2017–18 Houston Cougars men's basketball team

The 2017–18 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represented the University of Houston during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars were led by fourth-year head coach Kelvin Sampson as members of the American Athletic Conference. Due to renovations to the Cougars home arena, Hofheinz Pavilion, they played their home games at the H&PE Arena on the campus of Texas Southern University.

2017–18 Houston Cougars men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Second Round
Ranking
CoachesNo. 22
APNo. 21
Record27–8 (14–4 AAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaH&PE Arena (temporary arena)
Seasons
2017–18 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 6 Cincinnati 16 2   .889 31 5   .861
No. 21 Houston 14 4   .778 27 8   .771
No. 16 Wichita State 14 4   .778 25 8   .758
Tulsa 12 6   .667 19 12   .613
Memphis 10 8   .556 21 13   .618
UCF 9 9   .500 19 13   .594
Temple 8 10   .444 17 16   .515
UConn 7 11   .389 14 18   .438
SMU 6 12   .333 17 16   .515
Tulane 5 13   .278 14 17   .452
East Carolina 4 14   .222 10 20   .333
South Florida 3 15   .167 10 22   .313
2018 AAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The Cougars ended the season with a record of 27–8. They tied for second place in regular-season conference play with a record of 14–4. As the No. 3 seed in the AAC tournament, Houston advanced to the final game, losing 56–55 to the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Cougars earned a No. 6 seed in the West Regional of the NCAA tournament, where they advanced to the second round before falling to the Michigan Wolverines by a score of 64–63.

Previous season

edit

The Cougars finished the 2016–17 season 21–11, 12–6 in AAC play to finish in third place. They lost to UConn in the quarterfinals of the AAC tournament.[1] They received an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament as a No. 2 seed and lost in the first round to Akron.[2]

Offseason

edit

Departures

edit
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Danrad Knowles 0 F 6'10" 200 RS Senior Nassau, Bahamas Graduated
Xavier Dupree 1 F 6'9" 210 Senior Houston, TX Graduated
Morris Dunnigan 5 G 6'3" 195 Junior Joliet, IL Transferred
Bertrand Nkali 13 C 6'9" 235 RS Senior Bertoua, Cameroon Graduated
Damyean Dotson 21 G 6'5" 210 RS Senior Houston, TX Graduated
Kyle Meyer 33 C 6'10" 230 RS Senior Atlanta, GA Graduated

Incoming Transfers

edit
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Corey Davis Jr. 5 G 6'2" 175 Junior Lafayette, LA Junior college transferred from San Jacinto College
Nura Zanna 13 F 6'7" 240 RS Senior Kaduna, Nigeria Transferred from LIU Brooklyn. Will be eligible to play since Zanna graduated from LIU Brooklyn.
Gabe Grant 20 F 6'6" 220 Junior Chicago, IL Junior college transferred from Three Rivers CC
Breaon Brady 24 F 6'8" 230 Junior Akron, OH Junior college transferred from Saddleback College

Class of 2017 signees

edit
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Fabian White Jr.
#25 PF
Humble, TX Atascocita High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sep 11, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 82
Michael Adewunmi
SG
Mansfield, TX Lake Ridge High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Aug 1, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Cedric Alley
PF
Houston, TX Klein Forest High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Apr 1, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: NR   Rivals: NR  ESPN: NR
  • 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 Basketball Commitment List". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  • "2017 Houston Basketball Commitment List". Scout.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  • "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.

Class of 2018 signees

edit
US college sports recruiting information for 2018 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Nate Hinton
#24 SF
Gastonia, NC Gaston Day School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Sep 18, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 82
Antoine Davis
#43 SG
Humble, TX Homeschool Christian Youth Association 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) N/A Aug 16, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 78
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: NR   Rivals: NR  ESPN: NR
  • 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:

Roster

edit
2017–18 Houston Cougars men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
C 1 Chris Harris Jr. 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) RS So San Jacinto High School Houston, Texas
G 2 Mike Adewunmi 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Lake Ridge High School Mansfield, Texas
G 3 Armoni Brooks 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So McNeil High School Round Rock, Texas
G 5 Corey Davis Jr. 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr San Jacinto College Lafayette, Louisiana
G 12 Wes VanBeck (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Sr Westside High School Houston, Texas
F 13 Nura Zanna 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 240 lb (109 kg) RS Sr LIU Brooklyn Kaduna, Nigeria
F 15 Devin Davis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS Sr Odessa College Indianapolis, Indiana
F 20 Gabe Grant 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jr Three Rivers Community College Chicago, Illinois
F 23 Cedrick Alley Jr. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Fr Klein Forest High School Houston, Texas
F 24 Breaon Brady 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Jr Saddleback College Akron, Ohio
G 25 Galen Robinson Jr. 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Westbury Christian School Houston, Texas
C 30 Caleb Broodo (W) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Dow High School Midland, Michigan
C 31 Valentine Sangoyomi 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) RS Jr Northern Oklahoma College Lagos, Nigeria
G 32 Rob Gray 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) RS Sr Howard College Forest City, North Carolina
F 35 Fabian White Jr. 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Atascocita High School Atascocita, Texas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

