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2021–22 Houston Cougars men's basketball team

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The 2021–22 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represented the University of Houston in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars were led by eighth-year head coach Kelvin Sampson. The team played their home games at the Fertitta Center as members of the American Athletic Conference.

ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 15
Record32–6 (15–3 AAC)
Quick facts Houston Cougars men's basketball, AAC tournament championsAAC regular season champions ...
2021–22 Houston Cougars men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Elite Eight
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 15
Record32–6 (15–3 AAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaFertitta Center
Seasons
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2021–22 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 15 Houston †15–3 .83332–6  .842
SMU13–4 .76524–9  .727
Memphis13–5 .72222–11  .667
Temple10–7 .58817–12  .586
Tulane10–8 .55614–15  .483
UCF9–9 .50018–12  .600
Wichita State6–9 .40015–13  .536
Cincinnati7–11 .38918–15  .545
East Carolina6–11 .35315–15  .500
Tulsa4–14 .22211–20  .355
South Florida3–15 .1678–23  .258
† 2022 AAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll
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Houston finished its 2021–22 regular season with an overall record of 26–5. They were regular-season champions of the American Conference with a record of 15–3 in conference play. They entered the conference tournament as the #1 seed and proceeded to win the tournament, defeating Memphis 71–53 in the final. The Cougars entered the NCAA tournament as the #5 seed in the South Regional. Houston went 3–1 in the tournament, reaching the Elite Eight before falling 50–44 to Villanova in the regional final.

Houston finished the season with a record of 32–6 and a ranking of #7 in the final Coaches Poll.

Previous season

Houston finished the 2020–21 regular season 21–3, 14–3 in AAC play, finishing in second place for the regular season. They entered as the No. 2 seed in the AAC tournament, which the Cougars would go on to win for the first time to clinch an auto-bid to the NCAA tournament. They were selected as a #2 seed in the Midwest Region. The team advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1984, where they lost to eventual national champions Baylor.

Offseason

Departing players

More information Name, Number ...
Houston departing players
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Caleb Mills2G6'3"180Redshirt SophomoreArden, NCTransferred to Florida State (mid-season)[1]
DeJon Jarreau3G6'5"185Redshirt SeniorNew Orleans, LAGraduated; declared for the 2021 NBA draft[a]
Justin Gorham4F6'7"225Redshirt SeniorBaltimore, MDGraduated; declared for the 2021 NBA draft[a]
Cameron Tyson5G6'2"190Redshirt SophomoreBothell, WATransferred to Seattle[2]
Quentin Grimes24G6'5"205JuniorThe Woodlands, TXDeclared for the 2021 NBA draft; selected 25th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers[3]
Brison Gresham55F/C6'8"230Redshirt SeniorNew Orleans, LAGraduate transferred to Texas Southern[4]
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  1. [a]
    For the 2021 draft only, the NBA and its players union agreed that seniors would have to declare themselves eligible for the draft. This was an aftereffect of the NCAA's announcement that the 2020–21 season would not count against the athletic eligibility of any participant in the organization's winter sports, including basketball. This in turn meant that every senior in the 2020–21 season had remaining eligibility.

Incoming transfers

More information Name, Number ...
Houston incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school Years remaining Date eligible
Tazé Moore[5]4G6'5"195Graduate studentSouthaven, MSCSU Bakersfield1October 1, 2021
Kyler Edwards[6]11G6'4"205SeniorArlington, TXTexas Tech2October 1, 2021
Josh Carlton[7]25F/C6'10"245Graduate studentWinterville, NCUConn1October 1, 2021
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2021 recruiting class

More information Name, Hometown ...
College recruiting
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Ramon Walker Jr.
SF		 Pearland, TX Shadow Creek High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) May 20, 2020 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   (76)
Robbie Armbrester
PF		 Atlanta, GA Wasatch Academy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Sep 7, 2020 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   (77)
Ja'Vier Francis
C		 New Orleans, LA Montverde Academy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sep 27, 2020 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   (78)
Overall recruit ranking:    247Sports: 29
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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:

