2025–26 Houston Cougars men's basketball team

2025–26 Houston Cougars men's basketball
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 5
APNo. 5
Record30–6 (14–4 Big 12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaFertitta Center
2025–26 Big 12 men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 2 Arizona † 16 – 2   .889 34 – 2   .944
No. 5 Houston 14 – 4   .778 30 – 6   .833
No. 17 Kansas 12 – 6   .667 24 – 11   .686
No. 20 Texas Tech 12 – 6   .667 23 – 11   .676
No. 6 Iowa State 12 – 6   .667 29 – 7   .806
TCU 11 – 7   .611 23 – 12   .657
West Virginia 9 – 9   .500 18 – 14   .563
UCF 9 – 9   .500 21 – 12   .636
Cincinnati 9 – 9   .500 18 – 15   .545
BYU 9 – 9   .500 23 – 12   .657
Colorado 7 – 11   .389 17 – 15   .531
Arizona State 7 – 11   .389 17 – 16   .515
Baylor 6 – 12   .333 16 – 16   .500
Oklahoma State 6 – 12   .333 20 – 15   .571
Kansas State 3 – 15   .167 12 – 20   .375
Utah 2 – 16   .111 10 – 22   .313
† 2026 Big 12 tournament winner
As of March 22, 2026
Rankings from AP poll

The 2025–26 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represents the University of Houston in the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars, led by 12th-year head coach Kelvin Sampson, play their home games at the Fertitta Center as third-year members of the Big 12 Conference.

Previous season

As the No. 1 seed in the 2025 Big 12 men's basketball tournament, held at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, Houston received a bye to the quarterfinals. There, they defeated Colorado, 77–68, to advance to the semifinals, where they would defeat BYU, 74–54, to advance to the championship game, where they would secure a 72–64 victory over Arizona to claim their first tournament title.

As the tournament champion, Houston received an automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA tournament, also as the No. 1 seed. They were seeded in the Midwest region. There, they defeated SIU Edwardsville, 78–40, in the First round, Gonzaga, 81–76, in the Second round, Purdue, 62–60, in the Sweet Sixteen, and Tennessee, 69–50, in the Elite Eight to advance to their first Final Four since 2021. In the Final Four, they overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat Duke, 70–67, to advance to their first national championship since 1984. In the championship game, despite leading for nearly the entire game – the same thing Duke did to them in the Final Four – Houston ultimately lost to Florida, 65–63, denying them their first national title.[1][2]

Offseason

Departing players

Houston Departing Players
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
LJ Cryer 4 G 6'1" 200 Graduate Student Katy, TX Exhausted eligibility
Ja'Vier Francis 5 F 6'8" 235 Senior New Orleans, LA Graduated
Mylik Wilson 8 G 6'3" 175 Graduate Student Rayville, LA Exhausted eligibility
J'Wan Roberts 13 F 6'8" 235 Graduate Student Saint Thomas, USVI Exhausted eligibility
Terrance Arceneaux 23 G 6'6" 205 Sophomore Beaumont, TX Transferred to NC State

Incoming transfers

Houston incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Kalifa Sakho 34 F 6'11" 230 Senior Rouen, France Sam Houston

2025 recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Chris Cenac Jr.
C 		New Orleans, LA Link Academy 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (100 kg) Nov 26, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (96)
Isiah Harwell
SG 		Pocatello, ID Wasatch Academy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sep 12, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (92)
Kingston Flemings
PG 		San Antonio, TX William J. Brennan High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Nov 14, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (89)
Bryce Jackson
SG 		Pearland, TX Shadow Creek High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Nov 14, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (81)
Overall recruit ranking:    247Sports: 3    On3: 3    ESPN: 2
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2025 Houston Cougars Basketball Commits". ESPN. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  • "2025 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  • "Houston 2025 Basketball Commits". 247Sports. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  • "2025 Houston Cougars Basketball Commits". On3. Retrieved June 2, 2025.

Preseason

The Big 12 preseason coaches poll was released on October 16, 2025. All awards were voted on by the league's 16 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players. The Big 12 preseason media poll was released on October 30, 2025.

All-Big 12 Preseason First team

Player School Pos. Yr. Ht., Wt. Hometown (Last School)
AJ Dybantsa† BYU F Fr. 6'9", 195 Brockton, MA (Utah Prep)
Richie Saunders G Sr. 6'5", 200 Riverton, UT (Wasatch Academy)
Emanuel Sharp Houston G R-Sr. 6'3", 205 Tampa, FL (Bishop McLaughlin School)
Joseph Tugler F Jr. 6'8", 230 Monroe, LA (Cypress Falls)
Milos Uzan† G Sr. 6'4", 195 Las Vegas, NV (Oklahoma)
Tamin Lipsey Iowa State G Sr. 6'1", 200 Ames, IA (Ames)
Darryn Peterson† Kansas G Fr. 6'5", 205 Canton, OH (Napa Christian)
P.J. Haggerty Kansas State G Jr. 6'4", 195 Crosby, TX (Memphis)
Christian Anderson Texas Tech G So. 6'9", 195 Atlanta, GA (Oak Hill Academy)
JT Toppin† F Jr. 6'9", 230 Dallas, TX (New Mexico)
† denotes unanimous selection
Reference:[3]
  • Player of the Year: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
  • Co-Newcomer of the Year: LeJuan Watts, Texas Tech
  • Freshman of the Year: Darryn Peterson, Kansas

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year Source

Roster

2025–26 Houston Cougars men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Kordelius Jefferson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS So Martin HS Arlington, TX
G 1 Isiah Harwell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr Wasatch Academy Pocatello, ID
G 3 Ramon Walker Jr. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) RS Sr Shadow Creek HS Pearland, TX
G 4 Kingston Flemings 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Brennan HS San Antonio, TX
F/C 5 Chris Cenac Jr. 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Fr Link Academy New Orleans, LA
G 6 Bryce Jackson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Shadow Creek HS Pearland, TX
G 7 Milos Uzan 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Sr Oklahoma Las Vegas, NV
C 8 Cedric Lath 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 265 lb (120 kg) RS Jr Balboa School Abidjan, Ivory Coast
F 11 Joseph Tugler 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Cypress Falls HS Houston, TX
C 13 Jacob McFarland 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS So Rancho Verde HS Moreno Valley, CA
F 14 Kalifa Sakho 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) GS Sam Houston Rouen, France
G 21 Emanuel Sharp 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS Sr Bishop McLaughlin CHS Tampa, FL
F 24 Chase McCarty 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Fr IMG Academy Huntsville, AL
G 25 Mercy Miller 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Notre Dame HS Sherman Oaks, CA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: October 3, 2025

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 26, 2025*
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 2 vs. Mississippi State
The Preview CBB Exhibition 		W 61–52  −
  17 – Tugler   9 – Cenac Jr.   4 – Tied  Fort Bend Epicenter 
Rosenberg, TX
Non-conference regular season
November 3, 2025*
7:00 p.m., CBSSN 		No. 2 Lehigh W 75–57  1–0
  24 – Sharp   10 – Cenac Jr.   5 – Uzan  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
November 8, 2025*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 2 Towson W 65–48  2−0
  20 – Flemings   13 – Cenac Jr.   6 – Uzan  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
November 12, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 1 Oakland W 78–45  3–0
  19 – Tied   6 – Walker Jr.   9 – Flemings  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
November 16, 2025*
2:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 1 vs. No. 22 Auburn
The Battleground 2k25 		W 73–72  4−0
  22 – Flemings   9 – Cenac Jr.   7 – Flemings  Legacy Arena (15,623)
Birmingham, AL
November 20, 2025*
8:00 p.m., TNT/TruTV 		No. 2 Rider W 91–45  5−0
  18 – Flemings   9 – Tugler   6 – Uzan  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
November 24, 2025*
5:00 p.m., TNT 		No. 3 vs. Syracuse
Players Era Festival Game 1 		W 78–74 OT 6−0
  26 – Tied   12 – Cenac Jr.   6 – Flemings  MGM Grand Garden Arena (4,628)
Paradise, NV
November 25, 2025*
5:00 p.m., TNT 		No. 3 vs. No. 17 Tennessee
Players Era Festival Game 2 		L 73–76  6–1
  25 – Flemings   11 – Cenac Jr.   5 – Tugler  MGM Grand Garden Arena (5,110)
Paradise, NV
November 26, 2025*
2:30 p.m., TNT 		No. 3 vs. Notre Dame
Players Era Festival Consolation Game 		W 66–56  7–1
  17 – Sharp   8 – Tugler   5 – Flemings  MGM Grand Garden Arena (1,629)
Paradise, NV
December 6, 2025*
7:00 p.m., Peacock 		No. 8 vs. Florida State
Houston Hoops Showdown 		W 82–67  8–1
  27 – Sharp   10 – Cenac Jr.   8 – Uzan  Toyota Center (7,121)
Houston, TX
December 10, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 7 Jackson State W 80–38  9–1
  23 – Sharp   7 – McCarty   6 – Flemings  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
December 13, 2025*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 7 New Orleans W 99–57  10–1
  15 – Tied   6 – Tied   10 – Uzan  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
December 20, 2025*
4:30 p.m., CBS 		No. 8 vs. No. 14 Arkansas
Never Forget Tribute Classic 		W 94–85  11–1
  22 – Sharp   7 – Cenac Jr.   5 – Flemings  Prudential Center (6,246)
Newark, NJ
December 29, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 8 Middle Tennessee W 69–60  12–1
  15 – Flemings   6 – Tied   5 – Flemings  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
Big 12 regular season
January 3, 2026
1:00 p.m., FOX 		No. 8 at Cincinnati W 67–60  13–1
(1–0) 		 19 – Flemings   8 – Cenac Jr.   6 – Flemings  Fifth Third Arena (11,062)
Cincinnati, OH
January 6, 2026
8:00 p.m., FS1 		No. 7 No. 14 Texas Tech W 69–65  14–1
(2–0) 		 23 – Flemings   11 – Cenac Jr.   5 – Flemings  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
January 10, 2026
12:00 p.m., Peacock 		No. 7 at Baylor W 77–55  15–1
(3–0) 		 17 – Sharp   11 – Tugler   7 – Flemings  Foster Pavilion (7,335)
Waco, TX
January 13, 2026
7:30 p.m., FS1 		No. 7 West Virginia W 77–48  16–1
(4–0) 		 17 – Uzan   10 – Cenac Jr.   7 – Flemings  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
January 18, 2026
5:30 p.m., ESPN 		No. 7 Arizona State W 103–73  17–1
(5–0) 		 20 – Flemings   8 – Cenac Jr.   8 – Flemings  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
January 24, 2026
1:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 6 at No. 12 Texas Tech
College GameDay 		L 86–90  17–2
(5–1) 		 42 – Flemings   7 – Tied   6 – Flemings  United Supermarkets Arena (15,098)
Lubbock, TX
January 28, 2026
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 10 at TCU W 79–70  18–2
(6–1) 		 27 – Flemings   14 – Cenac Jr.   5 – Flemings  Schollmaier Arena (6,863)
Fort Worth, TX
January 31, 2026
11:00 a.m., FOX 		No. 10 Cincinnati W 76–54  19–2
(7–1) 		 16 – Uzan   6 – Tugler   6 – Flemings  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
February 4, 2026
6:00 p.m., FS1 		No. 8 UCF W 79–55  20–2
(8–1) 		 18 – Flemings   10 – Cenac Jr.   6 – Flemings  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
February 7, 2026
9:30 p.m., ESPN 		No. 8 at No. 16 BYU W 77–66  21–2
(9–1) 		 19 – Flemings   6 – Tugler   5 – Tied  Marriott Center (18,177)
Provo, UT
February 10, 2026
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 3 at Utah W 66–52  22–2
(10–1) 		 27 – Sharp   5 – Tied   4 – Flemings  Jon M. Huntsman Center (7,111)
Salt Lake City, UT
February 14, 2026
3:00 p.m., Peacock 		No. 3 Kansas State W 78–64  23–2
(11–1) 		 23 – Sharp   7 – Flemings   8 – Uzan  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
February 16, 2026
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 2 at No. 6 Iowa State L 67–70  23–3
(11–2) 		 22 – Flemings   12 – Cenac Jr.   6 – Uzan  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
February 21, 2026
2:00 p.m., ABC 		No. 2 No. 4 Arizona L 66–73  23–4
(11–3) 		 17 – Flemings   13 – Cenac Jr.   4 – Flemings  Fertitta Center (7,887)
Houston, TX
February 23, 2026
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 5 at No. 14 Kansas L 56–69  23–5
(11–4) 		 16 – Flemings   7 – Tied   3 – Uzan  Allen Fieldhouse (15,300)
Lawrence, KS
February 28, 2026
11:00 a.m., ESPN2 		No. 5 Colorado W 102–62  24–5
(12–4) 		 26 – Uzan   8 – Miller   8 – Flemings  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
March 4, 2026
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 7 Baylor W 77–64  25–5
(13–4) 		 21 – Flemings   6 – Tugler   7 – Flemings  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
March 7, 2026
11:00 a.m., CBS 		No. 7 at Oklahoma State W 82–75  26–5
(14–4) 		 20 – McCarty   6 – Tugler   9 – Flemings  Gallagher-Iba Arena (6,200)
Stillwater, OK
Big 12 tournament
March 12, 2026
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		(2) No. 5 vs. (10) BYU
Quarterfinals 		W 73–66  27–5
  17 – Flemings   8 – Tugler   4 – Tied  T-Mobile Center (17,015)
Kansas City, MO
March 13, 2026
8:30 p.m., ESPN 		(2) No. 5 vs. (3) No. 14 Kansas
Semifinals 		W 69–47  28–5
  21 – Flemings   14 – Cenac Jr.   3 – Tied  T-Mobile Center (19,450)
Kansas City, MO
March 14, 2026
5:00 p.m., ESPN 		(2) No. 5 vs. (1) No. 2 Arizona
Championship 		L 74–79  28–6
  20 – Tugler   10 – Tugler   7 – Flemings  T-Mobile Center (11,696)
Kansas City, MO
NCAA tournament
March 19, 2026*
9:10 p.m., truTV 		(2 S) No. 5 vs. (15 S) Idaho
First Round 		W 78–47  29–6
  18 – Flemings   18 – Cenac Jr.   4 – Flemings  Paycom Center (13,815)
Oklahoma City, OK
March 21, 2026*
5:10 p.m., TNT 		(2 S) No. 5 vs. (10 S) Texas A&M
Second Round 		W 88–57  30–6
  18 – Sharp   9 – Cenac Jr.   4 – Tied  Paycom Center (14,887)
Oklahoma City, OK
March 26, 2026*
9:05 p.m., TBS/truTV 		(2 S) No. 5 vs. (3 S) No. 13 Illinois
Sweet Sixteen 		      Toyota Center 
Houston, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
S=South.
All times are in Central Time.

Source:[5]

Rankings

See also: 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP2 (16)1 (18)2 (12)3 (4)8788877610832 (1)5755
Coaches2 (12)2 (7)2 (9)2 (2)7888877678324655

References

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