2. Houston
A two-point loss to Florida in the national championship game is evidence of the incredible season that Houston had last year. Kelvin Sampson’s work with the Cougars has been on another level, inheriting a program in rough shape and making them Big 12 champions and a regular national contender. While Houston sheds star LJ Cryer and forward J’Wan Roberts, they bring back more than enough talent to be right back there in the title game.
Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan both return, and that’s quite a surprise to get Uzan back after testing the waters on the NBA. Defensive menace Joseph Tugler’s return is another massive win of the offseason, especially if he can take another step forward as a junior. While Houston didn’t really raid the portal, the Cougars’ hype comes from their three Top 20 freshmen recruits, namely Chris Cenac Jr., Kingston Flemings, and Isiah Harwell.
Balance is needed on a championship-level roster and it’ll be important for these new recruits to get up to speed quickly. This has been an elite defense in recent years and the returns of Sharp and Uzan will make Houston favorites in the Big 12, but what can we expect from these new faces? Is there enough here for the Cougars to actually finish the job as national champions?