2019–20 Houston Cougars men's basketball team

2019–20 Houston Cougars men's basketball
AAC regular season co-champions
Diamond Head Classic champions
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 23
APNo. 22
Record23–8 (13–5 AAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaFertitta Center
Seasons
2019–20 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Cincinnati 13 – 5   .722 20 – 10   .667
No. 22 Houston 13 – 5   .722 23 – 8   .742
Tulsa 13 – 5   .722 21 – 10   .677
Wichita State 11 – 7   .611 23 – 8   .742
UConn 10 – 8   .556 19 – 12   .613
Memphis 10 – 8   .556 21 – 10   .677
SMU 9 – 9   .500 19 – 11   .633
UCF 7 – 11   .389 16 – 14   .533
South Florida 7 – 11   .389 14 – 17   .452
Temple 6 – 12   .333 14 – 17   .452
East Carolina 5 – 13   .278 11 – 20   .355
Tulane 4 – 14   .222 12 – 18   .400
Note: The 2020 AAC tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rankings from AP poll

The 2019–20 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represented the University of Houston during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars were led by sixth-year head coach Kelvin Sampson as members of the American Athletic Conference. This was the second season that the team played its home games at the Fertitta Center.

Previous season

Houston finished the 2018–19 regular season 29–2, including an AAC-best 16–2 record in conference play. They were the runner-up in the American Athletic Conference tournament, falling 69–57 to Cincinnati in the final. The Cougars earned the #3 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA tournament, where they went 2–1, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen before falling 62–58 to Kentucky. Houston's final overall season record of 33–4 set a program record for wins.

Shortly after the conclusion of the 2018–19 season, Kelvin Sampson agreed to a six-season contract to remain Head Coach at Houston.[1]

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Landon Goesling 2 G 6'2" 175 Graduate Student Bakersfield, CA Graduated
Armoni Brooks 3 G 6'3" 195 Junior Round Rock, TX Play professionally
Corey Davis Jr. 5 G 6'1" 190 Senior Lafayette, LA Graduated
Neil VanBeck 15 G 6'4" 200 Freshman Houston, TX Walk-on; left team
Breaon Brady 24 F 6'8" 260 Senior Akron, OH Graduated
Galen Robinson Jr. 25 G 6'1" 190 Senior Houston, TX Graduated

Incoming transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Cameron Tyson 5 G 6'2" 200 Sophomore Bothell, WA Transferred from Idaho. Under NCAA transfer rules, Tyson has to sit out the 2019–20 season. Tyson will have three years of remaining eligibility.[2]
Quentin Grimes 24 G 6'5" 205 Sophomore The Woodlands, TX Transferred from Kansas. Grimes was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.[3]

Recruiting class of 2020

US college sports recruiting information for 2020 recruits
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 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    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 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    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 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    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:

  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 9, 2020.

AAC media poll

The AAC media poll was released on October 14, 2019, with the Cougars tied for first place with the Memphis Tigers. However, the Cougars received more 1st place votes in the poll.[4]

Media poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
T-1 Houston 113 (7)
T-1 Memphis 113 (4)
3 Cincinnati 94 (1)
4 Wichita State 88
5 USF 79
6 UConn 75
7 Temple 72
8 SMU 47
9 UCF 40
10 Tulsa 36
11 East Carolina 20
12 Tulane 15

