5. Houston (28-6)
The Cougars have been one of the best teams in the nation all season even if they’d been a second fiddle to Arizona in the Big 12. Houston has incredible talent on the court, boasting both some talented freshmen and talented veteran presence as they play smart offense and solid defense. The wins really added up, though that three-game slide in late February is something they’re still looking to put further behind them.
In the Big 12 Tournament, they won the quarterfinal with a strong second half, getting a 73-66 win over BYU. Kingston Flemings had 17 points while Emanuel Sharp added 13 points. Friday’s proceedings in the semifinal were even more telling, with Houston flying to a 69-47 win over Kansas thanks to the freshmen, with 21 points from Flemings and a 17-point, 14-rebound game from Chris Cenac Jr. Unfortunately, Arizona got the better of them in the title game, with Houston falling 79-74. Joseph Tugler emerged with a great effort on both ends with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Even though Houston came up short in the Big 12 Tournament, they really showcased why they’re one of the best teams in the nation this season. The freshmen really showed up when it mattered most and that defense was suffocating at times, especially against the Jayhawks. This may not be the same level of team that marched to the national title game last year but don’t be surprised if we’re still talking about Houston for a few more weeks.