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Houston Cougars men's basketball

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Houston Cougars
2022–23 Houston Cougars men's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Houston
First season1945–46
All-time record1,370–873 (.611)
Head coachKelvin Sampson (9th season)
ConferenceThe American
Big 12 (2023)
LocationHouston, Texas
ArenaFertitta Center
(capacity: 7,100)
NicknameCougars
Student sectionThe Cage
ColorsScarlet and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament runner-up
1983, 1984
NCAA tournament Final Four
1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2021
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2021, 2022
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1956, 1961, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2019, 2021, 2022
NCAA tournament appearances
1956, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Conference tournament champions
1978, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1992, 2010, 2021, 2022
Conference regular season champions
1946, 1947, 1950, 1956, 1983, 1984, 1992, 2019, 2020, 2022

The Houston Cougars men's basketball team represents the University of Houston in Houston, Texas, in the NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The university is a member of the American Athletic Conference. The program has made six appearances in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four, which is tied for 10th most all-time.

History

See also: List of Houston Cougars men's basketball seasons

Early history (1945–56)

Although the University of Houston already had a women's basketball program, the Houston Cougars men's basketball program did not begin until the 1945–46 season. Alden Pasche was the team's first head coach. In their first two seasons, the Cougars won Lone Star Conference regular-season titles and qualified for postseason play in the NAIA Men's Basketball tournaments in 1946 and 1947. The Cougars had an all-time NAIA tournament record of 2–2 in two years.

During Pasche's tenure, the Cougars posted a 135–116 record.[2] Under his leadership in 1949, the Cougars won the Gulf Coast Conference championship. College Basketball Hall of famer coach Guy V. Lewis played for Pasche, and eventually became an assistant coach before being handed the job upon Pasche's retirement.

Guy Lewis era (1956–86)

See also: Phi Slama Jama
Houston's Don Chaney blocks a shot against UCLA in the 1968 Game of the Century
Clyde Drexler performs a slam dunk as a member of the Houston Cougars men's basketball team under Lewis

Pasche retired after the 1955–56 season, and Houston assistant Guy Lewis was promoted to the head coaching position.[3] Lewis, a former Cougar player, led Houston to 27 straight winning seasons and 14 seasons with 20 or more wins, including 14 trips to the NCAA tournament. His Houston teams made the Final Four on five occasions (1967, 1968, 1982–84) and twice advanced to the NCAA Championship Game (1983, 1984).[4] Among the outstanding players who Lewis coached are Elvin Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Otis Birdsong, Dwight Jones, Don Chaney and "Sweet" Lou Dunbar.

Lewis's UH teams twice played key roles in high-profile events that helped to popularize college basketball as a spectator sport. In 1968, his underdog, Elvin Hayes-led Cougars upset the undefeated and top-ranked UCLA Bruins in front of more than 50,000 fans at Houston's Astrodome. The game became known as the “Game of the Century” and marked a watershed in the popularity of college basketball.[5] In the early 1980s, Lewis's Phi Slama Jama teams at UH gained notoriety for their fast-breaking, "above the rim" style of play as well as their overall success. These teams attracted great public interest with their entertaining style of play. At the height of Phi Slama Jama's notoriety, they suffered a dramatic, last-second loss in the 1983 NCAA Final that set a then-ratings record for college basketball broadcasts and became an iconic moment in the history of the sport.[6] Lewis's insistence that these highly successful teams play an acrobatic, up-tempo brand of basketball that emphasized dunking brought this style of play to the fore and helped popularize it amongst younger players.[7]

Houston lost in both NCAA Final games in which Lewis coached, despite his "Phi Slama Jama" teams featuring superstars Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon. In 1983, Houston lost in a dramatic title game to the North Carolina State Wolfpack on a last-second dunk by Lorenzo Charles. The Cougars lost in the 1984 NCAA Final to the Georgetown Hoyas, led by Patrick Ewing. Lewis retired from coaching in 1986 at number 20 in all-time NCAA Division I victories, his 592–279 record giving him a .680 career winning percentage.

