No. 7 Houston’s Depth, Defense Set the Tone Ahead of Arizona State Clash
No. 7 Houston is rolling-and not just on the scoreboard.
The Cougars are finding their stride at the right time, blending veteran leadership with youthful energy to form one of the most complete teams in the country. After dismantling West Virginia 77-48 earlier this week, Houston now turns its attention to a Sunday showdown with visiting Arizona State.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a team riding a hot streak. It’s a program that looks deeper, tougher, and more balanced than the one that made it all the way to last year’s national title game. Head coach Kelvin Sampson has a machine on his hands-one built on relentless defense, smart rotations, and a roster that can come at you in waves.
Houston’s Depth Is a Problem-for Everyone Else
The Cougars (16-1, 4-0 Big 12) are winners of 10 straight, and they’re doing it with a mix of savvy veterans and fearless freshmen. Against West Virginia, it was Milos Uzan leading the charge with 17 points, Emanuel Sharp adding 13, and Joseph Tugler chipping in 10 points, six boards, and four steals. That’s not just production-it’s balance.
Sharp (15.9 points per game) and Uzan (11.3) are the anchors in the backcourt, while Tugler (8.4) continues to be a force in the paint. But what’s really giving Houston an edge is its freshman class, particularly Kingston Flemings, who’s averaging 15.4 points and playing like anything but a newcomer.
Sampson isn’t just tolerating his freshmen-he’s trusting them. And it’s paying off.
“Proud of our young guys,” Sampson said. “Not very many teams in the top 10 are playing four freshmen.
We paid the severance for that early, because you’re not going to look great when you’re playing that many young guys. But we hung in there and let them make their mistakes.”
That patience is turning into production. Houston has now won 14 straight at home and 35 in a row against unranked opponents. The Cougars aren’t just beating teams-they’re suffocating them.
Arizona State Brings Fight, But Faces Tall Task
Arizona State (10-7, 1-3 Big 12) heads into Sunday’s matchup coming off a hard-fought 89-82 loss to top-ranked Arizona. It was a game that showed the Sun Devils still have some bite, even if the results haven’t gone their way lately.
Maurice Odum was electric, dropping 23 points and dishing out seven assists, while Massamba Diop added 16 points and six rebounds. Senior guard Bryce Ford returned from a back injury to score nine points, but the Sun Devils couldn’t quite close the gap, falling short in the final minute.
“Even when we got down 12 in the second half, guys came in and made plays,” head coach Bobby Hurley said. “We had a chance. I thought our guys battled and really tried hard to hang in there in the paint.”
That kind of grit will be necessary against a Houston team that thrives on wearing opponents down. Sunday marks Arizona State’s third game against a ranked opponent in a four-game stretch-an unforgiving run that’s tested their depth and resolve.
Odum continues to lead the way for the Sun Devils, averaging 16.8 points and 6.5 assists per game. Diop (14.7 points, 5.6 rebounds) and Anthony Johnson (14.3 points) round out a trio capable of putting up points in bunches. But against Houston’s physical defense and deep rotation, scoring won’t come easy.
“We have to go back to the drawing board,” Odum said. “See what we did good, see what we did wrong. We have to treat every game like it’s the same game, because we’re in the Big 12 and every game is a gauntlet.”
What to Watch For
This game is a contrast in styles. Houston wants to control the tempo, force turnovers, and grind you down with depth and defense. Arizona State, meanwhile, will look to push the pace and lean on its playmakers to create offense in transition.
The Cougars have the edge on paper-and frankly, on the court too-but Arizona State has shown it won’t back down from a fight. If the Sun Devils can keep it close early and get contributions from their bench, they could make things interesting.
But if Houston’s recent form is any indication, the Cougars are more than ready to keep their foot on the gas. With a roster that keeps coming and a coach who knows how to manage talent and toughness, this team isn’t just winning games-they’re building something bigger.
And come Sunday, Arizona State will get a firsthand look at just how deep that build goes.