2020–21 Houston Cougars men's basketball team
American college basketball season
The 2020–21 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represented the University of Houston during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season . The Cougars were led by seventh-year head coach Kelvin Sampson as members of the American Athletic Conference . It was the third season that the team played its home games at the Fertitta Center . They won their first ever AAC tournament to clinch an auto-bid to the NCAA tournament , where they were selected as a #2 seed in the Midwest Region. The team advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1984 . They eventually lost to Baylor in the Final Four who went on to become the national champions that season.
Previous season
Houston finished the 2019–20 regular season 23–8, 13–5 in AAC play , finishing tied for first place and winning a share of the regular season title. They entered as the No. 2 seed in the AAC tournament , which was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Offseason
Departures
Name
Number
Pos.
Height
Weight
Year
Hometown
Reason for departure
Chris Harris Jr.
1
C
6'10"
255
Senior
Houston, TX
Graduated
Nate Hinton
11
G
6'5"
210
Sophomore
Gastonia, NC
Play professionally[ 1]
Cedrick Alley Jr.
23
F
6'6"
225
RS Sophomore
Houston, TX
Transferred to UTSA [ 2]
Incoming Transfers
Name
Pos.
Height
Weight
Year
Hometown
Notes
Reggie Chaney
F
6'8"
225
Junior
Tulsa, OK
Transferred from Arkansas . Chaney was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility. Initially had two years of remaining eligibility, but automatically received a third year after the NCAA ruled that the 2020–21 season would not be counted against the eligibility of any basketball player.[ 3] [ 4]
2020 recruiting class
College recruiting information
Name
Hometown
High school / college
Height
Weight
Commit date
Tramon Mark PG
Dickinson, TX
Dickinson High School
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Apr 17, 2019
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : ESPN grade: 83
Jamal Shead PG
Manor, TX
Manor High School
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
May 27, 2019
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : ESPN grade: 80
Kiyron Powell C
Evansville, IN
Benjamin Bosse High School
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Aug 6, 2019
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : ESPN grade: 76
Overall recruiting rankings: 247Sports : 27
Note : In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, 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:
Houston also added preferred walk-on Ryan Elvin, a 6'0" point guard from Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock, Texas .[ 5]
2021 Recruiting class
College recruiting information (2021)
Name
Hometown
High school / college
Height
Weight
Commit date
Ramon Walker SF
Pearland, TX
Shadow Creek High School
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
May 20, 2020
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : ESPN grade: 76
Robbie Armbrester PF
Atlanta, GA
Wasatch Academy
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Sep 7, 2020
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : ESPN grade: 77
Ja'Vier Francis C
Montverde, FL
Montverde Academy
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Sep 27, 2020
Star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : ESPN grade: 78
Overall recruiting rankings: 247Sports : 29
Note : In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, 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:
Preseason
On October 28, The American released the preseason Poll and other preseason awards[ 6]
Coaches Poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Houston
99 (9)
2
Memphis
90 (2)
3
SMU
80
4
Cincinnati
77
5
South Florida
61
6
Tulsa
50
7
Wichita State
44
8
UCF
37
9
East Carolina
34
10
Temple
18
11
Tulane
15
Preseason Awards
AAC Preseason Player of the Year - Caleb Mills
All-AAC First Team - Caleb Mills
Roster
2020–21 Houston Cougars men's basketball team
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Previous school
Hometown
G
0
Marcus Sasser
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
So
Red Oak HS
Red Oak, TX
G
1
Jamal Shead
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Fr
Manor HS
Manor, TX
G
2
Caleb Mills (T)
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
RS So
T. C. Roberson HS
Arden, NC
G
3
DeJon Jarreau
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
RS Sr
UMass
New Orleans, LA
F
4
Justin Gorham
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
RS Sr
Towson
Baltimore, MD
G
5
Cameron Tyson
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
RS So
Idaho
Bothell, WA
G
12
Tramon Mark
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Fr
Dickinson HS
Dickinson, TX
F
13
J'Wan Roberts
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
RS Fr
Shoemaker HS
Saint Thomas, USVI
G
20
Ryan Elvin (W)
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
155 lb (70 kg)
Fr
Cedar Ridge HS
Round Rock, TX
G
24
Quentin Grimes
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Jr
Kansas
The Woodlands, TX
C
30
Caleb Broodo (W)
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
RS Jr
Dow HS
Midland, MI
F
32
Reggie Chaney
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Jr
Arkansas
Tulsa, OK
F
35
Fabian White Jr.