As a coach, Lewis was known for championing the once-outlawed dunk,[8] which he characterized as a "high percentage shot", and for clutching a brightly colored red-and-white polka dot towel[9] on the bench during games. Lewis was a major force in the racial integration of college athletics in the South during the 1960s, being one of the first major college coaches in the region to actively recruit African-American athletes.[10] His recruitment of Elvin Hayes and Don Chaney in 1964 ushered in an era of tremendous success in Cougar basketball. The dominant play of Hayes led the Cougars to two Final Fours and sent shock waves through Southern colleges that realized that they would have to begin recruiting black players if they wanted to compete with integrated teams.

Welcome to Conference USA (1996–2004)

After 21 years in the Southwest Conference, the Cougars joined Conference USA in 1996. Under head coach Alvin Brooks,[11] the basketball program had a disappointing initial season in C-USA. The team went 3–11 against C-USA teams in 1996–97. The next season was even more futile. Brooks, who had led the Cougars since 1993, coached the Cougars to a rock bottom conference record of 2–14 in 1997–98.[12] The last, and only other, time the Cougars recorded only two conference victories in a season was in 1950–51; their first season in the Missouri Valley Conference.

One of Houston's biggest sports icons and one of the Cougars best basketball players ever, Clyde Drexler was hired[13] to coach the program that he led as a player to the 1983 NCAA Final as part of Phi Slama Jama. Basketball excitement was back on campus, and fans looked forward to the promising years to come. After just two seasons with minimal success, Drexler resigned as head coach citing his intention to spend more time with his family.[14]

Ray McCallum was hired[15] to do what Clyde Drexler could not—lead the Cougars to a winning season and earn a spot in the NCAA tournament. After losing seasons in each of his first two years, McCallum guided the Cougars to an 18–15 record in 2001–02. That season, the team won two conference tournament games and qualified for the National Invitation Tournament.[16] However, the team regressed in the following season and failed to qualify for even their own C-USA tournament.

Two steps forward, one step back (2004–07)

Tom Penders was named as the head coach of Cougars basketball in 2004.[17] Known as "Turnaround Tom" for his reputation of inheriting sub-par basketball programs and making them better, Penders was hired to rebuild a program that recorded only one winning season in its last eight years. After a surprising debut season in 2004–05 that led to an NIT appearance, the team had high hopes to build on their relative success and make the NCAA tournament in 2006.

The 2005–06 season looked promising at the outset. The Cougars started their first game on a 30–0 scoring run against the Florida Tech Panthers. Less than two weeks later, the Cougars beat the nationally ranked LSU Tigers on the road and the Arizona Wildcats at home.[18] The surprising wins earned the Cougars their first national ranking in several years. The team that seemed destined for an NCAA Tournament berth failed to capitalize on their success and national recognition and began to stumble after a loss to South Alabama Jaguars in December. The Cougars won only one conference tournament game and had to settle again for another NIT bid.

Dubbed as "The Show," the 2006–07 Cougars entered the season with cockiness and strong expectations to finally make it into the NCAA tournament. A difficult schedule matched the Cougars with seven different teams that would end up qualifying for either the 2007 NCAA Tournament or NIT. Houston lost three times to the Memphis Tigers and once each to Arizona, the Creighton Bluejays, the Kentucky Wildcats, South Alabama, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, and the VCU Rams. By going 0–9 against these quality teams, the Cougars proved they were not worthy of an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Not surprisingly, two conference tournament wins against lower seeds and an unimpressive 18–15 overall record were not even enough to earn the team an invitation to the NIT.

Team goal: NCAA Tournament (2007–10)

The Houston Cougars at the 2008 CBI

In 2007–08 the team introduced a new nickname ("The Show—In 3D") and a slightly new uniform (a changed trim design). The team hoped to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1992. Eight straight home games from November 21 to December 29 helped the Cougars get off to an 11–1 start. However, the team lost most of its critical games at the end of the season, including their last two games (both against the UTEP Miners). Houston received an invitation to the inaugural College Basketball Invitational tournament and defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack and the Valparaiso Crusaders but lost to their conference rival, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, in the semifinal round.[19]

The 2008–09 season began on November 11 with a two-point loss to the Georgia Southern Eagles; this was the first game of the Division I college basketball season and the opening game of the 2K Sports Classic tournament in Durham, North Carolina.[20] A Cougars win would have meant a second round matchup with the Duke Blue Devils.[21] Overall, the Cougars played a balanced home and away regular season schedule. Fifteen games (three in November, three in December, four in January, three in February, and two in March) were played at Hofheinz Pavilion. There were 14 away games (two in November, two in December, five in January, and five in February).