  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
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2022 recruiting class

More information College recruiting (2022), Name ...
College recruiting (2022)
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Emanuel Sharp
SG		 Tampa, FL Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) May 13, 2021 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   (82)
Terrance Arceneaux
SF		 Beaumont, TX Beaumont United High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sep 17, 2021 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 5/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   (83)
Jarace Walker
PF / SF		 New Freedom, PA IMG Academy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Nov 4, 2021 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 5/5 stars   247Sports: 5/5 stars   (92)
Overall recruit ranking:    247Sports: 12
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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:

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Preseason

AAC preseason media poll

On October 13, The American released the preseason poll and other preseason awards.[8]

More information Predicted finish, Team ...
Coaches Poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Houston98 (8)
2Memphis92 (3)
3SMU77
4Wichita State76
5UCF66
6Cincinnati52
7Tulsa43
8Temple37
T-9South Florida25
T-9Tulane25
11East Carolina14
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Preseason awards

  • All-AAC First Team – Marcus Sasser

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
2021–22 Houston Cougars men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Marcus Sasser 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)195 lb (88 kg) JrRed Oak HS Dallas, TX
G 1 Jamal Shead 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)190 lb (86 kg) SoManor HS Manor, TX
G 2 Robbie Armbrester 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)220 lb (100 kg) FrWasatch Academy Atlanta, GA
G 3 Ramon Walker Jr. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)210 lb (95 kg) FrShadow Creek HS Pearland, TX
G 4 Tazé Moore 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg) GSCSU Bakersfield Southaven, MS
F 5 Ja'Vier Francis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg) FrMontverde Academy New Orleans, LA
G 11 Kyler Edwards 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg) SrTexas Tech Arlington, TX
G 12 Tramon Mark 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg) SoDickinson HS Dickinson, TX
F 13 J'Wan Roberts 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)230 lb (104 kg) RS SoShoemaker HS Saint Thomas, USVI
G 20 Ryan Elvin (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)165 lb (75 kg) SoCedar Ridge HS Round Rock, TX
F/C 25 Josh Carlton 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)245 lb (111 kg) GSUConn Winterville, NC
F 32 Reggie Chaney 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)230 lb (104 kg) SrArkansas Tulsa, OK
F 35 Fabian White Jr. 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)230 lb (104 kg) GSAtascocita HS Atascocita, TX
C 52 Kiyron Powell Current redshirt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) SoBenjamin Bosse HS Evansville, IN
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: July 6, 2021

Close
  • December 22, 2021 – Tramon Mark had shoulder surgery, leading him to miss the rest of the season.[9]
  • December 24, 2021 – Marcus Sasser announced he would miss the rest of the season due to a foot injury.[10]