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Sr
Atascocita HS
Atascocita, TX
C
52
Kiyron Powell
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Fr
Benjamin Bosse HS
Evansville, IN
F/C
55
Brison Gresham
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
RS Sr
UMass
New Orleans, LA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on
(T) Transferred
Injured
Current redshirt
Roster Last update: November 10, 2020
May 27, 2020 – Fabian White Jr. suffered a torn ACL , leading him to sit out before returning for the February 18th game.[ 7]
January 5, 2021 – Caleb Mills entered the transfer portal.[ 8] Mills would eventually transfer to Florida State .[ 9]
Schedule and results
COVID-19 impact
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic , the Cougars' schedule is subject to change, including the cancellation or postponement of individual games, the cancellation of the entire season, or games played either with minimal fans or without fans in attendance and just essential personnel.
The Cougars began a home-and-home series with LSU and Alabama beginning in the 2020–2021.[ 10] [ 11] Both were eventually postponed due to the pandemic.
Houston added a game vs. Our Lady of the Lake on February 6.[ 12]
The game @ Cincinnati originally scheduled for February 21 was moved to Houston.[ 13]
Houston added a game vs. Western Kentucky on February 25.[ 14]
The game @ Memphis originally scheduled for March 7 was moved to Houston, after COVID-related issues with Memphis forced the first scheduled matchup between the teams scheduled for February 14 to be postponed.[ 15]
Schedule
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Site (attendance) city, state
Regular season
November 25, 2020 *2:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 17
Lamar
W 89–45
1–0
25 – Sasser
8 – Mark
4 – Grimes
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
November 27, 2020 *2:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 17
Boise State Southwest Showcase
W 68–58
2–0
25 – Grimes
14 – Roberts
2 – Sasser
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
November 29, 2020 *4:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 17
vs. No. 14 Texas Tech Southwest Showcase
W 64–53
3–0
17 – Sasser
9 – Jarreau
5 – Jarreau
Dickies Arena (3,568)Fort Worth, TX
December 5, 2020 *5:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 10
South Carolina American/SEC Alliance
W 77–67
4–0
23 – Grimes
8 – Jarreau
3 –
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
December 9, 2020 *7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 7
Sam Houston State
Postponed due to COVID-19 issues [ 16]
Fertitta Center Houston, TX
December 12, 2020 *1:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 7
Rice
Postponed due to COVID-19 issues [ 17]
Fertitta Center Houston, TX
December 20, 2020 *3:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 6
Alcorn State
W 88–55
5–0
27 – Grimes
15 – Gorham
7 – Jarreau
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
December 22, 2020 7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 6
Temple
W 76–50
6–0 (1–0)
22 – Grimes
12 – Gorham
4 –
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
December 26, 2020 12:00 p.m., ABC
No. 6
at UCF Previously scheduled for Dec. 15
W 63–54
7–0 (2–0)
19 – Sasser
5 –
5 – Jarreau
Addition Financial Arena (1,476)Orlando, FL
December 29, 2020 8:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 5
at Tulsa
L 64–65
7–1 (2–1)
19 – Grimes
7 – Grimes
4 – Grimes
Reynolds Center Tulsa, OK
January 3, 2021 6:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 5
at SMU Rivalry
W 74–60
8–1 (3–1)
17 – Sasser
19 – Gorham
5 – Jarreau
Moody Coliseum University Park, TX
January 6, 2021 7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 11
Wichita State
W 70–63
9–1 (4–1)
22 – Grimes
10 –
5 – Jarreau
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
January 9, 2021 7:00 p.m., ESPNU
No. 11
Tulane
W 71–50
10–1 (5–1)
28 – Sasser
11 – Gorham
3 –
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
January 17, 2021 1:00 p.m., ESPNU
