6. Houston (16-1)
A three-point loss to Tennessee right before Thanksgiving remains the only blemish for Houston this season. All things considered, that’s a really great start to any season, especially when it also includes wins over Arkansas, Auburn, and Texas Tech. The Cougars remain a nightmare matchup for many teams and boast one of the nation’s best defenses, and it was certainly on display again this week.
We saw the Cougars on the court just once in the last seven days, doing everything they needed and wanted in a 77-48 win over West Virginia. That Tuesday performance was one of their best defensive efforts of the season and featured a 17-point performance from Milos Uzan. Houston did more than enough to knock off the Mountaineers and grab their 10th straight win.
Winners of their first four games in Big 12 play, Houston looks like a team that can realistically win another league title this season. They have a balanced and talented lineup that plays hard on both sides of the ball and has shown no fear even when pushed and tested in recent months. They shouldn’t be tested too much on Sunday against Arizona State but next weekend features a fierce rematch at Texas Tech in one of their toughest challenges to date.