edit
Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 21, 2017*
12:00 pm
at Baylor
Hurricane Harvey Relief Exhibition
W 81–78 
 25  Gray   6  White   11  Gray  Ferrell Center (2,551)
Waco, TX
November 5, 2017*
3:00 pm
Angelo State W 97–80 
 13  Harris/Zanna   9  White   5  C. Davis/Gray  H&PE Arena 
Houston, TX
Non-conference regular season
November 10, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
McNeese State W 81–53  1–0
 22  Brooks   10  Brady   5  C. Davis/D. Davis/Robinson  H&PE Arena (3,241)
Houston, TX
November 17, 2017*
2:30 pm, FloHoops
vs. Drexel
Paradise Jam quarterfinals
L 80–84  1–1
 37  Gray   9  Zanna   5  Robinson  Vines Center (1,022)
Lynchburg, VA
November 18, 2017*
11:00 am, FloHoops
vs. Liberty
Paradise Jam
W 68–66  2–1
 19  Gray   11  Brady   3  Gray  Vines Center (815)
Lynchburg, VA
November 19, 2017*
1:30 p.m., FloHoops
vs. Wake Forest
Paradise Jam
W 78–73  3–1
 23  Gray   11  Zanna   5  Robinson  Vines Center (655)
Lynchburg, VA
November 25, 2017*
7:00 pm
Incarnate Word W 97–58  4–1
 16  Gray/VanBeck   12  White   7  C. Davis  H&PE Arena (2,724)
Houston, TX
November 29, 2017*
7:00 pm
New Orleans W 75–66  5–1
 23  Gray   6  D. Davis/White   8  Gray  H&PE Arena (2,586)
Houston, TX
December 2, 2017*
6:30 pm, CBSSN
Arkansas W 91–65  6–1
 28  D. Davis   10  D. Davis   9  Robinson  H&PE Arena (4,186)
Houston, TX
December 6, 2017*
11:00 am, ESPN3
Fairfield W 88–66  7–1
 20  Gray   9  D. Davis   4  Robinson  H&PE Arena (3,548)
Houston, TX
December 9, 2017*
7:00 pm, Stadium
at Saint Louis W 77–58  8–1
 24  Gray   6  Brady/Gray   2  VanBeck  Chaifetz Arena (6,014)
St. Louis, MO
December 13, 2017*
7:00 pm, SECN
at LSU L 77–80  8–2
 20  C. Davis/Gray   7  D. Davis   7  Gray  Maravich Center (8,449)
Baton Rouge, LA
December 17, 2017*
3:00 pm
Prairie View A&M W 92–72  9–2
 24  Brooks   7  D. Davis   6  Robinson  H&PE Arena (2,788)
Houston, TX
December 20, 2017*
6:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. Providence
Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase
W 70–59  10–2
 24  Gray   9  D. Davis   6  Robinson  Mohegan Sun Arena (5,518)
Uncasville, CT
AAC regular season
December 28, 2017
6:00 pm, ESPNews
at South Florida W 79–60  11–2
(1–0)
 15  C. Davis   8  Brady   5  Robinson  USF Sun Dome (2,273)
Tampa, FL
December 30, 2017
5:00 pm, ESPNU
Temple W 76–73  12–2
(2–0)
 21  Brady   9  Brady   3  C. Davis/Gray/Robinson  H&PE Arena (3,370)
Houston, TX
January 4, 2018
6:00 pm, ESPN
at No. 9 Wichita State L 63–81  12–3
(2–1)
 13  Gray   6  Sangoyomi/VanBeck   5  C. Davis  Charles Koch Arena (10,506)
Wichita, KS
January 11, 2018
6:00 pm, ESPNU
Tulsa W 104–71  13–3
(3–1)
 34  Gray   8  D. Davis   8  Gray  H&PE Arena (2,666)
Houston, TX
January 14, 2018
1:00 pm, ESPN3
at East Carolina W 65–49  14–3
(4–1)
 20  C. Davis   6  VanBeck/White   9  Gray  Williams Arena (3,549)
Greenville, NC
January 17, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPNews
at Tulane L 72–81  14–4
(4–2)
 24  Gray   7  VanBeck   5  Gray  Devlin Fieldhouse (2,301)
New Orleans, LA
January 20, 2018
11:00 am, ESPNU
No. 7 Wichita State W 73–59  15–4