No. 11
UCF
W 75–58
11–1 (6–1)
18 – Grimes
9 – Gorham
5 – Jarreau
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
January 20, 2021 7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 8
Tulsa
W 86–59
12–1 (7–1)
26 – Sasser
11 – Gorham
5 –
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
January 23, 2021 11:00 a.m., CBS
No. 8
Cincinnati
Postponed due to COVID-19 issues [ 18]
Fertitta Center Houston, TX
January 23, 2021 11:00 a.m., CBS
No. 8
at Temple Previously scheduled for Feb. 8
W 68–51
13–1 (8–1)
15 –
10 – Gorham
6 – Jarreau
Liacouras Center Philadelphia, PA
January 28, 2021 8:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 6
at Tulane
W 83–60
14–1 (9–1)
31 – Tyson
15 – Gorham
4 –
Devlin Fieldhouse New Orleans, LA
January 31, 2021 12:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 6
SMU Rivalry
W 70–48
15–1 (10–1)
19 – Sasser
17 – Gorham
5 – Jarreau
Fertitta Center (1,728)Houston, TX
February 3, 2021 5:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 5
at East Carolina
L 73–82
15–2 (10–2)
25 – Jarreau
11 – Gorham
5 – Jarreau
Williams Arena (78)Greenville, NC
February 6, 2021 *2:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 5
Our Lady of the Lake
W 112–46
16–2 (10–2)
32 – Tyson
12 – Powell
11 – Shead
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
February 10, 2021 6:00 p.m., ESPNU
No. 8
at South Florida Previously scheduled for Jan. 14
W 82–65
17–2 (11–2)
29 – Grimes
8 – Gorham
8 – Jarreau
Yuengling Center (629)Tampa, FL
February 14, 2021 12:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 8
Memphis
Postponed due to COVID-19 issues [ 19]
Fertitta Center Houston, TX
February 17, 2021 ESPN+
No. 6
East Carolina
Postponed due to COVID-19 issues [ 20]
Fertitta Center Houston, TX
February 18, 2021 6:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 6
at Wichita State Previously scheduled for Feb. 25
L 63–68
17–3 (11–3)
16 – Jarreau
7 – Gorham
3 – Jarreau
Charles Koch Arena (2,625)Wichita, KS
February 21, 2021 12:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 6
Cincinnati
W 90–52
18–3 (12–3)
20 – Grimes
9 – White Jr.
3 –
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
February 25, 2021 *6:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 12
Western Kentucky
W 81–57
19–3
33 – Grimes
8 – Gorham
5 – Gorham
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
February 28, 2021 3:00 p.m., ESPNU
No. 12
South Florida
W 98–52
20–3 (13–3)
22 – Grimes
8 – Jarreau
7 – Sasser
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
March 7, 2021 11:00 a.m., CBS
No. 9
Memphis
W 67–64
21–3 (14–3)
19 – Jarreau
12 – Gorham
3 – Jarreau
Fertitta Center (1,859)Houston, TX
AAC Tournament
March 12, 2021 6:00 p.m., ESPN2
(2) No. 7
vs. (10) Tulane Quarterfinals
W 77–52
22–3
15 –
10 – Jarreau
10 – Jarreau
Dickies Arena Fort Worth, TX
March 13, 2021 5:00 p.m., ESPN2
(2) No. 7
vs. (3) Memphis Semifinals
W 76–74
23–3
21 – Grimes
7 – Gorham
3 – Jarreau
Dickies Arena (1,182)Fort Worth, TX
March 14, 2021 2:15 p.m., ESPN
(2) No. 7
vs. (5) Cincinnati Championship
W 91–54
24–3
21 – Grimes
6 – White Jr.
7 –
Dickies Arena Fort Worth, TX
NCAA tournament
March 19, 2021 6:15 p.m., truTV
(2 MW) No. 6
vs. (15 MW) Cleveland State First Round
W 87–56
25–3
18 – Grimes
7 – Chaney
4 – Grimes
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Bloomington, IN
March 21, 2021 6:10 p.m., TBS
(2 MW) No. 6
vs. (10 MW) Rutgers Second Round
W 63–60
26–3
22 – Grimes
9 – Grimes
4 – Gorham
Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN
March 27, 2021 9:00 p.m., TBS
(2 MW) No. 6
vs. (11 MW) Syracuse Sweet Sixteen
W 62–46
27–3
14 – Grimes
10 – Gorham
8 – Jarreau
Hinkle Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN
March 29, 2021 6:15 p.m., CBS
(2 MW) No. 6
vs. (12 MW) Oregon State Elite Eight
W 67–61
28–3
20 – Sasser
10 – Gorham
8 – Jarreau
Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN
April 3, 2021 4:14 p.m., CBS
(2 MW) No. 6
vs. (1 S) No. 3 Baylor Final Four
L 59–78
28–4
20 – Sasser
6 – Gorham
3 – Gorham
Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
MW=Midwest Region.