Roster

2019–20 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) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Red Oak High School Red Oak, TX
C 1 Chris Harris Jr. 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) RS Sr San Jacinto JC Houston, TX
G 2 Caleb Mills 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 165 lb (75 kg) RS Fr T. C. Roberson High School Arden, NC
G 3 DeJon Jarreau 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) RS Jr UMass New Orleans, LA
F 4 Justin Gorham 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) RS Jr Towson Baltimore, MD
G 5 Cameron Tyson Current redshirt 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Idaho Bothell, WA
G 11 Nate Hinton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Gaston Day School Gastonia, NC
F 13 J'Wan Roberts Current redshirt 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Shoemaker High School Saint Thomas, USVI
F 23 Cedrick Alley Jr. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS So Klein Forest High School Houston, TX
G 24 Quentin Grimes 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Kansas The Woodlands, TX
C 30 Caleb Broodo (W) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) RS So Dow High School Midland, MI
F 35 Fabian White Jr. 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Atascocita High School Atascocita, TX
F/C 55 Brison Gresham 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Jr UMass New Orleans, LA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 9, 2019*
5:00 pm 		Angelo State W 106–42  0–0
  18 – Hinton   13 – Hinton   5 – Sasser  Fertitta Center (5,205)
Houston, TX
Non-conference regular season
November 12, 2019*
7:00 pm, ESPNU 		Alabama State W 84–56  1–0
  14 – Sasser   8 – Hinton   4 – Tied  Fertitta Center (6,430)
Houston, TX
November 15, 2019*
8:00 pm, ESPNU 		BYU L 71–72  1–1
  17 – Mills   7 – Hinton   2 – Tied  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
November 19, 2019*
7:00 pm, Facebook 		at Rice
Rivalry 		W 97–89  2–1
  32 – Grimes   12 – White   5 – Grimes  Tudor Fieldhouse (2,513)
Houston, TX
November 22, 2019*
8:00 pm, P12N 		at No. 11 Oregon L 66–78  2–2
  21 – Mills   8 – Gresham   4 – Grimes  Matthew Knight Arena (8,095)
Eugene, OR
November 26, 2019*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Houston Baptist W 112–73  3–2
  24 – Hinton   15 – Hinton   6 – Jarreau  Fertitta Center (5,862)
Houston, TX
December 4, 2019*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		Texas State W 68–60  4–2
  21 – Grimes   12 – Harris Jr.   3 – Grimes  Fertitta Center (6,461)
Houston, TX
December 8, 2019*
11:00 am, ESPNU 		at South Carolina
American/SEC Alliance 		W 76–56  5–2
  24 – Grimes   11 – Hinton   4 – Jarreau  Colonial Life Arena (11,164)
Columbia, SC
December 11, 2019*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		UT Arlington W 71–63  6–2
  25 – Hinton   10 – Hinton   6 – Jarreau  Fertitta Center (6,657)
Houston, TX
December 15, 2019*
2:00 pm, ESPN 		Oklahoma State L 55–61  6–3
  23 – Mills   9 – Hinton   2 – White  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
December 19, 2019*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		UTEP
Diamond Head Classic non-bracket game 		W 77–57  7–3
  17 – Tied   12 – Gresham   9 – Jarreau  Fertitta Center (6,470)
Houston, TX
December 22, 2019*
2:00 pm, ESPNU 		vs. Portland
Diamond Head Classic quarterfinals 		W 81–56  8–3
  18 – Grimes   10 – Hinton   6 – Grimes  Stan Sheriff Center 
Honolulu, HI
December 23, 2019*
6:00 pm, ESPN2 		vs. Georgia Tech
Diamond Head Classic semifinals 		W 70–59  9–3
  26 – Grimes   12 – White Jr.   3 – Mills  Stan Sheriff Center (5,585)
Honolulu, HI
December 25, 2019*
7:30 pm, ESPN2 		vs. No. 21 Washington
Diamond Head Classic final 		W 75–71  10–3
  19 – Tied   8 – Hinton   6 – Grimes  Stan Sheriff Center (6,356)
Honolulu, HI
AAC regular season
January 3, 2020
6:00 pm, ESPN2 		UCF W 78–63  11–3
(1–0) 		 20 – Hinton   16 – Hinton   4 – Tied  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
January 7, 2020
6:00 pm, CBSSN 		at Temple W 78–74  12–3
(2–0) 		 23 – Mills   13 – Hinton   5 – Tied  Liacouras Center (4,366)
