied   3  Shead  American Airlines Center (18,751)
Dallas, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
S=South region.
All times are in Central Time.

Source[3]

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP76663 (3)4 (1)3 (8)3 (9)3 (9)2 (7)544 (1)5321 (53)1 (52)1 (52)2 (1)3
Coaches66652 (5)3 (3)3 (9)3 (7)3 (8)2 (10)5445321 (25)1 (28)1 (29)23

References

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  1. ^ "American Announces Agreements With UCF, Cincinnati and Houston on Departure" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Deal lets Cincy, Houston, UCF join Big 12 in 2023". ESPN.com. June 10, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  3. ^ "2023–24 Men's Basketball Schedule". uhcougars.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.