The 2009–10 team finished the regular season 15–15 and 7–9 in C-USA, finishing seventh place in the conference. Following a 93–80 win over East Carolina in the first round of the C–USA Tournament, the Cougars beat Memphis 66–65, ending a string of four tournament titles for the Tigers. In the next game, they defeated Southern Miss 74–66 to advance to the championship game. Finally, the Cougars beat #25 ranked UTEP 81–73 to earn the conference's bid to the NCAA tournament, their first since 1992.[22] In the first round of the NCAA tournament, Houston, seeded 13th, was defeated 89–77 by 4th-seeded Maryland.[23]

Penders announced his resignation as Houston head coach on March 22, 2010.[24]

The school hired James Dickey on March 21, 2010.[25]

Houston joins the American (2013–23)

Beginning with the 2013–14 season, Houston joined the newly created American Athletic Conference following the Big East realignment.

In March 2014, Dickey stepped down as head coach because of "private family matters".[26] In four seasons with Houston, Dickey amassed a 64–62 record with no NCAA Tournament appearances or conference titles.

On April 3, 2014, Houston hired Kelvin Sampson as the new Cougars head coach.[27] Sampson had just become eligible to be a college coach again after receiving a five-year show cause penalty in 2008 for sanctions against him during his time as Indiana head coach.[27] In 2014–15, Sampson's first season, Houston struggled again, finishing with a 13–19 record and 4–14 in the AAC.

The 2015–16 team led a resurgence, finishing 22–10 overall, 12–6 in conference, but lost in the AAC tournament and in the first round of the NIT.

In 2017–18, the Cougars compiled a 27–8 overall record, reaching the finals of the AAC tournament and winning a game in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1984.

In 2018–19, the Cougars' success continued as they set a program record for wins with a 33–4 mark. They were AAC regular-season champions but fell in the finals of the conference tournament. They proceeded to the NCAA tournament, where they reached the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in 35 years.

In 2020–21, the Cougars were ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation. After winning the AAC Tournament, the Cougars were awarded a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. UH defeated Cleveland State, Rutgers, Syracuse and Oregon State to achieve their first Final Four appearance since 1984.[28] They would lose to eventual national champions Baylor in the Final Four.[29]

During the 2021–22 season, the Cougars won the AAC regular season championship with a 15–3 conference record. They then defeated Cincinnati, Tulane and Memphis to win the conference tournament. With the conference championship, an overall record of 29–5 and ranked No. 15 in the nation, Houston received a #5 seed in the NCAA tournament. In the tournament, UH defeated UAB, Illinois and Arizona before losing to Villanova in the Elite Eight. Going into the 2022–2023 season, UH has a 108–53 regular season conference record along with having won or shared the AAC regular season title in three of the last four seasons, and have finished no worse than third since the 2014–15 season.

Hello Big 12

In September 2021, the University of Houston was invited to join the Big 12 Conference, along with Cincinnati, UCF and BYU. The Cougars will begin Big 12 play in the 2023–24 season.

Conference affiliations

Head-to-head American Athletic Conference records since 1949–50

Note: Through 2021–22 season. Source: Houston Cougars Head-to-Head Results

Team Total Meetings Overall Record Win %
Cincinnati 44 11–33 .250
East Carolina 25 19–6 .760
Louisville 21 5–16 .238
Memphis 56 21–35 .375
Rutgers 4 3–1 .750
SMU 90 56–34 .622
South Florida 36 24–12 .667
Temple 15 12–3 .800
Tulane 47 30–17 .638
Tulsa 59 30–29 .508
UCF 31 20–11 .645
UConn 15 9–6 .600
Wichita State 34 16–18 .471

Italics indicate school no longer sponsors men's basketball in The American.