(5–2)
 24  Gray   8  C. Davis   4  Gray  H&PE Arena (5,708)
Houston, TX
January 28, 2018
2:00 pm, ESPN3
South Florida W 63–40  16–4
(6–2)
 17  C. Davis   11  White   6  Gray  H&PE Arena (3,121)
Houston, TX
January 31, 2018
6:00 pm, CBSSN
at No. 8 Cincinnati L 70–80  16–5
(6–3)
 18  C. Davis   9  D. Davis   6  Gray  BB&T Arena (8,885)
Highland Heights, KY
February 3, 2018
11:00 am, ESPNU
at UCF W 69–65  17–5
(7–3)
 20  Gray   9  Brady   5  Gray  CFE Arena (4,301)
Orlando, FL
February 8, 2018
8:00 pm, ESPN2
SMU W 67–58  18–5
(8–3)
 23  Brooks   10  Brooks   7  Gray  H&PE Arena (3,547)
Houston, TX
February 11, 2018
5:00 pm, ESPNU
Tulane W 73–42  19–5
(9–3)
 16  D. Davis   11  Brooks   5  Robinson  H&PE Arena (2,902)
Houston, TX
February 15, 2018
6:00 pm, CBSSN
No. 5 Cincinnati W 67–62  20–5
(10–3)
 16  C. Davis/D. Davis   10  D. Davis   6  Robinson  H&PE Arena (5,363)
Houston, TX
February 18, 2018
3:00 pm, CBSSN
at Temple W 80–59  21–5
(11–3)
 20  C. Davis   11  D. Davis   7  Robinson  Liacouras Center (7,270)
Philadelphia, PA
February 22, 2018
8:00 pm, CBSSN
No. 23 at Memphis L 85–91  21–6
(11–4)
 30  Gray   9  Brady   7  Gray  FedEx Forum (6,536)
Memphis, TN
February 25, 2018
2:00 pm, ESPN3
No. 23 East Carolina W 109–58  22–6
(12–4)
 21  Brooks   9  White   11  Gray  H&PE Arena (3,602)
Houston, TX
February 28, 2018
8:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 25 at SMU W 69–56  23–6
(13–4)
 19  Gray   7  Brooks   9  Gray  Moody Coliseum (6,782)
Dallas, TX
March 4, 2018
3:00 pm, CBSSN
No. 25 UConn W 81–71  24–6
(14–4)
 30  Gray   8  D. Davis   4  Robinson  H&PE Arena (5,237)
Houston, TX
AAC Tournament
March 9, 2018
8:00 pm, ESPNU
(3) No. 21 vs. (6) UCF
Quarterfinals
W 84–56  25–6
 18  Robinson   7  D. Davis/White   6  Gray  Amway Center (8,680)
Orlando, FL
March 10, 2018
2:30 pm, CBS
(3) No. 21 vs. (2) No. 11 Wichita State
Semifinals
W 77–74  26–6
 33  Gray   9  Zanna   6  Robinson  Amway Center (8,644)
Orlando, FL
March 11, 2018
2:30 pm, CBS
(3) No. 21 vs. (1) No. 8 Cincinnati
Championship
L 55–56  26–7
 17  Gray   6  Zanna   5  Robinson  Amway Center (8,670)
Orlando, FL
NCAA tournament
March 15, 2018*
6:40 pm, TBS
(6 W) No. 21 vs. (11 W) San Diego State
First Round
W 67–65  27–7
 39  Gray   9  D. Davis   2  C. Davis/Robinson  Intrust Bank Arena (14,019)
Wichita, KS
March 17, 2018*
9:02 pm, TBS
(6 W) No. 21 vs. (3 W) No. 7 Michigan
Second Round
L 63–64  27–8
 23  Gray   10  Gray   3  Gray/Robinson  Intrust Bank Arena (14,385)
Wichita, KS
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
W=West.
All times are in Central Time.

Rankings

edit
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
APRVRVRVRVRV23252121Not released
Coaches—^RVRVRVRV23RV211922

^Coaches Poll did not release a Week 2 poll at the same time AP did.
*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings.

References

edit
  1. ^ AMORE, DOM. "Jalen Adams Helps UConn Stun Houston In AAC Quarterfinals". courant.com. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  2. ^ "NIT 2017: Akron Zips hold off Houston, 78–75". cleveland.com. Retrieved July 24, 2017.