#1 Houston Men's Basketball 2025-2026 Preview

 
Houston Cougars

2025-2026 Overall Rank: #1
 
Conference Rank: #1 Big 12
 
 
2024-25 Record: 35-5, 19-1
2024-25 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Kelvin Sampson
Coach Record: 299-84 at Houston, 798-355 overall
 
Key Departed Players:
LJ Cryer, Guard, 15.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.0 apg
J’Wan Roberts, Forward, 10.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.8 apg
Terrance Arceneaux, Guard, 6.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.7 apg
Mylik Wilson, Guard, 5.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.4 apg
Ja’Vier Francis, Forward, 5.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg
 
Key Returning Players:
Emanuel Sharp, Senior, Guard, 12.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.8 apg
Milos Uzan, Senior, Guard, 11.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.3 apg
Joseph Tugler, Junior, Forward, 5.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.9 apg
Mercy Miller, Sophomore, Guard, 2.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.4 apg
Ramon Walker, Senior, Guard, 2.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Cedric Lath, Junior, Forward, 0.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg
 
Key New Players:
Chris Cenac, Freshman, Center
Kingston Flemings, Freshman, Guard
Isaiah Harwell, Freshman, Forward
Kalifa Sakho, Senior, Center, Transfer from Sam Houston State
 
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
 
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.7 (182nd in nation, 10th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 58.7 (1, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.9 (162, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.3 (1, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.2 (128, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 39.4 (4, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 74.0 (112, 7)
Rebound Margin: 5.3 (32, 3)
Assists Per Game: 12.1 (281, 16)
Turnovers Per Game: 9.0 (3, 1)