4. Houston (2-seed)
Chris Cenac Jr. (Freshman – Center)
Entering the year as a Top 10 prospect, it’s clear that expectations were high for Cenac with these Cougars. Suffice to say the 6-11 center has lived up to the billing, averaging 9.6 points and 7.8 rebounds as a key part of both the offense and defense for a very good Houston squad. Cenac was one of the highest rated defensive players in the Big 12 while also becoming quite the rebounder. He’s a strong athlete who can really affect the game, made clear by his 18 rebounds against Idaho or his 17-point showing in round two versus Texas A&M.
Kingston Flemings (Freshman – Guard)
The other star freshman who entered the year with plenty to prove, Flemings has been even more impressive and has become the latest star guard for Houston. He’s already been named a Third Team All-American and has put up 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists across an impressive freshman campaign. Flemings has had some explosive performances and is that key piece to the puzzle that makes the Cougars this dynamic force, even with just 27 combined points in their first two NCAA Tournament performances.
Emanuel Sharp (Senior – Guard)
A year after he was named Big 12 Tournament MVP and helped lead the Cougars to the national title game, Sharp is back for a fourth year and remains an extremely productive player for Kelvin Sampson. The First Team All-Big 12 guard averaged 15.4 points and 3.0 rebounds while making just under 38% of his 3-pointers and a league-leading 89% from the charity stripe. Sharpe is a very productive player on both ends of the court and put up at least 16 points in each of their first two Tourney games, with plenty more in the tank moving forward.
Joseph Tugler (Junior – Forward)
He may not have repeated as Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, but Tugler remains one of the nation’s absolute best defenders. A nasty and productive weapon for Sampson’s defense, Tugler averages 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, making himself known for his paint presence. While that presence is where Tugler makes his mark, let’s not ignore the 20-point, 10-rebound game he had just a few weeks ago against Arizona; he’s got the talent to impact the game beyond just his defensive production.
Milos Uzan (Senior – Guard)
It’s been quite the career in the Big 12 for Uzan, who’s finishing up his second year in Houston after a pair of seasons up at Oklahoma. His time with the Cougars has been his most productive efforts, including 11.3 points and 4.0 assists per game this season. His shooting figures are down compared to last season, but you can’t ignore the impact of his game. He’s not afraid to put the ball up from anywhere on the court fresh off a 15-point game against Texas A&M and Houston will need reliable shooting out of him if they want another deep postseason run.