Houston Cougars Basketball

The University of Houston basketball team is part of the American Athletic Conference. It was founded in 1945. It has a 108-53 regular season conference record and has won two of the three conference championships. This season, it has finished third in the AAC standings. Houston Cougars Basketball

The University of Houston athletics program is a big deal in the city of Houston. In fact, the school has had the top-ranked AP ranking for the last four weeks. After the loss to Rutgers on Monday, it is now tied with Purdue at the top of the rankings. The team's success can be attributed to the hustle and lateral quickness that runs throughout its roster.

Since the Phi Slama Jama days of the 1980s, UH has had a national following. That team featured such greats as Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Otis Birdsong. When Guy Lewis coached the team, the team won three NCAA titles and went to the Final Four on five occasions.

Tom Penders became the new head coach of the Cougars in 2004. He has led the program to a lot of success since taking over the job. For instance, the Cougars were runners-up to Georgetown in the 1984 American Conference tournament, making it to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen round. They also appeared in the first-ever College Basketball Invitational tournament.

In 2006, the Cougars were on the verge of making it to the NCAA Tournament. But they lost to Villanova in the Elite Eight. With the loss, the Cougars lost their one winning season in the last eight years. So the Cougars decided to recruit some new players. However, the team lost four starters from the previous year's squad.

The University of Houston men's basketball program has a long history. Several players have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Other coaches, such as Tom Penders, have helped the program become a success.

Houston's most recent success came in 2010 when the Cougars won the Conference USA tournament and finished as runners-up to North Carolina State in the American Conference championship game. Last season, the team finished with a 33-4 record.

While they haven't had the same success in the past few years, the Cougars are on the path to a strong future. They've been ranked in the top 20 in steal percentage the last two seasons. In addition, they've finished in the top 10 in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency ratings in each of the past two seasons.

The University of Houston athletics team is not the biggest or most well-known, but they are definitely one of the most aggressive. They play with a relentless and frenzied defense. Their lateral quickness is also among the best in the country. Whenever the Cougars face a tough opponent, they are the team to beat.

Those who are looking to cheer on the Cougars should visit the Fertitta Center on the university campus. This state-of-the-art facility has 30 concession stands and a brand-new video and audio system. Fans will be 10 feet away from the action on the court.