Houston Keeps Winning-and It’s Time Everyone Paid Attention
**NEWARK, N.J. ** - At this point, it’s almost a tradition: Houston quietly puts together a dominant season, racks up wins against quality opponents, and still somehow flies just outside the national spotlight.
But after what we saw Saturday in the Never Forget Tribute Classic, it’s time to stop treating the Cougars like a background contender. They’re not just good.
They’re built for another deep March run.
Houston handled No. 14 Arkansas with the kind of physical dominance that’s become a Kelvin Sampson trademark, winning 94-85 to move to 11-1. The Cougars looked every bit like a team that’s been to the Final Four, returned key veterans, and added a freshman who might be their most dynamic guard in years.
Senior Emanuel Sharp poured in 22 points, including a few from what felt like another zip code, while freshman Kingston Flemings Jr. added 21 in a breakout performance that continues to change the ceiling for this team.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just another win. It was a statement.
Houston Doesn’t Just Win-They Control You
Arkansas came in averaging nearly 90 points a game and ranked second in the country in fast-break scoring. Houston held them to just seven fast-break points. That’s not just defense-it’s defensive dominance against a team that lives in transition.
Sampson’s squad also owned the offensive glass, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds and turning them into 16 second-chance points. That’s textbook Houston basketball: tough, relentless, and opportunistic.
And while Sampson might not love that his team gave up 85, they showed they can win a track meet if they have to. The 73-possession pace was the fastest Houston’s played in regulation since the start of last season. That’s not their comfort zone-but they adapted, and still imposed their will.
That’s the mark of a championship-level team.
A Freshman Changing the Game
Flemings, a top-20 recruit, is already playing beyond his ranking. He’s averaging over 15 points, dishing five assists a night, and shooting close to 60%. That’s rare air for a first-year guard in a system that demands discipline on both ends.
Houston’s had plenty of gritty, experienced guards over the years. But Flemings brings something different-he’s a lead guard with length, vision, and the kind of scoring touch that makes defenses stretch. He doesn’t just fit into Sampson’s system-he elevates it.
With Sharp and Jamal Shead gone, the Cougars needed someone to step into that alpha role. Flemings is doing it. And he’s doing it with poise well beyond his years.
A Win That Means More Than Just a W
This was only Houston’s second Quad 1 win of the season, joining their one-point victory over Auburn in mid-November. That might explain why they’ve been hovering just outside the inner circle of national title talk. But make no mistake-this team belongs in that conversation.
They’re now 7-1 in their last eight games against top-15 opponents. That’s not a fluke. That’s consistency at the highest level.
Arkansas had its moments, thanks largely to freshman Darius Acuff Jr., who put up 27 points and seven assists. He kept the game from turning into a blowout. But Houston’s 15-0 first-half run to stretch the lead to 41-19 was the kind of knockout punch that top teams deliver.
Even with Acuff’s brilliance, Arkansas never truly recovered.
Big 12 Battles Ahead
Houston’s about to enter the teeth of a brutal Big 12 schedule that features Arizona, Iowa State, BYU, and Kansas. But they’re more than ready. This is a team with Final Four DNA, veteran leadership, and a rising star at point guard.
Their only loss came in a three-point battle against Tennessee in Las Vegas-a game where the Vols might’ve played their best basketball of the season. That’s the kind of loss you can live with. It doesn’t disqualify Houston from elite status-it reinforces it.
Don’t Just Watch-Take Notice
No matter how you slice it-last five years, last eight years-Houston has more wins than anyone in college basketball. And they’re not just stacking regular-season Ws. They’re doing it with a style that travels in March: physical, tough, and built on defense and rebounding.
Returning veterans like Sharp, Milos Uzan, and Ja’Vier Francis give this team the experience edge. But it’s Flemings who might be the difference between another deep run and cutting down nets in April.
Houston doesn’t need hype. They’ve proven who they are, year after year. But if you’re still sleeping on them, now’s the time to wake up.
Because the Cougars aren’t just contenders-they’re one of the most complete teams in college basketball. Again.