Championships

Conference Regular Season championships

The Cougars have won 10 conference regular season championships in their history, eight of which were outright championships. From 1960 to 1975, the Cougars were not eligible for a conference championship as they were not affiliated with any conference.[30]

Year Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
1945–46 Lone Star Conference Alden Pasche 10–4 8–2
1946–47 15–7 11–1
1949–50 Gulf Coast Conference 16–7 6–0
1955–56 Missouri Valley Conference 19–7 9–3
1982–83 Southwest Conference Guy Lewis 31–3 16–0
1983–84 32–5 15–1
1991–92† Pat Foster 25–6 11–3
2018–19 American Athletic Conference Kelvin Sampson 33–4 16–2
2019–20† 23–8 13–5
2021–22 32–6 15–3

† co-champions

Conference Tournament Finals appearances

Houston has appeared in 15 conference tournament finals in their history, winning 8 of them.[30]

Year Conference Coach TF Opponent TF Result Tournament MVP
1976–77 Southwest Conference Guy Lewis Arkansas L 74–80 Ron Brewer (Arkansas)
1977–78 Texas W 92–90 Mike Schultz (Houston)
1980–81 Texas W 84–59 Rob Williams (Houston)
1981–82 Arkansas L 69–84 Alvin Robertson (Arkansas)
1982–83 TCU W 62–59 Michael Young (Houston)
1983–84 Arkansas W 57–56 Akeem Olajuwon (Houston)
1989–90 Pat Foster Arkansas L 84–96 Todd Day (Arkansas)
1991–92 Texas W 91–72 Dexter Cambridge (Texas)
1992–93 Texas Tech L 76–88 Lance Hughes (Texas Tech)
2006–07 Conference USA Tom Penders Memphis L 59–71 Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis)
2009–10 UTEP W 81–73 Kelvin Lewis (Houston)
2017–18 American Athletic Conference Kelvin Sampson Cincinnati L 55–56 Gary Clark (Cincinnati)
2018–19 Cincinnati L 57–69 Jarron Cumberland (Cincinnati)
2020–21 Cincinnati W 91–54 Quentin Grimes (Houston)
2021–22 Memphis W 71–53 Fabian White Jr. (Houston)

Top 25 finishes

The Houston Cougars have finished in the AP Poll and/or the Coaches Poll 13 times in the program's history.[31]

Year Final Record AP Poll Coaches Poll
1966–67 27–4 7 6
1967–68 31–2 1 1
1969–70 25–5 12 11
1970–71 22–7 14 18
1972–73 23–4 13 18
1977–78 25–8 16
1982–83 31–3 1 1
1983–84 32–5 5 5
2017–18 27–8 21 22
2018–19 33–4 11 12
2019–20 23–8 22 23
2020–21 28–4 6 3
2021–22 32–6 15 7

Rivalries

Rice

Main article: Houston–Rice rivalry § Men's basketball

Houston leads Rice in the series 65–18 through the 2021–2022 season.[32]

SMU

Main article: Houston–SMU men's basketball rivalry

Houston leads SMU in the series 56–34 through the 2021–2022 season.[33]

Recent records

Main article: List of Houston Cougars men's basketball seasons
As American Athletic Conference member
Season Overall record* The American tournament record Postseason record Head coach
2014–15 13–19 (4–14) 1–1; Lost in quarterfinals Kelvin Sampson
2015–16 22–10 (12–6) 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals 0–1 in NIT Kelvin Sampson
2016–17 21–11 (12–6) 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals 0–1 in NIT Kelvin Sampson
2017–18 27–8 (14–4) 2–1; Lost in finals 1–1 in NCAA Kelvin Sampson
2018–19 33–4 (16–2) 2–1; Lost in finals 2–1 in NCAA Kelvin Sampson
2019–20 23–8 (13–5) N/A** Kelvin Sampson
2020–21 28–4 (14–3) 3–0; Won championship 4–1 in NCAA Kelvin Sampson
2021–22 32–6 (15–3) 3–0; Won championship 3–1 in NCAA Kelvin Sampson

* Overall record includes regular season and tournament/postseason results; regular season conference record in parentheses

** The 2020 American Conference and NCAA Tournaments were cancelled due to concerns with COVID-19.

Head coaches

Coach Tenure Overall
Record 		Conference
Record 		Conference
Regular
Season
Titles 		Conference
Tournament
Titles 		NCAA
Tournament
Appearances
Alden Pasche 1945–1956 135–116 (.538) 63–55 (.534) 4 1
Guy Lewis 1956–1986 592–279 (.680) 134–98 (.578) 2 4 14
Pat Foster 1986–1993 142–73 (.660) 70–38 (.648) 1 1 3
Alvin Brooks 1993–1998 54–84 (.391) 25–46 (.352)
Clyde Drexler 1998–2000 19–39 (.328) 7–25 (.219)
Ray McCallum 2000–2004 44–73 (.376) 24–40 (.375)
Tom Penders 2004–2010 121–77 (.611) 56–38 (.596) 1 1
James Dickey 2010–2014 64–62 (.508) 26–40 (.394)
Kelvin Sampson 2014–present 199–70 (.740) 100–43 (.699) 3 2 4
Totals 1,370–873 (.611) 505–423 (.544) 10 8 23

Note: Through 2021–22 season.

Postseason play

NCAA Men's Division I Tournament results

The Cougars have appeared in 23 NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 36–28.

The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1978 edition.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1956 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		 SMU
Kansas State		 L 74–89
L 70–89
1961 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		 Marquette
Kansas State
Texas Tech		 W 77–61
L 64–76
L 67–69
1965 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		 Notre Dame
Oklahoma State
SMU		 W 99–98
L 60–75
L 87–89
1966 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd Place		 Colorado State
Oregon State
Pacific		 W 82–76
L 60–63
W 102–91
1967 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Final Four
National 3rd-place game		 New Mexico State
Kansas
SMU
UCLA
North Carolina		 W 59–58
W 66–53
W 83–75
L 58–73
W 84–62
1968 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Final Four
National 3rd-place game		 Loyola–Chicago
Louisville
TCU
UCLA
Ohio State		 W 94–76
W 91–75
W 103–68
L 69–101
L 85–89
1970 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd Place		 Dayton
Drake
Kansas State		 W 71–64
L 87–92
L 98–107
1971 Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd Place		 New Mexico State
Kansas
Notre Dame		 W 72–69
L 77–78
W 119–106
1972 Regional Quarterfinals Texas L 74–85
1973 Regional Quarterfinals Southwest Louisiana L 89–102
1978 (4Q) Regional Quarterfinals (2L) Notre Dame L 77–100
1981 #8 First round #9 Villanova L 72–90
1982 #6 First round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four		 #11 Alcorn State
#3 Tulsa
#2 Missouri
#8 Boston College
#1 North Carolina		 W 94–84
W 78–74
W 79–78
W 99–92
L 63–68
1983 #1 Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship Game		 #8 Maryland
#4 Memphis State
#3 Villanova
#1 Louisville
#6 NC State		 W 60–50
W 70–63
W 89–71
W 94–81
L 52–54
1984 #2 Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship Game		 #10 Louisiana Tech
#6 Memphis State
#4 Wake Forest
#7 Virginia
#1 Georgetown		 W 77–70
W 78–71
W 68–63
W 49–47 OT
L 75–84
1987 #12 First round #5 Kansas L 55–66
1990 #8 First round #9 UC Santa Barbara L 66–70
1992 #10 First round #7 Georgia Tech L 60–65
2010 #13 First round #4 Maryland L 77–89
2018 #6 First round
Second Round		 #11 San Diego State
#3 Michigan		 W 67–65
L 63–64
2019 #3 First round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 #14 Georgia State
#11 Ohio State
#2 Kentucky		 W 84–55
W 74–59
L 58–62
2021 #2 First round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four		 #15 Cleveland State
#10 Rutgers
#11 Syracuse
#12 Oregon State
#1 Baylor		 W 87–56
W 63–60
W 62–46
W 67–61
L 59–78
2022 #5 First round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		 #12 UAB
#4 Illinois
#1 Arizona
#2 Villanova		 W 82–68
W 68–53
W 72–60
L 44–50

NIT results

The Cougars have appeared in 11 National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 5–11.

