2. Houston (2-0)
It’s easy to take Houston’s recent success for granted, as the Cougars really were an afterthought for decades before Kelvin Sampson came to town. However, thanks to both some fantastic returners and an elite freshmen class, the Cougars enter another season with championship expectations coming off last year’s trip to the national championship game.
Opening night went according to plan as Houston won 75-57 over Lehigh thanks to a strong first half. Emanuel Sharp had 24 points and 7 rebounds while Chris Cenac Jr. added a double-double in his collegiate debut. More solid work came over the weekend as the Cougars delivered a 65-48 victory against Towson. This time the freshman of note was Kingston Flemings with 20 points, while defensive stud Joseph Tugler excelled with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals.
Sure, the Cougars didn’t blow out either foe but they won solidly each time and look the part of an early contender. We mentioned a few pieces of this puzzle, though Houston’s entire starting five is full of talent and potential. Just wait until Milos Uzan has an explosive performance at some point in the coming weeks. Next Sunday we’ll see a highly anticipated rematch against an Auburn team that upset the Cougars early last season.