Over the last decade, Kelvin Sampson has transformed Houston from an afterthought in the AAC to a national power and one of the most prominent programs in the Big 12. The Cougars have been near the top of the basketball world in recent years, including two trips to the Final Four and just a boatload of wins and memorable moments.
Coming off a trip to the national championship game, Houston couldn’t quite replicate that success last season but still won 30 games for the fifth consecutive season. The Cougars finished 2nd in the Big 12, failing to win the league for the first time since joining it in 2023, but still managed to make the Sweet Sixteen for a seventh consecutive Tournament.
New looked Cougars
As you can clearly tell, success is pretty well defined for Houston, though the product will look very different this upcoming season. Star freshmen Chris Cenac and Kingston Flemings are both in the NBA alongside start guard Emanuel Sharp. Fellow backcourt threat Milos Uzan is also gone, leaving Sampson and this staff with plenty of holes to fill in the absence and they’ve certainly seen to that.
Between another nationally relevant recruiting class and some gems from the transfer portal, Houston has done more than enough to reload this lineup. We’re going to take a look at the relevant pieces in their expected rotation, though many are expecting that this could be another special season for this program. Can this crew make it eight straight years in the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend and perhaps make the season even more memorable?
Projected Starters
Guard – Dedan Thomas Jr. (Senior)
Houston has become a factory for incredible backcourt weapons and Thomas is hoping his senior year sees him take that measured step forward. The Las Vegas native was once MWC Rookie of the Year at his hometown UNLV before averaging 15.3 points and 6.5 assists last season, playing just 16 games due to a foot injury. Give him a full season running Houston’s offense and the results could be incredible.
Guard – Mercy Miller (Junior)
Speaking of productive guards, many are expecting Miller to take enormous leap forward now that the depth chart has cleared ahead of him. A former Top 50 recruit out of California, he was a reserve in each of his first two seasons with the Cougars, averaging 5.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in limited minutes last season. He’s an aggressive figure who can score all over the court and has become an even better defensive player in this system.
Forward – Chase McCarty (Sophomore)
Another returning player many think will make a big leap, McCarty is another former 4-star recruit who hasn’t really seen the court much at the college level. He redshirted his initial season before putting up 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in a bench role last season, though the Cougars are still excited about his offense and playmaking ability moving forward.
Forward – Delrecco Gillespie (Senior)
Gillespie really emerged last season in what was his fourth and final year at Kent State. He averaged 17.7 points and 11.3 rebounds, becoming the MAC’s top rebounder while earning both First Team All-MAC and All-Defense honors in the league. His dominance and emergence as a frontcourt beast was clear and we’ll see how his game translates into the Big 12 but he’s a solid finisher and menace around the rim on defense.
Forward – Joseph Tugler (Senior)
There’s no question the impact that Tugler has brought to this program and the Houston staff is very excited to have him back for his senior year. The centerpiece of this elite defense, Tugler averaged 8.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks last year and is known as one of the best defensive players in the nation. He took a slight step back after winning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore though he’s clearly someone to watch on this talented team.
Key Reserves
Guard – Ikenna Alozie (Freshman)
A 4-star point guard and potential next big thing in this backcourt, Alozie joins the Cougars for his first taste of college basketball. He’s a quick and athletic point guard who’s mature and intelligent beyond his age even if he’s still putting together his entire offensive game. He’s an attacking guard whose intensity will be loved in Houston, whether he gets that shot to prove himself this season or next.
Guard – Corey Hadnot II (Senior)
After two years playing a solid bench role, Hadnot took a massive step forward in his third season at Purdue Fort Wayne. The 6-3 guard from Atlanta emerged with 20.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, becoming the leading scorer in the Horizon League. Nobody is expecting that type of production with the Cougars, especially as an option off the bench, but Hadnot’s got playmaking potential and can make outside shots at a decent clip.
Guard – Tyus Thomas (Freshman)
Thomas may not be as highly rated as the other additions to this freshman class but he’s still an interesting prospect to watch. A 5-10 point guard from Nevada, he may be undersized but he makes up for that with his athleticism and toughness. He really competes on the defensive end and that’s what’s going to earn him relevant minutes early in his career at this program.
Forward – Braden East (Junior)
Following two seasons over at Lamar, East joins the Cougars and hopes to carve out a notable role in this frontcourt. His breakout sophomore campaign saw him start for the Cardinals while averaging 12.8 points and 9.1 rebounds, becoming the Southland’s top rebounder. The Houston native clearly can grab boards and was decently productive inside the arc on the offensive end as well.
Guard – Chendall Weaver (Senior)
If he’s ruled eligible, Weaver adds an intriguing veteran presence off the bench. The former WAC Rookie of the Year at UT Arlington spent three years coming off the bench in the SEC at Texas, including 5.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game this past season. Again, his eligibility is not a sure thing but he provides important depth at the point and is a fantastic defender and rebounder for his size.
Center – Arafan Diane (Freshman)
Few will complain after adding a 7-footer with great size and strength, though Diane is looking to live up to his high expectations. A Top 40 prospect and the highest-rated piece of this freshmen class, Diane is a dynamic weapon inside the paint on both sides of the ball and could certainly develop into Houston’s next shot blocking fiend.
Schedule Outlook
Houston’s first three games are all winnable, though game two is in Nevada, taking on California as part of the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic on November 8th. Just over a week later, Houston heads back west to Las Vegas for the Players Era Championship, beginning with Rutgers before the potential for interesting matchups, with Florida and Kansas both in that event.
After that excitement, the Cougars have four straight winnable matchups at home but then a December full of traveling. First comes the Jimmy V Classic in New York on December 8th and a big matchup with Alabama. Five days later they’ll welcome LSU to town at the Toyota Center. A week later, the last real nonconference test is Florida State in a game over in Jacksonville.
There’s plenty of intrigue in the Big 12 schedule as always, with the Cougars getting a pair of looks at Arizona, Colorado, and Texas Tech, with those road games against the Wildcats and Red Raiders looming in February. Their lone matchups with Iowa State and Kansas come at home and will have plenty of excitement around them. The regular season concludes with a relatively fertile stretch leading into Arizona at home on March 6th.
Season Outlook
The recent work out of this Houston program is obviously incredible and a major reason for their continued success is the ability to bring and coach up great player after great player. We could spend a long time going over the star guards the Cougars have had during these postseason runs or the defensive intensity we’ve seen on display and it’s all a question on if they’ve done that again.
For starters, adding Thomas at the point was a brilliant move, adding some veteran experience to this new-look backcourt. We’ve seen guards really emerge in recent years and Miller truly looks like the kind of player who’s going to take that next step and be an immersive and impactful presence next season. Beyond them, the next era of great Houston guards seems to be set with Alozie and Thomas, and we can’t ignore what Hadnot could bring this season.
We cannot forget that defense tells the tale of the Cougars’ dominance in recent years and Tugler’s presence alone keeps this as an elite unit. Adding a weapon like Gillespie with great scoring and rebounding ability helps round out this team as well. If these new players can fit well into this defensive scheme, then Houston is going to be a problem once again.
A lot of questions still remain as we wonder who’s stepping up into that major role with Flemings and Sharp gone from last season. Expect big things both from new pieces like Thomas and returning players. Sampson hasn’t struggling bringing great players into the fold and turning them into stars and we’re expecting good things from this new group as long as they stay healthy once again.
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