HOUSTON – Coming off a large exhibition win, the University of Houston Men’s Basketball program opens its 2023-24 season when it performs host to ULM at 7 p.m., Monday, throughout the Fertitta Center.
#7/6 Houston enters Monday’s sport following an 86-47 win over UNC Pembroke – alma mater of Head Coach Kelvin Sampson and his spouse, Karen – on Oct. 28 throughout the Fertitta Center.
Against the Braves, senior guard and newcomer LJ Cryer confirmed Cougar lovers why he earned a spot on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team with a game-high 21 issues, thank you to 5 3-pointers. Freshman ahead Joseph Tugler got here off the bench to pour in 13 issues with a game-high 9 rebounds, together with seven offensive, and senior ahead J’Wan Roberts added 11 issues with 8 rebounds of his personal.
Junior ahead Ja’Vier Francis totaled 10 issues with six rebounds in just below 17 mins whilst senior level guard Jamal Shead added a game-high 8 assists with just one turnover and 3 steals.
GAME PROMOTIONS
• For Monday’s season opener, the primary 3,000 lovers in attendance will obtain a FREE 2023-24 time table magnet.
• University of Houston dorms are invited to take part within the Dorm Attendance Challenge with prizes awarded to the dorms with the most productive attendance marks.
• Cougar Brass will carry out the nationwide anthem whilst the Spirit of Houston Drumline will entertain at halftime.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Monday’s sport on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Matt Pedersen (play-by-play), Houston nice Reid Gettys (analyst) and Abby Christopherson (reporter) calling the motion.
• Fans can listen Monday’s sport on 950 AM KPRC and 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 6:45 p.m., Monday.
• Fans can observe are living stats by means of visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the right hyperlinks or by clicking here.
SEASON OPENERS
• Houston is 58-20 in season openers all through its historical past. A yr in the past, the Cougars claimed an 83-36 win over Northern Colorado throughout the Fertitta Center.
• Cougars have gained their remaining 14 and 18 in their remaining 19 season openers… Only a 65-63 loss to Georgia Southern on the primary day of the 2K Sports Classic reaping benefits Coaches vs. Cancer in Durham, N.C., on Nov. 11, 2008, prevents an extended streak.
• Houston has gained handily in fresh historical past, successful its remaining 14 season openers by means of a mean of 26.9 issues in line with sport (377 issues in 14 video games).
• Houston has gained seven of its remaining 8 season openers by means of 28+ issues. Only the 2021-22 season-opening 83-75 win in time beyond regulation prevents an extended streak.
IN the NATIONAL RANKINGS
• With the Cougars’ Top-10 preseason scores, Houston gave the impression within the weekly AP ballot for the 210th time at school historical past.
• The Cougars additionally prolonged their school-record streak to 65 consecutive weeks a few of the AP Top 25. The Jan. 13, 2020, polls have been the remaining time Houston didn’t seem within the AP or Coaches Top 25 polls.
• This is the 7th instantly season wherein Houston used to be ranked for no less than one week.
• The Cougars were ranked in each ultimate nationwide polls in every of the remaining six seasons, a primary at school historical past.
KELVIN SAMPSON in SEASON OPENERS
• Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson is 31-3 in season openers all through his award-winning occupation.
• In season openers, Sampson is 9-0 all through his Houston tenure… Posted a 2-0 list at Indiana, an 11-1 mark at Oklahoma a 6-1 list at Washington State and a 3-1 mark at Montana Tech.
• With that win over Northern Colorado, Sampson’s groups have gained their remaining 14 season openers and 27 of his remaining 28… Only a 68-62 loss to Alabama on the AT&T Wireless Classic in New York on Nov. 14, 2002, prevents an extended streak.
• During his occupation, Sampson’s groups have gained by means of a mean of 23.7 issues in line with sport (736 issues in 31 video games).
• In his groups’ 31 season-opening wins, handiest 4 groups have gained by means of fewer than double digits… His first staff at Houston in 2014-15 claimed a 77-74 win at Murray State on Nov. 14, 2014, in his most up-to-date single-digit, season-opening win.
ABOUT ULM
• Like Houston, Monday’s sport would be the 2023-24 season opener for ULM.
• In 2022-23, ULM posted an 11-21 list and completed tenth within the Sun Belt Conference with a 7-11 list.
• ULM used to be 4-10 in street video games and 4-13 in non-home video games a yr in the past.
• Senior guard Tyreke Locure is the Warhawks’ main returning participant with 14.4 issues and a pair of.71 assists in line with sport. Senior ahead Nika Metskhvarishvili is ULM’s main returning rebounder with 5.8 rebounds in line with sport and averaged 9.8 rebounds in line with contest a yr in the past.
• Head Coach Keith Richard is in his 14th season at ULM and his twenty third season as a collegiate head trainer.
• Richard has constructed a 152-252 list at ULM and has posted a 302-369 mark all through his occupation. He up to now compiled a150-117 list at Louisiana Tech from 1998 to 2007.
• Richard is 0-1 in opposition to Houston all through his occupation
• Richard is 0-2 in opposition to Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson all through their careers. That comprises an 0-1 list with ULM all through Sampson’s Houston’s tenure and an 0-1 mark with Louisiana Tech all through Sampson’s Oklahoma tenure.
• 1982 graduate of ULM.
UP NEXT
• Following Monday’s season opener, the Cougars proceed their season-opening homestand once they face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday, Nov. 11, within Fertitta Center. Game time will likely be set quickly.
• That sport may also be observed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars take on Stetson at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 13, within Fertitta Center to near the homestand.
• That sport will likely 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 within the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win as we commence Big 12 festival. Click here to upward push and be counted.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to enroll in the 50-50 Club to toughen Houston Men’s Basketball. 50-50 Club participants assist fund program must haves and give a boost to 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, common updates about this system and a lot more.
For extra information or to enroll, lovers would possibly consult with uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To sign up for the 50-50 Club, lovers would possibly name Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can obtain updates by means of following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and meet up with the most recent news and notes on the staff by means of clicking LIKE on the staff’s Facebook web page at UHCougarMBK or by means of visiting the staff’s Instagram web page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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