NCAA Basketball: Top 25 early winners from 2023 offseason moves
By Joey Loose
20. Houston
There aren’t many head coaches who have meant more to their programs in recent years than what Kelvin Sampson has meant in Houston. The Cougars were a complete afterthought in NCAA basketball but that’s no longer the case. Houston spent several seasons at #1 this past season and are just two years removed from a Final Four run. However, the Cougars are losing star guards Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark and a few other pieces (including Jarace Walker) from their recent success.
Not only are the Cougars returning a majority of the rest of their rotation, but they’ve landed two of the best guards in the Transfer Portal. LJ Cryer averaged 15 points a game at Baylor last season and was one of the top pieces in the entire Portal this offseason. Another impressive addition is Damian Dunn, a sophomore guard who was a fantastic weapon at Temple and will have an important role in Sampson’s offense. Starters Jamal Shead and J’Wan Roberts both return alongside a number of pieces on last year’s bench.
This Houston program enters the Big 12 this season having been the best program in the AAC over the last half-decade. Sampson’s squad will still have the talent to be a national contender, especially with Cryer and Dunn aboard for next season. This starting five will be just as talented as nearly anyone else in that league and it’ll be interesting to see how the pieces mesh together. Houston lost three starters but Sampson isn’t panicking at all.