Earlier this season, the Houston Cougars achieved a number-one ranking for the first time since their glory days back in the early 1980s. Earning perhaps the best team moniker in the history of college basketball, Phi Slamma Jamma made three consecutive Final Four appearances from 1982 to 1984. Although they did not win the National Championship, they will always be fondly remembered.
Similar to their predecessors, this year’s Houston team is long and athletic and can run the floor with the best of them. On Sunday, the Temple University Owls were able to slow down Houston’s up-tempo style of play. Instead of nearing the 75.1 points per game they normally average, the Cougars scored a measly 55 points as Tramon Mark’s last-second shot off of an inbounds lob failed to get the shooter’s bounce on the rim. Holding Houston to twenty points below their usual output was as big a factor as any in the upset victory; if the UCF Knights want to duplicate the feat they’ll have to take a page out of Temple’s playbook.
An upset victory over The Houston Cougars would help The UCF Knights chances of earning an NCAA Tournament bid.
The UCF Knights won’t be ranked in the Top 25 at any point this season, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have anything to play for. The program has been nationally relevant ever since Head Coach Johnny Dawkins took over back in 2016. They even made an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019, losing an instant classic to the Duke Blue Devils by one point in the second round. So far this season they are 13 and 6; a strong finish to the season, and another March Madness appearance is not out of the question.
UCF’s fan base understands that if they do make the tournament it will most likely be as an “at large bid.” That means they will have to have a strong case to present to the committee on Selection Sunday. Beating the superbly talented Houston Cougars, who are currently ranked 3rd in the nation would strongly bolster their argument and serve as their signature win of the season. Meanwhile, Houston wants to avoid their first losing streak by suffering a second consecutive loss. There’s a lot at stake for both teams. Let’s take a closer look at the steps the Knights must take to pull off the upset victory on Wednesday.