Kristian Ferrell
The University of Houston's basketball team, the Cougars, compete in NCAA Division I. The Cougars have appeared in 26 NCAA tournaments, making it to the Final Four seven times, the most of any team that has never won a national championship. In 2021, the University of Houston joined the Big 12 Conference, along with Cincinnati, UCF, and BYU.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Division | I |
| Conference | Big 12 |
| Nickname | Cougars |
| Colours | Scarlet and White |
| NCAA tournament appearances | 26 |
| NCAA tournament record | 45–31 |
| Final Four appearances | 7 |
| National Invitation Tournament appearances | 11 |
| National Invitation Tournament record | 5–11 |
| College Basketball Invitational appearances | 3 |
| College Basketball Invitational record | 3–3 |
| NAIA tournament appearances | 2 |
| NAIA tournament record | 2–2 |
| NBA draftees | 49 |
| All-American selections | 14 |
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What You'll Learn
The Houston Cougars are Division I
The Houston Cougars basketball team is part of the University of Houston's athletics department. The Cougars compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournaments.
The Cougars have appeared in 26 NCAA tournaments, with a combined record of 45-31. They have made it to the Final Four of the tournament seven times, the most of any team that has not won a national championship. The team has also appeared in 11 National Invitation Tournaments (NIT), three College Basketball Invitationals (CBI), and two NAIA tournaments.
The Cougars have a rich history in college basketball, dating back to the 1980s when they suffered a close loss in the 1983 NCAA Final, which set a ratings record at the time. The team was known for its acrobatic and fast-paced style of play, popularized by coach Lewis.
In recent years, the Cougars have continued to find success on the court. They joined the Big 12 Conference in the 2023-24 season and claimed the regular season title in their first year. In the 2024-25 season, they had one of their best seasons, winning the Big 12 conference regular season and tournament titles, and advancing to the national championship game.
The Houston Cougars' success in Division I of the NCAA has solidified their place as a competitive force in college basketball.
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They joined the Big 12 Conference in 2023
The University of Houston's basketball team, the Houston Cougars, joined the Big 12 Conference in 2023. They began Big 12 play in the 2023-24 season. The Cougars are part of NCAA Division I and have appeared in 26 NCAA tournaments, with a combined record of 45-31. They have made it to the Final Four of the tournament seven times, the most of any team that has not won a national championship.
The Cougars have a rich history in college basketball, dating back to the 1980s when they were known as "Phi Slama Jama." During this era, the team played an exciting, up-tempo brand of basketball that emphasised dunking and featured future NBA superstars Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon. They reached the NCAA Final in 1983 and 1984 but lost both times. Despite these losses, their style of play captured the imagination of young players and helped popularise an acrobatic style of basketball.
In their first year as part of the Big 12 Conference, the Cougars had a successful season, going 32-5 overall and 15-3 in conference play, claiming an outright regular-season title. The following year, they continued their success, winning the Big 12 conference regular season and tournament titles. They entered the NCAA tournament as a #1 seed and advanced to the national championship game, narrowly losing to Florida in the final moments.
The University of Houston's basketball team has a proud tradition, and their entry into the Big 12 Conference in 2023 marked a new chapter in their history. The Cougars have continued to build on their legacy, achieving notable success in their new conference and on the national stage.
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The Cougars have appeared in 26 NCAA tournaments
The University of Houston's men's basketball team, the Cougars, play in Division I of the NCAA. The Cougars have enjoyed success in the NCAA Division I, making 26 tournament appearances. They have a combined record of 45–31 in these tournaments and have reached the Final Four seven times without winning a national championship.
The Cougars first qualified for the NCAA tournament in 1978, the same year the NCAA began seeding the tournament. They reached the NCAA Final in 1983 and 1984, losing to the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Georgetown Hoyas, respectively. These appearances marked the height of the Cougars' success, with the team suffering a dramatic, last-second loss to the Wolfpack in 1983 that set a ratings record for college basketball broadcasts at the time.
The Cougars have since made it to the NCAA tournament on several occasions, including in 1992, 2002, 2021, and 2022. In 2021, the Cougars were ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation and achieved their first Final Four appearance since 1984, losing to the eventual national champions, Baylor. In 2022, they were ranked No. 15 in the nation and earned a #5 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they defeated UAB, Illinois, and Arizona before falling to Villanova in the Elite Eight.
The Cougars have also competed in other tournaments, including the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), and the NAIA tournament. They have appeared in 11 NIT tournaments, three CBI tournaments, and two NAIA tournaments.
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The team has had 49 players selected in the NBA draft
The University of Houston's basketball team, the Cougars, has a rich history in the sport. The Cougars play in NCAA Division I and have had several successful seasons, including appearances in 26 NCAA tournaments and 11 National Invitation Tournaments. Their 2023-24 season was particularly noteworthy, with the team achieving a 32-5 overall record and winning the Big 12 regular-season championship. This success continued into the 2024-25 season, where they won the Big 12 conference regular season and tournament titles.
The Cougars have produced numerous talented players who have gone on to be selected in the NBA draft. As of 2024, 49 Cougar players have been drafted into the NBA. Some notable draft picks include Jarace Walker and Marcus Sasser, who were selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. Walker, a highly touted recruit, excelled in his role, ranking second among the Cougars with 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 24 First Team. Sasser, on the other hand, was a key contributor to the Cougars' success, helping them achieve a 33-4 overall record and the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship.
Another notable Cougar, Jamal Shead, was selected by the Toronto Raptors in the second round of the NBA Draft, becoming the 47th Men's Basketball player and the 48th Cougar overall to be drafted. Shead's impressive performance in the 2023-24 season included leading the Cougars in assists per game, steals per game, and assist-turnover ratio. He was recognised as a talented playmaker, ranking among the Big 12 Top-Five leaders in these categories. Additionally, Shead demonstrated his scoring ability by scoring double-digit points in 27 games and achieving a career-high 29 points.
The University of Houston's basketball programme has consistently produced talented players who have gone on to successful professional careers in the NBA. The Cougars' success in developing NBA-calibre players has contributed to their reputation as a prominent basketball programme within NCAA Division I.
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The Cougars have appeared in 11 National Invitation Tournaments
The Houston Cougars men's basketball team represents the University of Houston in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. They compete as members of the Big 12 Conference.
In 2004, Tom Penders was named as the new Cougars coach. Known as "Turnaround Tom", Penders had a reputation for taking underperforming basketball programs and making them better. In his debut season in 2004–05, the Cougars made another NIT appearance. The team had high hopes for the 2006 season, aiming to build on their relative success and make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1992. However, they lost most of their critical games at the end of the season and were unable to qualify for the NIT.
In addition to their 11 NIT appearances, the Cougars have had a long and storied history in Division I men's basketball. They have appeared in 26 NCAA tournaments, with a combined record of 45–31. They have made seven appearances in the Final Four of the tournament, the most of any team that has not won a national championship. The Cougars have also won 22 conference championships and have had several players and a coach elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Frequently asked questions
The men's basketball team, also known as the Houston Cougars, represents the University of Houston in NCAA Division I men's basketball.
They compete as members of the Big 12 Conference.
Yes, in addition to 26 NCAA Tournament appearances, the Cougars have won 22 conference championships and several players and a coach have been elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Cougars' first Final Four appearance was in the 1966-67 season.
The school colours are scarlet and white.
