This bragging rights opportunity may not last, so here goes...

For the third time in my life, my beloved Houston Cougars are #1.

In January of 1968, #2 Houston defeated #1 UCLA in the Astrodome, ending the Bruins' 47-game win streak. Elvin Hayes, Don Chaney and the Houston Cougar basketball team remained #1 in the nation for the remainder of the season until the final polls (9 weeks). Houston won 14 games in a row as #1, including a Top 10 win against Louisville. Playing without starting PG George Reynolds, Houston lost to #2 UCLA in the Final Four that year in Los Angeles.

In late February 1983, Houston returned to the #1 ranking in men's basketball reeling off 8 wins in five weeks at the top spot (including two wins against Top 5 foes and four against Top 20 teams) before falling to #16 NC St in the finals. The team was led by Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Michael Young.

And now, in 2022 Houston has regained the #1 ranking. This time much earlier in the season than the past episodes. Excited to see where this goes.

Going into tonight's game, Houston is 22-2 all-time as #1 including 5-2 against ranked foes. Per KenPom, the toughest games remaining on the schedule (% chance of win):

Dec 3 = vs. St Mary's in Ft Worth (73%) ESPN2
Dec 10 = #11 Alabama (72%) ABC
Dec 17 = @ #3 Virginia (40%) ESPN2
Jan 8 = @ Cincy (76%) ESPN
Jan 25 = @ UCF (74%)
Feb 2 = @ Wichita St (77%) ESPN2
Feb 19 = Memphis (79%) ESPN
Mar 5 = @ Memphis (59%) CBS

Houston is long overdue for National Championship in a major sport.

Congrats Cougars! Hope your only losses are to Memphis.

Congratulations to Houston.

I was attending UVa during the 1982-1983 year and college basketball was awesome. UVa was ranked #1 the first few months that season (led by Ralph Sampson, Rick Carlisle and Othell Wilson). We won back-to-back games against Georgetown (Patrick Ewing, David Wingate and Michael Jackson) and Houston and were in heaven. The team lost focus against Chaminade; and eventually NC State had their miracle runs.

(11-29-2022 11:13 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  Houston is long overdue for National Championship in a major sport.

From your lips to . . .

(11-29-2022 11:24 AM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  Congratulations to Houston.

I was attending UVa during the 1982-1983 year and college basketball was awesome. UVa was ranked #1 the first few months that season (led by Ralph Sampson, Rick Carlisle and Othell Wilson). We won back-to-back games against Georgetown (Patrick Ewing, David Wingate and Michael Jackson) and Houston and were in heaven. The team lost focus against Chaminade; and eventually NC State had their miracle runs.

Big game coming up. You going Dec 17?

Had the chance to visit Charlottesville once. Loved that place! Stayed on top of Browns Mountain looking over Monticello. Downed at least one Gus Burger (motor burger?). Played golf at the Birdwood? course. Weather was perfect. Leaves were changing. It was awesome.

(11-29-2022 11:02 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  This bragging rights opportunity may not last, so here goes...

For the third time in my life, my beloved Houston Cougars are #1.

In January of 1968, #2 Houston defeated #1 UCLA in the Astrodome, ending the Bruins' 47-game win streak. Elvin Hayes, Don Chaney and the Houston Cougar basketball team remained #1 in the nation for the remainder of the season until the final polls (9 weeks). Houston won 14 games in a row as #1, including a Top 10 win against Louisville. Playing without starting PG George Reynolds, Houston lost to #2 UCLA in the Final Four that year in Los Angeles.

In late February 1983, Houston returned to the #1 ranking in men's basketball reeling off 8 wins in five weeks at the top spot (including two wins against Top 5 foes and four against Top 20 teams) before falling to #16 NC St in the finals. The team was led by Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Michael Young.

And now, in 2022 Houston has regained the #1 ranking. This time much earlier in the season than the past episodes. Excited to see where this goes.

Going into tonight's game, Houston is 22-2 all-time as #1 including 5-2 against ranked foes. Per KenPom, the toughest games remaining on the schedule (% chance of win):

Dec 3 = vs. St Mary's in Ft Worth (73%) ESPN2
Dec 10 = #11 Alabama (72%) ABC
Dec 17 = @ #3 Virginia (40%) ESPN2
Jan 8 = @ Cincy (76%) ESPN
Jan 25 = @ UCF (74%)
Feb 2 = @ Wichita St (77%) ESPN2
Feb 19 = Memphis (79%) ESPN
Mar 5 = @ Memphis (59%) CBS

Congrats!!!

Good job, Houston. Well deserved.

(11-29-2022 11:13 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  Houston is long overdue for National Championship in a major sport.

Houston has 16 national golf championships, last one in late 80s, so I could use one in basketball too

Good job for Houston but schedule seems kinda light so far. I'm surprised they are this high already.

(11-29-2022 11:17 AM)Claw Wrote:  Congrats Cougars! Hope your only losses are to Memphis.

Losing to memphis is NOT an option

(11-29-2022 12:16 PM)wleakr Wrote:  Good job for Houston but schedule seems kinda light so far. I'm surprised they are this high already.

Early season rankings are based on the recent past, what you have returning and what you have coming in.

Houston has finished Top 5 in the NCAA NET on Selection Sunday the last three tournaments (excluding the Covid cancellation year), which resulted in a Final Four and Elite 8. Marcus Sasser decided against the NBA and came back for his senior year. And we signed a couple of National Top 50 freshmen.

