Houston Cougars Basketball: 2018-19 keys to winning at Tulane

WICHITA, KS - MARCH 15: Head coach Kelvin Sampson of the Houston Cougars reacts late in the game against the San Diego State Aztecs in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. The Houston Cougars defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 67-65. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 10: Corey Davis Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars faces up Jarron Cumberland #34 of the Cincinnati Bearcats during the second half at Fertitta Center on February 10, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

1. Houston needs to continue to suffocate on defense

Houston is one of the best defensive teams in the sport, and it’s not just in points allowed, they excel in field goal percentage defense both inside and outside the three-point line. They surrender 60.7 points per game and have given up over 70 just three times while holding opponents to 60 or less 13 times. During their 11-1 run in the American, they have given up just 63 points per contest. Houston opponents shoot just 36.4% from the field and just 27% from beyond the arc and those numbers in conference play are 37% and 29% respectively.

For a team that has won just four games, struggles all over the floor are inevitable, but offensively the Green Wave average just 66 points per game, but also have three double-digit scorers, guards Caleb Daniels and Jordan Cornish and forward, Samir Sehic who combine for 37.7. Those three along with Kevin Zhang put up 45 of the team’s 66 points. They shoot 41.8% from the field and 31.4% from beyond the arc.

All of these numbers point to a bad formula for Tulane, Houston’s ability to play suffocating defense gives the Cougars ability to demoralize their opponents, and for a team that already struggles offensively, that is not good news.