Tad Boyle knows a thing or two about facing Houston on their home turf. It’s been over four decades since he first experienced the intensity of a Houston home game, back when the Phi Slama Jama era was in full swing. Fast forward to today, and the Cougars are once again a force to be reckoned with.
Fresh off a Big 12 Conference tournament win in 2025, Houston made it all the way to the NCAA Tournament championship game last season. As the Colorado Buffaloes prepare for their first visit to Houston in over 31 years, they’ll be facing a team that’s not just a contender but a favorite.
Boyle, who played for Kansas during a matchup against the Hakeem Olajuwon-led Cougars in the 1983-84 season, has nothing but respect for Houston’s current coach, Kelvin Sampson. Known for his defense-and-rebounding philosophy, Sampson has kept the Cougars at the top of their game for nearly a decade.
“They play with incredible energy and toughness,” Boyle said. “Their rebounding keeps offensive plays alive.
Players like Milos Uzan and Kingston Flemings bring that defensive grit, but they’ve also added some serious offensive talent. That’s what sets them apart, and it’s a testament to Coach Sampson.”
Despite a recent string of home wins, the odds are stacked against Colorado. The Buffs have struggled on the road, going 1-17 since the 2024-25 season began.
They’ve lost 12 straight against AP Top 25 teams and haven’t beaten a ranked team on the road in 25 tries, dating back to a win over No. 19 Oregon 13 years ago.
For Colorado to pull off a major upset, they’ll need to break through a Houston defense that leads the Big 12 in points allowed and is third in defensive field goal percentage. While the Buffs have improved defensively and on the boards, their 3-point shooting remains inconsistent, except for Barrington Hargress and Ian Inman.
Inman, a Houston native, hit a career-high five 3-pointers in a recent win against Kansas State, while Hargress went 2-for-3 from deep. However, the Buffs only managed 9-for-25 from beyond the arc in that game. Their road struggles are evident, shooting just .300 on 3-pointers in Big 12 away games.
Isaiah Johnson, once a 40% shooter from deep, has hit a rough patch, dropping to .371 for the season. Sebastian Rancik is also in a slump, going 3-for-22 from the arc in recent games.
“There are shot-takers and shot-makers,” Boyle explained. “We’ve got a couple of shot-makers in Barrington and Ian.
The rest are inconsistent. Isaiah was a shot-maker earlier, but he’s missed some open looks lately.
Ian was fantastic against K-State, making shots that kept us in the game.”
Matchup Details:
- Tipoff: Saturday, 10 a.m. MT at Fertitta Center, Houston, Texas.
- TV/Radio: ESPN2/KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM.
- Records: Colorado 16-12, 6-9 Big 12; Houston 23-5, 11-4.
Key Players to Watch:
- Colorado: G Isaiah Johnson, G Barrington Hargress, F Sebastian Rancik, F Bangot Dak, F Alon Michaeli.
- Houston: G Kingston Flemings, G Emanuel Sharp, G Milos Uzan, F/C Chris Cenak Jr., F Joseph Tugler.
Notes:
- This is CU’s first trip to Houston since a win in 1994.
- Houston’s Joseph Tugler is on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list.
- The Cougars have reached the Sweet 16 in five consecutive seasons, with Final Four appearances in 2021 and 2025.
- Houston has a strong rebounding margin, while Colorado struggles in that area.
- The Cougars have averaged the fewest turnovers in Big 12 play, a challenge for a Buffs team that’s had turnover issues.
Next up for Colorado is a visit to Utah, wrapping up their regular season road games.