Busting Brackets
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Houston Basketball: Transfer Quentin Grimes gives Cougars new weapon

By Bryan Mauro

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 07: (L-R) Fabian White Jr. #35, Dejon Jarreau #13, Nate Hinton #11 and Armoni Brooks #3 of the Houston Cougars look on in the closing moments of the game at Fertitta Center on March 07, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 07: (L-R) Fabian White Jr. #35, Dejon Jarreau #13, Nate Hinton #11 and Armoni Brooks #3 of the Houston Cougars look on in the closing moments of the game at Fertitta Center on March 07, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 23: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts to a play against the Auburn Tigers during their game in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 23: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts to a play against the Auburn Tigers during their game in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Outlook for Houston

The Cougars experienced one of the best seasons in their school’s history a year ago, and the best season they have seen in Basketball in 34 years. Coach Kelvin Sampson had his named mentioned in a couple of higher-profile jobs, but quickly ended those rumors and showed his commitment to Houston by signing an extension. Not many coaches would be able to build a program with the roster attrition that Houston has endured the last couple of seasons.

As mentioned before this is now the third season in a row in which the Cougars leading scorer is not on the team, with this year being the top two scorers gone. Davis Jr. was one of the four seniors on the roster and graduated. Brooks took his talents to the NBA and elected to stay in the draft. They were the only double-digit scorers for the Cougars a season ago. Houston, with their other senior Galen Robinson took an astronomical number of threes last year. Out of the 939 three-point attempts the Cougars took Davis and Brooks accounted for 606 of them. Coach Sampson is going to have to change the way the Cougars play this year.

When Houston landed Grimes many of the Cougar fans could see a return to the Sampson let it fly offense. Grimes may have been one of the more disappointing freshmen in the country last year, especially given how hyped up he was. One thing he can do is shoot, and he was given the freedom at Kansas to shoot the ball. He made 34% of his three-point attempts a season ago. The transfer currently will not be eligible until the 2020-2021 season, but Houston and their athletic department are going to apply for a waiver to allow the freshman to play early.

Options for AAC after UConn's departure. dark. Next

If the waiver is granted Houston is going to be able to add one of the highest recruits in the country a season ago, who can shoot. Grimes has a chip on his shoulder and has a ton to prove if he is granted the waiver the Cougars immediately become the team to beat in the American again. Even if Grimes doesn’t get a waiver the Cougars have a great core of players returning and will be at the top of the conference again.