Schedule and results

More information Date time, TV, Rank# ...
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 6, 2021*
3:00 p.m.		 No. 15 Montana Tech W 78–51 
 21 – Sasser  9 – White Jr.  7 – Shead  Fertitta Center 
Houston, TX
Non-conference regular season
November 9, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 15 Hofstra W 83–75 OT 1–0
  25 – Sasser  15 – Roberts  3 – Tied  Fertitta Center (6,883)
Houston, TX
November 12, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 15 Rice
Rivalry		 W 79–46  2–0
  26 – Sasser  9 – Roberts  5 – Sasser  Fertitta Center (6,967)
Houston, TX
November 16, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 15 Virginia W 67–47  3–0
  19 – Sasser  8 – White Jr.  4 – Sasser  Fertitta Center (7,051)
Houston, TX
November 22, 2021*
3:30 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 12 vs. Butler
Maui Invitational Tournament quarterfinal		 W 70–52  4–0
  21 – White Jr.  8 – White Jr.  4 – Edwards  Michelob Ultra Arena (2,937)
Paradise, NV
November 23, 2021*
4:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 12 vs. Wisconsin
Maui Invitational Tournament semifinal		 L 63–65  4–1
  18 – Edwards  6 – Roberts  5 – Shead  Michelob Ultra Arena (3,391)
Paradise, NV
November 24, 2021*
1:30 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 12 vs. Oregon
Maui Invitational Tournament 3rd-place game		 W 78–49  5–1
  15 – White Jr.  7 – White Jr.  6 – Shead  Michelob Ultra Arena (2,901)
Paradise, NV
November 30, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 15 Northwestern State W 99–58  6–1
  26 – Sasser  8 – White Jr.  9 – Shead  Fertitta Center (6,639)
Houston, TX
December 3, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 15 Bryant W 111–44  7–1
  22 – Mark  12 – Roberts  4 – Tied  Fertitta Center (7,051)
Houston, TX
December 6, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 14 Alcorn State W 77–45  8–1
  18 – Mark  7 – Edwards  11 – Shead  Fertitta Center (6,649)
Houston, TX
December 11, 2021*
9:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 14 at No. 9 Alabama L 82–83  8–2
  25 – Sasser  13 – Roberts  3 – Shead  Coleman Coliseum (10,613)
Tuscaloosa, AL
December 14, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 14 Louisiana W 71–56  9–2
  17 – Carlton  10 – Moore  5 – Shead  Fertitta Center (6,955)
Houston, TX
December 18, 2021*
6:00 p.m., ESPNU		 No. 14 vs. Oklahoma State
Hoop Hype XL College Basketball Showcase		 W 72–61  10–2
  18 – Shead  11 – Carlton  8 – Shead  Dickies Arena (1,800)
Fort Worth, TX
December 22, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 13 Texas State W 80–47  11–2
  20 – Carlton  5 – Tied  10 – Shead  Fertitta Center (7,488)
Houston, TX
AAC regular season
January 2, 2022
4:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 12 at Temple W 66–61  12–2
(1–0)		  15 – White Jr.  14 – White Jr.  6 – Shead  Liacouras Center (3,229)
Philadelphia, PA
January 5, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 12 at South Florida W 83–66  13–2
(2–0)		  30 – Carlton  11 – Carlton  8 – Edwards  Yuengling Center (2,291)
Tampa, FL
January 8, 2022
11:00 a.m., CBS		 No. 12 Wichita State W 76–66  14–2
(3–0)		  22 – Carlton  12 – Carlton  7 – Shead  Fertitta Center (7,051)
Houston, TX
January 15, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 11 at Tulsa W 66–64  15–2
(4–0)		  29 – Edwards  11 – Moore  3 – Edwards  Reynolds Center (3,349)
Tulsa, OK
January 18, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 10 South Florida W 74–55  16–2
(5–0)		  23 – Edwards  7 – Edwards  5 – Shead  Fertitta Center (6,959)
Houston, TX
January 22, 2022
5:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 10 East Carolina W 79–36  17–2
(6–0)		  25 – Edwards  9 – Carlton  7 – Edwards  Fertitta Center (7,287)
Houston, TX
January 29, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 7 at UCF W 63–49  18–2
(7–0)		  17 – Edwards  15 – Carlton  4 – Edwards  Addition Financial Arena (8,142)
Orlando, FL