Year Round Opponent Result
1962 Quarterfinals Dayton L 77–94
1977 First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		 Indiana State
Illinois State
Alabama
St. Bonaventure		 W 83–82
W 91–90
W 82–76
L 91–94
1985 First round Lamar L 71–78
1988 First round
Second Round		 Fordham
Colorado State		 W 69–61
L 61–71
1991 First round Stanford L 86–93
1993 First round UTEP L 61–67
2002 Opening Round Vanderbilt L 50–59
2005 Opening Round Wichita State L 69–85
2006 First round
Second Round		 BYU
Missouri State		 W 77–67
L 59–60
2016 First round Georgia Tech L 62–81
2017 First round Akron L 75–78

CBI

The Cougars have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) three times. Their combined record is 3–3.

Year Round Opponent Result
2008 First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Nevada
Valparaiso
Tulsa		 W 80–79
W 91–67
L 69–73
2009 First round Oregon State L 45–49
2013 First round
Quarterfinals		 Texas
George Mason		 W 73–72
L 84–88 OT

NAIA tournament results

The Cougars have appeared in the NAIA tournament twice. Their combined record is 2–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
1946 First round
Second Round		 High Point
Indiana State		 W 63–34
L 43–62
1947 First round
Second Round		 Montana State
Northern Arizona		 W 60–58
L 42–44 3OT

Notable players

See also: Category:Houston Cougars men's basketball players
Michael Young

† Played in the NBA (current players in bold)

‡ Played in the ABA

Houston Cougars in the NBA draft

Houston has had 45 players selected in the NBA draft.[34][35]

Draft Year Round Pick (Overall) Player Selected by
1947 5 49 Charles Raynor Baltimore Bullets
1952 9 96 Ray Royce Rochester Royals
1954 10 81 Gary Shivers Baltimore Bullets
1955 8 69 Don Boldebuck Minneapolis Lakers
1956 6 46 Don Boldebuck Boston Celtics
13 70 Arthur Helms St. Louis Hawks
1961 1 9 Gary Phillips Boston Celtics
2 15 Ted Luckenbill Philadelphia Warriors
1963 3 25 Lyle Harger Los Angeles Lakers
1965 14 101 Jack Morgenthal Philadelphia 76ers
1967 10 105 Don Kruze Los Angeles Lakers
1968 1 1 Elvin Hayes San Diego Rockets
1 12 Don Chaney Boston Celtics
1969 2 20 Ken Spain Chicago Bulls
9 117 George Reynolds Detroit Pistons
1970 11 183 Melvin Bell Baltimore Bullets
12 189 Ollie Taylor Cleveland Cavaliers
1971 4 56 Poo Welch Atlanta Hawks
1972 1 3 Dwight Davis Cleveland Cavaliers
1973 1 9 Dwight Jones Atlanta Hawks
3 47 Steve Newsome Chicago Bulls
1975 4 59 Louis Dunbar Philadelphia 76ers
5 78 Maurice Presley Portland Trail Blazers
1976 5 78 Dave Marrs Houston Rockets
1977 1 2 Otis Birdsong Kansas City Kings
1978 5 89 Cecile Rose New Jersey Nets
6 128 Charles Thompson Phoenix Suns
1980 9 189 Ken Williams Dallas Mavericks
1982 1 19 Rob Williams Denver Nuggets
6 136 Lynden Rose Los Angeles Lakers
1983 1 14 Clyde Drexler Portland Trail Blazers
2 29 Larry Micheaux Chicago Bulls
1984 1 1 Akeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets
1 24 Michael Young Boston Celtics
10 208 Carl Lewis Chicago Bulls
1985 5 103 Reid Gettys Chicago Bulls
1986 4 80 Alvin Franklin Sacramento Kings
1987 1 23 Cadillac Anderson San Antonio Spurs
2 28 Rickie Winslow Chicago Bulls
1988 2 26 Rolando Ferreira Portland Trail Blazers
1990 2 30 Carl Herrera Miami Heat
1991 2 44 Álvaro Teherán Philadelphia 76ers
1994 2 52 Anthony Goldwire Phoenix Suns
2001 2 51 Alton Ford Phoenix Suns
2017 2 44 Damyean Dotson New York Knicks
2021 1 25 Quentin Grimes Los Angeles Clippers

