7. Houston (24-5)
Considering the state and the strength of the Big 12, every team in this league is going to have a few rough stretches in their schedule. Houston has spent the entire season showcasing why they’re again a force to be reckoned with, but even they aren’t immune from rough stretches. Last week, Houston lost to both Iowa State and Arizona, tumbling a bit in the league standings. Can the Cougars regain some of that momentum before it’s too late?
Well, the immediate answer wasn’t exactly positive, with Houston falling 69-56 at Kansas to begin this week. Kingston Flemings shined with 16 points but the Cougars were dealt a third straight loss and their tumble continued. Fortunately they had an emphatic bounce back in an easier game on Saturday, stomping Colorado in a 102-62 blowout at home. Seven different Cougars scored in double figures, led by 26 points and 6 assists from Milos Uzan in a sharp showing.
A 40-point win over the Buffaloes looks great but doesn’t fix all the problems for the Cougars. After some great performances earlier in the year, Houston was likely to lose some of these big showdowns, though Kelvin Sampson certainly was hoping to avoid a three-game losing streak in late February. Regardless, the focus is on March and what’s ahead of a team looking to return to the Final Four, with just Baylor and Oklahoma State left before the postseason.