NCAA Basketball: 8 teams who managed to survive 2024 transfer portal madness

Houston Cougars

It was an incredible first year for Coach Kelvin Sampson and Houston in the Big 12, winning 32 total games and the regular-season title. In fact, had star guard and Big 12 Player of the Year Jamal Shead not gotten hurt in the NCAA Tournament, they very well could’ve made it to the Final Four.

Shead ultimately played his last game at Houston, going to the NBA. And they lost one rotation piece to the portal, with Damian Dunn leaving for Pittsburgh. But what about the rest of the roster, including some talented role players that could’ve went elsewhere?

They all stayed, instantly making them national title contenders for 2025. LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp are two of the top players in NCAA Basketball, while starting forwards, J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis are back as well. The main players to watch were Terrance Arceneaux and Josephy Tugler, two guys who missed the postseason with injuries, and who could’ve left but ultimately opted to stay.

With senior guard Mylik Wilson coming back as well and landing Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan, Houston’s roster is basically set for next season. In what’s been the craziest offseason for the transfer portal so far, the Cougars’ quiet past month has them in great shape for 2024-25.