But you are right, this team has a lot left to prove. A lot of room for improvement. We had a terrible rebounding performance against Oregon's height, and a terrible ball-handling/shooting performance against Kent St's defense.

Upcoming games with St Marys, Alabama and Virginia will be a great barometer.

Major props to Houston. Well deserved.

This Memphis and Cincinnati fan will always consider UM, UC, Houston and Louisville "brothers" — regardless of league affiliation.

(11-29-2022 12:38 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  Major props to Houston. Well deserved.

This Memphis and Cincinnati fan will always consider UM, UC, Houston and Louisville "brothers" — regardless of league affiliation.

Wouldn't they be sister schools?

Interesting both of your times at #1 involved one of the most famous games in NCAA history.

(11-29-2022 11:27 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  

(11-29-2022 11:24 AM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  Congratulations to Houston.

I was attending UVa during the 1982-1983 year and college basketball was awesome. UVa was ranked #1 the first few months that season (led by Ralph Sampson, Rick Carlisle and Othell Wilson). We won back-to-back games against Georgetown (Patrick Ewing, David Wingate and Michael Jackson) and Houston and were in heaven. The team lost focus against Chaminade; and eventually NC State had their miracle runs.

Big game coming up. You going Dec 17?

Had the chance to visit Charlottesville once. Loved that place! Stayed on top of Browns Mountain looking over Monticello. Downed at least one Gus Burger (motor burger?). Played golf at the Birdwood? course. Weather was perfect. Leaves were changing. It was awesome.

Unfortunately, won’t be there live. Should be a good game…Cavaliers have developed some offense this year.

(11-29-2022 12:14 PM)JHS55 Wrote:  

(11-29-2022 11:13 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  Houston is long overdue for National Championship in a major sport.

Houston has 16 national golf championships, last one in late 80s, so I could use one in basketball too

I wasn't around for that, I didn't move to Houston until '96, but that was the 3 amigos Blaime McAllister, Fred Couples, and Jim Nantz days, right? I remember they had a nice tournament when I was in Houston.

UH golf has a lot of amazing players back in the day.

Grats on your basketball success. I always thought Sampson was a great coach, he's just won everywhere he went. And that text messaging scandal at Indiana...what a joke. Sampson is an interesting character in modern sports controversies, as all of the scandals around him have revolved around basically "he called or texted people too much". It's insane to me that something like that resulted in a 5 year show cause. He's all about winning, and his controversies are about a .25 on a 1-10 scale. UH made a great move hiring him, and if you guys win 1 or more titles with him as coach then they will be well-deserved.

(11-29-2022 01:07 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(11-29-2022 12:38 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  Major props to Houston. Well deserved.

This Memphis and Cincinnati fan will always consider UM, UC, Houston and Louisville "brothers" — regardless of league affiliation.

Wouldn't they be sister schools?

Deftly played, my friend.

(11-29-2022 11:02 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  This bragging rights opportunity may not last, so here goes...

For the third time in my life, my beloved Houston Cougars are #1.

In January of 1968, #2 Houston defeated #1 UCLA in the Astrodome, ending the Bruins' 47-game win streak. Elvin Hayes, Don Chaney and the Houston Cougar basketball team remained #1 in the nation for the remainder of the season until the final polls (9 weeks). Houston won 14 games in a row as #1, including a Top 10 win against Louisville. Playing without starting PG George Reynolds, Houston lost to #2 UCLA in the Final Four that year in Los Angeles.

In late February 1983, Houston returned to the #1 ranking in men's basketball reeling off 8 wins in five weeks at the top spot (including two wins against Top 5 foes and four against Top 20 teams) before falling to #16 NC St in the finals. The team was led by Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Michael Young.

And now, in 2022 Houston has regained the #1 ranking. This time much earlier in the season than the past episodes. Excited to see where this goes.

Going into tonight's game, Houston is 22-2 all-time as #1 including 5-2 against ranked foes. Per KenPom, the toughest games remaining on the schedule (% chance of win):

Dec 3 = vs. St Mary's in Ft Worth (73%) ESPN2
Dec 10 = #11 Alabama (72%) ABC
Dec 17 = @ #3 Virginia (40%) ESPN2
Jan 8 = @ Cincy (76%) ESPN
Jan 25 = @ UCF (74%)
Feb 2 = @ Wichita St (77%) ESPN2
Feb 19 = Memphis (79%) ESPN
Mar 5 = @ Memphis (59%) CBS

That UCLA game had a strange vibe to it, playing in the Astrodome instead of a more traditional college court. But it was so ballyhooed they really needed to play in front of a huge crowd. IIRC Lew Alcindor played with a mask, which added an even more surreal quality to the game. That game played a major role in the popularity of college hoops and eventually in the NCAAT. Good stuff.

(11-29-2022 11:02 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  (snip)

Going into tonight's game, Houston is 22-2 all-time as #1 including 5-2 against ranked foes. Per KenPom, the toughest games remaining on the schedule (% chance of win):

Dec 3 = vs. St Mary's in Ft Worth (73%) ESPN2
Dec 10 = #11 Alabama (72%) ABC
Dec 17 = @ #3 Virginia (40%) ESPN2
Jan 8 = @ Cincy (76%) ESPN
Jan 25 = @ UCF (74%)
Feb 2 = @ Wichita St (77%) ESPN2
Feb 19 = Memphis (79%) ESPN
Mar 5 = @ Memphis (59%) CBS

Congratulations but man, that looks like a weak overall schedule. Not much OOC in that, unless I am missing something.