Houston’s start has already nudged the Cougars higher in the AP Poll.
After opening the season with an 86-68 win over California in the Caesar’s Lake Tahoe Classic on Sunday night, Houston moved to 2-0 and climbed from No. 10 in the AP Preseason Poll to No. 8 in the Week 1 rankings.
That puts the Cougars just behind No. 7 Texas and one spot ahead of UCLA, which made the biggest jump in the top 10 by rising 13 places to No. 9.
The rest of the updated poll brought plenty of movement as well. Tennessee slipped a couple of spots to No. 11, while Big 12 rival Arizona dropped seven spots from No. 5 to No. 12 after losing to UCLA at home on opening night.
The Big 12 had another notable shakeup with Iowa State. The Cyclones entered the preseason at No. 18, but fell out of the Week 1 poll entirely after a home loss to Memphis in their first game. Kansas moved up to No. 15, and Texas Tech climbed to No. 16, with both teams rising a couple of spots.
Even with Houston’s jump, it’s still only the first week of the season, and the rankings are far from settled. The Cougars also may not have a roster full of nationally recognized names beyond Joseph Tugler, which could keep them flying a little under the radar for now.
Still, there’s already some evidence that this group has real upside. Houston got a look at fifth-year transfer guard Chendall Weaver in his debut after his temporary restraining order was granted by a Texas Court, and redshirt sophomore guard Chase McCarty returned from a knee injury and started against California.
The next big measuring stick is the Player’s Era Tournament, which should say plenty about where this Houston team stands. The Cougars finished last season at No. 7 with a 30-7 record, were ranked No. 5 before March Madness, and then fell to Illinois in the Sweet 16.
One more milestone keeps stacking up for the program: Houston has now been ranked in each of the last 128 AP Polls, a school record and the longest active streak in the country.
In Other News...
Houston Gets Its First Real Fertitta Test As New Pieces Settle In
Houstons first real test of the Fertitta Center stretch comes with a little more context than a routine nonconference tune-up. The No. 8 Cougars are back home to face Jacksonville State after handling California, and the early returns have pointed to senior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. as the steadying force, leading Houston in both scoring and assists as the roster continues to settle around him.
Jacksonville State arrives with its own recent form and a few productive pieces, which gives this one a chance to tell a little more about where Houston stands beyond the ranking. The Cougars also have the usual game-night extras on tap, from promotions to broadcast coverage, but the bigger question is how quickly the new mix can keep looking comfortable once the opposition brings a little more resistance. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Fans May Be Blaming The Wrong Problem On Defense
Houstons defense has taken plenty of heat from the stands, but the numbers point to a unit that has actually done a fair bit of its job. Opponents have been held below their season averages in both points and total offense, and when compared with previous seasons, the results look similar or even better in some areas. For a program built on the idea of complementary football, that matters, especially when the coaching staff keeps stressing how much the defense is supposed to support the rest of the team.
The frustration from fans has been real, though, and a lot of it seems tied to a preseason remark from the defensive coordinator that got interpreted in a harsher way than intended. That has helped fuel the idea that the problem is bigger than it really is on that side of the ball. The more interesting question now is whether the criticism is aimed at the right place, because the evidence suggests Houstons defense may be doing more to keep games manageable than its getting credit for. [Read more 🡒]
Conner Weigman Just Gave Houston Fans Another Reason To Dream
Conner Weigmans first season in Houston has already given the Cougars plenty to point to, and now it has put him in the national conversation for one of college footballs most prestigious honors. The Houston quarterback was named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the nations top all-around player, and he is one of 18 players still in the mix based on his production, leadership and sportsmanship.
Weigmans numbers help explain why the recognition arrived. He has completed 66.1% of his passes for 2,260 yards with 22 touchdowns and only two interceptions, while also adding 279 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. For a Houston program trying to keep building momentum, the award nod is another sign that Weigman has quickly become more than just a steady hand at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]