Individual Awards

National Coach of the Year award winners

See also: Category:College basketball coach of the year awards in the United States

National Player of the Year award winners

See also: List of U.S. men's college basketball national player of the year awards

All-Americans

See also: NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans

Houston has had 22 players receive All-American honors while at UH.[36][37]

Key

† Consensus First-Team selection
‡ Consensus Second-Team selection
AP Associated Press USBWA United States Basketball Writers Association
NABC National Association of Basketball Coaches UPI United Press International
SN Sporting News
Year Player Selector(s)
1956 Don Boldebuck AP (HM)
1960 Gary Phillips AP (HM)
1961 Gary Phillips USBWA (1st), AP (HM)
1962 Lyle Harger AP (HM)
1963 Lyle Harger AP (HM)
1966 Elvin Hayes AP (HM)
1967 Elvin Hayes† AP (1st), USBWA (1st), NABC (1st), UPI (1st)
1968 Don Chaney AP (HM)
Elvin Hayes† AP (1st), USBWA (1st), NABC (1st), UPI (1st)
1969 Ken Spain AP (HM)
1970 Ollie Taylor AP (HM)
1971 Dwight Davis AP (HM)
Poo Welch AP (HM)
1972 Dwight Davis AP (2nd)
1973 Dwight Jones AP (HM)
1974 Louis Dunbar NABC (5th), AP (HM)
1975 Otis Birdsong AP (HM)
Louis Dunbar AP (HM)
1976 Otis Birdsong AP (HM)
1977 Otis Birdsong† AP (2nd), USBWA (1st), NABC (1st), UPI (1st)
1981 Rob Williams AP (3rd)
1982 Rob Williams AP (HM)
1983 Clyde Drexler‡ AP (2nd), USBWA (1st), UPI (3rd)
Larry Micheaux AP (HM)
Akeem Olajuwon AP (HM)
Michael Young AP (HM)
1984 Akeem Olajuwon† AP (1st), USBWA (1st), NABC (1st), UPI (2nd)
Michael Young AP (3rd), NABC (3rd), UPI (3rd)
1985 Alvin Franklin AP (HM)
1986 Cadillac Anderson AP (HM)
Alvin Franklin AP (HM)
1990 Carl Herrera AP (HM)
1999 Gee Gervin AP (HM)
2021 Quentin Grimes AP (3rd), USBWA (3rd), NABC (3rd), Sporting News (3rd)

Note: HM stands for Honorable Mention.

Conference Player of the Year

The following Houston players have been named Conference Player of the Year while at UH.[38]

Year Player Conference
1976–77 Otis Birdsong Southwest
1980–81 Rob Williams
1982–83† Clyde Drexler
Michael Young
1983–84 Akeem Olajuwon
1992–93† Bo Outlaw
2020–21† Quentin Grimes The American

† co-Player of the Year

Conference Coach of the Year

The following Houston coaches have been named Conference Coach of the Year while at UH.[39]

Year Coach Conference
1955–56 Alden Pasche Missouri Valley
2017–18 Kelvin Sampson The American
2018–19
2021–22

Individual Honors

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees

The following Houston players and coaches have been enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Year Inducted Name Category Years at Houston Ref.
1990 Elvin Hayes PF/C 1964–1968 [40]
2004 Clyde Drexler SG/SF 1980–1983 [41]
2008 Hakeem Olajuwon C 1981–1984 [42]
2013 Guy Lewis Coach 1953–1986 [43]

Retired numbers

Main article: List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers

The Cougars have retired the numbers of five men's basketball players:

Otis
Birdsong
1973–77
Clyde
Drexler
1980–83
Hakeem
Olajuwon
1981–84
Michael
Young
1980–84
Elvin
Hayes
1964–68