Philadelphia, PA
January 11, 2020
3:00 pm, ESPN2 		at Tulsa L 61–63  12–4
(2–1) 		 22 – Mills   10 – Hinton   3 – Hinton  Reynolds Center (3,725)
Tulsa, OK
January 15, 2020
8:00 pm, CBSSN 		SMU
Rivalry 		W 71–62  13–4
(3–1) 		 17 – White Jr.   10 – White Jr.   3 – Grimes  Fertitta Center (6,584)
Houston, TX
January 18, 2020
3:00 pm, ESPN2 		at No. 16 Wichita State W 65–54  14–4
(4–1) 		 14 – White Jr.   10 – Jarreau   6 – Jarreau  Charles Koch Arena (10,506)
Wichita, KS
January 23, 2020
8:00 pm, ESPNU 		No. 25 UConn W 63–59  15–4
(5–1) 		 20 – Mills   11 – Jarreau   8 – Jarreau  Fertitta Center (7,035)
Houston, TX
January 26, 2020
1:00 pm, CBSSN 		No. 25 South Florida W 68–49  16–4
(6–1) 		 12 – Jarreau   8 – Harris Jr.   6 – Jarreau  Fertitta Center (6,364)
Houston, TX
January 29, 2020
6:00 pm, ESPN3 		No. 21 at East Carolina W 69–59  17–4
(7–1) 		 18 – Mills   10 – Harris Jr.   6 – Mills  Williams Arena (4,406)
Greenville, NC
February 1, 2020
5:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 21 at Cincinnati L 62–64  17–5
(7–2) 		 17 – Sasser   8 – Hinton   6 – Jarreau  Fifth Third Arena (12,189)
Cincinnati, OH
February 6, 2020
8:00 pm, ESPNU 		No. 25 Tulane W 75–62  18–5
(8–2) 		 18 – Mills   12 – Hinton   7 – Hinton  Fertitta Center (6,430)
Houston, TX
February 9, 2020
2:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 25 Wichita State W 76–43  19–5
(9–2) 		 14 – Grimes   9 – Hinton   5 – Grimes  Fertitta Center (7,135)
Houston, TX
February 12, 2020
8:00 pm, ESPNU 		No. 20 at South Florida W 62–58  20–5
(10–2) 		 22 – Grimes   7 – Harris Jr.   5 – Tied  Yuengling Center (4,548)
Tampa, FL
February 15, 2020
5:00 pm, ESPNU 		No. 20 at SMU
Rivalry 		L 72–73 OT 20–6
(10–3) 		 26 – Sasser   10 – Harris Jr.   4 – Hinton  Moody Coliseum (5,534)
Dallas, TX
February 19, 2020
8:00 pm, ESPN2/ESPNU 		No. 22 Tulsa W 76–43  21–6
(11–3) 		 27 – Mills   7 – White Jr.   6 – Jarreau  Fertitta Center (6,732)
Houston, TX
February 22, 2020
1:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 22 at Memphis L 59–60  21–7
(11–4) 		 21 – Mills   12 – Hinton   3 – Tied  FedExForum (17,735)
Memphis, TN
March 1, 2020
12:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 25 Cincinnati W 68–55  22–7
(12–4) 		 21 – Sasser   11 – Harris Jr.   4 – Jarreau  Fertitta Center (7,096)
Houston, TX
March 5, 2020
6:00 pm, CBSSN 		No. 21 at UConn L 71–77  22–8
(12–5) 		 24 – Grimes   6 – Tied   6 – Sasser  Gampel Pavilion (10,167)
Storrs, CT
March 8, 2020
11:00 am, CBS 		No. 21 Memphis W 64–57  23–8
(13–5) 		 18 – White Jr.   14 – White Jr.   3 – Tied  Fertitta Center (7,129)
Houston, TX
AAC Tournament
March 13, 2020
6:30 pm, ESPNU 		(2) No. 22 vs. (7) SMU / (10) Temple
Quarterfinals 		Cancelled[1] Dickies Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.
1.^ Cancelled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Rankings

Main article: 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
APRVRV——————RVRVRV2521252022252122-T22
CoachesRVRV*——————RVRVRV2420251922RV212423

*Coaches did not release a Week 2 poll

Awards and honors

American Athletic Conference honors

All-AAC Second Team

  • Nate Hinton
  • Caleb Mills

All Freshman Team

  • Caleb Mills

Player of the Week

Rookie of the Week

  • Week 6: Caleb Mills
  • Week 12: Caleb Mills
  • Week 17: Marcus Sasser

Source[5][6][7]

References

  1. ^ "Sampson signs long-term deal with Houston". ESPN.com.
  2. ^ "Cameron Tyson to Join Houston". uhcougars.com.
  3. ^ "Houston lands top transfer Grimes from Kansas". ESPN.com.
  4. ^ "Houston, Memphis Tabbed 2019-20 American Men's Basketball Preseason Favorites". American Athletic Conference. October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  5. ^ "American Men's Basketball Release" (PDF). American Athletic Conference. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  6. ^ "American Athletic Conference Announces All-Conference, All-Freshman Teams". theamerican.org. March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  7. ^ "American Athletic Conference Announces Individual Awards". theamerican.org. March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.