All times are in
Central Time .
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking т = Tied with team above or below Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Final AP 17 10 7 6 6 5 11 11 8 6 5 8 6 12 9 7 6 Not released Coaches 18T 18T ^ 8 8 7 5 11 11 8 6 5 7 5T 10 7 7 6 3
*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings ^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll
Awards and honors
Quentin Grimes – AP (3rd), USBWA (3rd), NABC (3rd), SN (3rd)
John McLendon Award
American Athletic Conference honors
All-AAC Awards
Player of the Year : Quentin Grimes
Defensive Player of the Year: DeJon Jarreau
Most Improved Player: Justin Gorham
All-AAC First Team
All-AAC Second Team
DeJon Jarreau
Justin Gorham
Marcus Sasser
Source [ 21]
References
^ Duarte, Joseph (May 18, 2020). "Nate Hinton plans to leave UH, play professionally" . houstonchronicle.com . Houston Chronicle . Retrieved May 19, 2020 .
^ Duarte, Joseph [@Joseph_Duarte] (May 11, 2020). "Houston forward Cedrick Alley Jr. plans to transfer to UTSA" (Tweet ). Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Twitter .
^ Duarte, Joseph (June 22, 2020). "Reggie Chaney transferring to UH basketball from Arkansas" . Houston Chronicle . Retrieved June 25, 2020 .
^ @JonRothstein (September 10, 2020). "Kelvin Sampson told reporters that Houston's Reggie Chaney has received a waiver from the NCAA and is eligible for the 20-21 season.Transfer from Arkansas" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ "2020 PG Ryan Elvin, New PWO Commit" . coogfans.com . Coogfans. October 22, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2020 .
^ "Houston Tabbed as 2020-21 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Favorite" . theAmerican.org . Retrieved October 28, 2020 .
^ @Joseph_Duarte (May 27, 2020). "Houston forward Fabian White Jr. has suffered a torn ACL, a source confirms" (Tweet ). Retrieved May 28, 2020 – via Twitter .
^ Cobb, David (January 5, 2021). "Houston guard Caleb Mills, the AAC Preseason Player of the Year, transferring from Cougars" . CBS Sports . Retrieved January 7, 2021 .
^ Weiler, Curt (January 12, 2021). "FSU basketball lands commitment from Houston transfer Caleb Mills" . Tallahassee Democrat . Retrieved January 13, 2021 .
^ Rothstein, Jon [@JonRothstein] (April 21, 2020). "Sources: Houston and LSU will begin a home-and-home series next season at the Fertitta Center. Return game in Baton Rouge in 21-22" (Tweet ). Retrieved April 21, 2020 – via Twitter .
^ @JonRothstein (October 10, 2020). "Sources: The home-and-home series between Alabama and Houston remains on as scheduled starting this season in Tuscaloosa. Terrific game for both teams" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ Duarte, Joseph (February 3, 2021). "UH adds basketball game against Our Lady of the Lake" . Houston Chronicle .
^ "Cincinnati-Houston Men's Basketball Game Set for Feb. 21 Changes Location" . February 10, 2021.
^ "Hilltoppers Add Nationally Televised Road Game at No. 6/5 Houston on Thursday; FIU Series Altered" . February 21, 2021.
^ "Houston Announces Schedule Change" . February 26, 2021.
^ Duarte, Joseph (December 8, 2020). "UH basketball pausing activities after positive COVID-19 tests" . Houston Chronicle . Retrieved December 21, 2020 .
^ Duarte, Joseph (December 8, 2020). "UH basketball pausing activities after positive COVID-19 tests" . Houston Chronicle . Retrieved December 21, 2020 .
^ "The American Announces Schedule Changes to Pair of Men's Basketball Games" . January 20, 2021.
^ "The American Announces Pair of Men's Basketball Postponements" . February 11, 2021.
^ "The American Announces Pair of Men's Basketball Postponements" . February 11, 2021.
^ "American Athletic Conference Announces Men's Basketball Honors" . theamerican.org . March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021 .
Venues Rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons NCAA Final Four appearances in italics