HOUSTON – The University of Houston Men’s Basketball program takes its first step in the 2023-24 season when it performs host to UNC Pembroke at 3 p.m., Saturday, inside of Fertitta Center in the Cougars’ lone exhibition contest of the 12 months.
Ranked a number of the country’s Top 10 in each preseason polls, the Cougars are getting ready for his or her first season as a member of the Big 12 Conference. #7/6 Houston has been an NCAA Tournament qualifier in each and every of the closing 5 seasons – a primary in faculty historical past with Sweet 16 appearances in each and every of the closing 4 years, any other faculty checklist.
In addition to their nationwide ratings, the Cougars additionally have been very popular in their first Big 12 preseason ballot. Houston won 153 issues and a couple of first-place votes to face at No. 2 in the ballot, voted on via the league’s head coaches.
Earlier this week, 3 Cougars have been named to preseason nationwide award watch lists. Senior Jamal Shead was once named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch checklist with that honor going to the country’s best level guard. Senior LJ Cryer earned a spot at the Jerry West Award Watch List for the highest capturing guard in the rustic.
Senior J’Wan Roberts was once named to the Karl Malone Award Watch List, introduced once a year to the country’s best energy ahead.
Cryer was once named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team whilst Shead won Honorable Mention.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday’s sport on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Matt Pedersen (play-by-play) and Houston nice Reid Gettys (analyst) calling the motion.
• Fans can pay attention Saturday’s sport at the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) calling the motion and Houston Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes as analyst. The pregame display starts at 2:45 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can practice reside stats via visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the right hyperlinks or by clicking here.
IN the NATIONAL RANKINGS
• With the Cougars’ Top-10 preseason ratings, Houston gave the impression in the weekly AP ballot for the 210th time in faculty historical past.
• The Cougars additionally prolonged their school-record streak to 65 consecutive weeks a number of the AP Top 25. The Jan. 13, 2020, polls have been the closing time Houston didn’t seem in the AP or Coaches Top 25 polls.
• This is the 7th instantly season in which Houston was once ranked for a minimum of one week.
• The Cougars were ranked in each ultimate nationwide polls in each and every of the closing six seasons, a primary in faculty historical past.
UNC PEMBROKE TIES
• Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson is a proud UNCP graduate, incomes his bachelor’s stage in well being and bodily training and political science in 1978.
• As a UNCP undergraduate, Sampson completed his collegiate occupation with 4 letters in basketball and 3 in baseball.
• He earned Dean’s List popularity and was once awarded the Gregory Lowe Memorial Award as the varsity’s exceptional bodily training primary right through his senior 12 months.
• However, the UNCP ties don’t seem to be restricted to the Cougar head trainer. Sampson’s spouse, Karen, is also a UNCP graduate and has served at the faculty’s Board of Trustees since 2018.
ABOUT UNC PEMBROKE
• Like Houston, Saturday’s sport can be an exhibition for UNC Pembroke.
• In 2022-23, the Braves posted a 26-4 total checklist and captured the Conference Carolinas regular-season identify with an 18-2 mark.
• UNC Pembroke completed the 2022-23 season with a 12-1 street checklist and a 1-1 mark in neutral-site video games for a 13-2 total checklist in non-home video games.
• The Braves gained 18 consecutive video games and 19 of 20 halfway during the season.
• UNC Pembroke returns its best 3 scorers and two of its best 3 rebounders in 2023-24.
• Junior guard Bradlee Haskell led the way in which a 12 months in the past with 13.2 issues in keeping with sport and added 3.8 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists in keeping with contest. Junior guard JaJuan Carr posted 10.2 issues in keeping with sport and is the main returner with 2.8 assists in keeping with contest.
• Junior ahead Elijah Cobb completed with 9.3 issues in keeping with sport and led the staff with 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in keeping with sport.
• Head Coach Drew Richards is in his fourth season at UNC Pembroke and his 5th season as a collegiate head trainer.
• Richards up to now served as head trainer at Lander right through the 2019-20 season.
• Richards has constructed a 56-11 checklist at UNC Pembroke and is 79-19 total in his occupation. He up to now compiled a 23-8 checklist at Lander in 2019-20.
• Saturday’s sport would be the first time Richards has confronted Houston right through his occupation.
• Saturday’s sport would be the first time Richards has confronted Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson right through their careers.
• 2008 graduate of Missouri State.
UP NEXT
• Following Saturday’s exhibition towards UNC Pembroke, Houston opens the 2023-24 season when it performs host to ULM at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 6, inside of Fertitta Center.
• That sport may also be observed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• The Cougars proceed their season-opening homestand once they face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday, Nov. 11, inside of Fertitta Center.
• That sport may also be observed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars tackle Stetson at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 13, inside of Fertitta Center to near the homestand.
• That sport can be proven on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• All Houston Men’s Basketball video games may also be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising marketing campaign for Houston Athletics devoted to championship good fortune in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win as we start Big 12 festival. Click here to upward thrust and be counted.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to sign up for the 50-50 Club to reinforce Houston Men’s Basketball. 50-50 Club contributors lend a hand fund program must haves and toughen the enjoy for our student-athletes.
Fans who sign up for the 50-50 Club will obtain embroidered Jordan Brand staff attire, invites to unique occasions, steady updates about this system and a lot more.
For extra information or to enroll, enthusiasts might seek advice from uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To sign up for the 50-50 Club, enthusiasts might name Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can obtain updates via following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and meet up with the most recent news and notes at the staff via clicking LIKE at the staff’s Facebook web page at UHCougarMBK or via visiting the staff’s Instagram web page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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