See also

References

  1. ^ "Logos - University of Houston Athletics". June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  2. ^ "First UH basketball Coach Pasche dead". Houston Chronicle. 1985-05-10. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  3. ^ Duarte, Joseph (November 26, 2015). "Legendary UH basketball coach Guy V. Lewis dies". chron.com. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  4. ^ Duarte, Joseph (May 26, 2016). "Guy V. Lewis remembered as pioneer, innovator, visionary". chron.com. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  5. ^ Lopresti, Mike (March 31, 2016). "March Madness: How 1968's Game of the Century forever shaped basketball history". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  6. ^ Joyce, Dick (March 29, 2020). "AP Was There: NC State stuns Houston 54–52 for '83 title". Associated Press. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Grobeck, Joe (April 30, 2020). "'Phi Slama Jama' Invented the Art of Dunking". fanbuzz.com. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  8. ^ Solomon, Jerome (November 26, 2015). "Guy V. Lewis was much more than just a basketball coach". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  9. ^ Duarte, Joseph (December 19, 2019). "Duarte: Guy V. Lewis' Hall of Fame induction tops all UH sports moments in 2010s". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  10. ^ "Guy V. Lewis II, Hall of Fame college basketball coach, dies at 93". The Washington Post. November 28, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  11. ^ "Racism charged in pay to new Houston coach". United Press International. June 24, 1993. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  12. ^ "Houston Fires Coach Brooks". Associated Press. March 1, 1998. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  13. ^ Barron, David (March 18, 2020). "This date in UH history: Clyde Drexler returns as coach". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  14. ^ "Drexler Quits As Houston Coach". CBS. March 30, 2000. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  15. ^ "Ball State's McCallum hired as basketball coach at University of Houston". Brainerd Dispatch. April 20, 2000. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "Cougars Play At Vanderbilt In Opening Round Of The 2002 NIT". uhcougars.com. March 10, 2002. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  17. ^ Barron, David (March 23, 2004). "UH hands reins to Penders With audio, poll". chron.com. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  18. ^ "Men's Basketball Game Notes at Houston, 12/3/2005". arizonawildcats.com. December 3, 2005. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  19. ^ Murphy, Michael (March 26, 2008). "UH NOTEBOOK: Penders enthusiastic about format of CBI". chron.com. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  20. ^ "Houston Postgame Notes vs. Georgia Southern (Nov. 10, 2008)". uhcougars.com. November 10, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  21. ^ Murphy, Michael (November 10, 2008). "Reloaded Cougars ready for basketball season". chron.com. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  22. ^ Lindsey, Shawn. "COUGARS MAKE IT TO THE "BIG DANCE"". uh.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  23. ^ "Men's Basketball Fights Hard But Falls To Maryland 89–77 at NCAA Tournament". uhcougars.com. March 20, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  24. ^ "Coach Tom Penders Steps Down at Houston - ABC News". Archived from the original on 2010-03-25.
  25. ^ "Ex-Tech coach James Dickey wins race for UH job". Houston Chronicle. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  26. ^ "Cougars' Dickey resigns; Sampson in line?". ESPN.com. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  27. ^ a b "UH reaches five-year deal with Kelvin Sampson". Houston Chronicle. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
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  29. ^ Gleeson, Scott (April 3, 2021). "Final Four: No. 1 Baylor catches fire to rout No. 2 Houston, reach men's national championship". usatoday.com. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
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  31. ^ "Houston Cougars School History".
  32. ^ "SRCBB – Matchup Finder". Sports-Reference.
  33. ^ "SRCBB – Matchup Finder". Sports-Reference.
  34. ^ "Houston Cougars NBA Draft Picks". en.hispanosnba.com.
  35. ^ "NBA Draft Picks From Houston". www.basketball-reference.com.
  36. ^ "List of AP All-American Teams in Men's Division I Basketball". Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  37. ^ Duarte, Joseph (March 9, 2021). "UH's Quentin Grimes gets All-American recognition". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  38. ^ "Houston Cougars basketball history". Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  39. ^ "Houston Cougars basketball history". Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  40. ^ "Elvin Ernest Hayes 1990". www.hoophall.com.
  41. ^ "Clyde Austin Drexler 2004". www.hoophall.com.
  42. ^ "Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon 2008". www.hoophall.com.
  43. ^ "Guy Vernon Lewis 2013". www.hoophall.com.
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