February 2, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 6 Tulane W 73–62  19–2
(8–0)		  21 – White Jr.  9 – Carlton  6 – Tied  Fertitta Center (7,312)
Houston, TX
February 6, 2022
5:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 6 at Cincinnati W 80–58  20–2
(9–0)		  22 – White Jr.  9 – White Jr.  6 – Shead  Fifth Third Arena (11,742)
Cincinnati, OH
February 9, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 6 at SMU
Rivalry		 L 83–85  20–3
(9–1)		  17 – Tied  13 – White Jr.  12 – Shead  Moody Coliseum (5,247)
University Park, TX
February 12, 2022
2:30 p.m., ABC		 No. 6 Memphis L 59–69  20–4
(9–2)		  15 – Tied  8 – Moore  4 – Moore  Fertitta Center (7,450)
Houston, TX
February 17, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 14 UCF W 70–52  21–4
(10–2)		  14 – Moore  10 – Carlton  8 – Shead  Fertitta Center (6,957)
Houston, TX
February 20, 2022
12:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 14 at Wichita State W 76–74 2OT 22–4
(11–2)		  23 – Carlton  11 – Carlton  9 – Shead  Charles Koch Arena (9,070)
Wichita, KS
February 23, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 14 at Tulane W 81–67  23–4
(12–2)		  21 – Edwards  11 – Roberts  7 – Shead  Devlin Fieldhouse (2,707)
New Orleans, LA
February 27, 2022
11:30 a.m., ESPN		 No. 14 SMU
Rivalry		 W 75–61  24–4
(13–2)		  21 – White Jr.  9 – White Jr.  11 – Shead  Fertitta Center (7,603)
Houston, TX
March 1, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPNU		 No. 14 Cincinnati
Previously scheduled for Dec. 28		 W 71–53  25–4
(14–2)		  28 – White Jr.  10 – White Jr.  4 – Edwards  Fertitta Center (7,598)
Houston, TX
March 3, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 14 Temple W 84–46  26–4
(15–2)		  26 – White Jr.  8 – Carlton  13 – Shead  Fertitta Center (7,562)
Houston, TX
March 6, 2022
11:00 a.m., CBS		 No. 14 at Memphis L 61–75  26–5
(15–3)		  19 – Edwards  7 – Edwards  8 – Shead  FedExForum (17,946)
Memphis, TN
AAC tournament
March 11, 2022
12:00 p.m., ESPN2		 (1) No. 18 vs. (8) Cincinnati
Quarterfinals		 W 69–56  27–5
  18 – White Jr.  8 – White Jr.  7 – Shead  Dickies Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
March 12, 2022
2:00 p.m., ESPN2		 (1) No. 18 vs. (5) Tulane
Semifinals		 W 86–66  28–5
  20 – Edwards  13 – Roberts  8 – Edwards  Dickies Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
March 13, 2022
2:15 p.m., ESPN		 (1) No. 18 vs. (3) Memphis
Championship		 W 71–53  29–5
  20 – White Jr.  11 – Edwards  8 – Moore  Dickies Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
NCAA tournament
March 18, 2022*
8:40 p.m., TNT		 (5 S) No. 15 vs. (12 S) UAB
First Round		 W 82–68  30–5
  25 – Edwards  7 – Edwards  7 – Shead  PPG Paints Arena (17,410)
Pittsburgh, PA
March 20, 2022*
11:10 a.m., CBS		 (5 S) No. 15 vs. (4 S) No. 19 Illinois
Second Round		 W 68–53  31–5
  21 – Moore  7 – Tied  4 – Edwards  PPG Paints Arena (18,506)
Pittsburgh, PA
March 24, 2022*
8:55 p.m., TBS		 (5 S) No. 15 vs. (1 S) No. 2 Arizona
Sweet Sixteen		 W 72–60  32–5
  21 – Shead  7 – Carlton  6 – Shead  AT&T Center (17,357)
San Antonio, TX
March 26, 2022*
5:09 p.m., TBS		 (5 S) No. 15 vs. (2 S) No. 6 Villanova
Elite Eight		 L 44–50  32–6
  15 – Moore  10 – Moore  4 – Edwards  AT&T Center (17,186)
San Antonio, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.
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Source[11]

Rankings

See also: 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
AP15151215141413121211107т66141414т1815Not released
Coaches1414^11141313141414111099715151418157
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*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings.
^Coaches did not release a week 1 poll.

Awards and honors

American Athletic Conference honors

All-AAC Awards

All-AAC First Team

  • Josh Carlton
  • Fabian White Jr.

All-AAC Second Team

  • Kyler Edwards

All-AAC Third Team

  • Jamal Shead

Source[12]

References

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks