2020–21 Houston Cougars men's basketball team

The 2020–21 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represents the University of Houston during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars are led by seventh-year head coach Kelvin Sampson as members of the American Athletic Conference. This is the third season that the team plays its home games at the Fertitta Center.

2020–21 Houston Cougars men's basketball
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 5
APNo. 8
2020–21 record16–2 (10–2 AAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaFertitta Center
2020–21 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 8 Houston10–2 .833  16–2  .889
Wichita State7–2 .778  11–4  .733
Memphis8–3 .727  12–6  .667
SMU7–4 .636  11–4  .733
Tulsa6–6 .500  9–8  .529
South Florida3–3 .500  7–5  .583
Cincinnati3–4 .429  5–7  .417
Temple3–7 .300  4–7  .364
UCF3–8 .273  5–9  .357
Tulane2–7 .222  7–7  .500
East Carolina2–8 .200  8–8  .500
† 2021 AAC Tournament winner
As of February 9, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

Houston finished the 2019–20 regular season 23–8, 13–5 in AAC play, finishing tied for first place and winning a share of the regular season title. They entered as the No. 2 seed in the AAC Tournament, which was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Offseason

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Chris Harris Jr.1C6'10"255SeniorHouston, TXGraduated
Nate Hinton11G6'5"210SophomoreGastonia, NCPlay professionally[1]
Cedrick Alley Jr.23F6'6"225RS SophomoreHouston, TXTransferred to UTSA[2]

Incoming Transfers
NamePos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Reggie ChaneyF6'8"225JuniorTulsa, OKTransferred from Arkansas. Chaney was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.[3][4]

2020 Recruiting class
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Tramon Mark
PG		 Dickinson, TX Dickinson High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Apr 17, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN grade: 83
Jamal Shead
PG		 Manor, TX Manor High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) May 27, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN grade: 80
Kiyron Powell
C		 Evansville, IN Benjamin Bosse High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Aug 6, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN grade: 76
Overall recruiting rankings:   247Sports: 27
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, 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:

  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2020-04-09.

    Houston will also add Preferred Walk-on Ryan Elvin a 6'0" PG from Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock, Texas.[5]

    2021 Recruiting class

    Preseason

    AAC preseason media poll

    On October 28, The American released the preseason Poll and other preseason awards[6]

    Coaches Poll
    Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
    1Houston99 (2)
    2Memphis90 (2)
    3SMU80
    4Cincinnati77
    5South Florida61
    6Tulsa50
    7Wichita State44
    8UCF37
    9East Carolina34
    10Temple18
    11Tulane15

    Preseason Awards
    • AAC Preseason Player of the Year - Caleb Mills
    • All-AAC First Team - Caleb Mills

    Roster
    2020–21 Houston Cougars men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Marcus Sasser 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)190 lb (86 kg) SoRed Oak Red Oak, TX
    G 1 Jamal Shead 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrManor Manor, TX
    G 2 Caleb Mills (T) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS SoT. C. Roberson Arden, NC
    G 3 DeJon Jarreau 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)185 lb (84 kg) RS SrUMass New Orleans, LA
    F 4 Justin Gorham 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg) RS SrTowson Baltimore, MD
    G 5 Cameron Tyson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg) RS SoIdaho Bothell, WA
    G 12 Tramon Mark 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrDickinson Dickinson, TX
    F 13 J'Wan Roberts 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS FrShoemaker Saint Thomas, VI
    G 20 Ryan Elvin (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)155 lb (70 kg) FrCedar Ridge Round Rock, TX
    G 24 Quentin Grimes 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) JrKansas The Woodlands, TX
    C 30 Caleb Broodo (W) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)240 lb (109 kg) RS JrDow Midland, MI
    F 32 Reggie Chaney 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg) JrArkansas Tulsa, OK
    F 35 Fabian White Jr.  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg) SrAtascocita Atascocita, TX
    C 52 Kiyron Powell 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrBenjamin Bosse Evansville, IN
    F/C 55 Brison Gresham 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)230 lb (104 kg) RS SrUMass New Orleans, LA
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on
    • (T) Transferred
    • Injured
    • Current redshirt

    Roster
    Last update: November 10, 2020

    • May 27, 2020 – Fabian White Jr. suffered a torn ACL, leading him to sit out for the entire season.[7]
    • January 5, 2021 – Caleb Mills entered the transfer portal.[8] Mills would eventually transfer to Florida State.[9]

    Schedule and results

    COVID-19 impact
    Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports

    Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Cougars' schedule is subject to change, including the cancellation or postponement of individual games, the cancellation of the entire season, or games played either with minimal fans or without fans in attendance and just essential personnel.

    • The Cougars began a home-and-home series with LSU and Alabama beginning in the 2020–2021.[10][11] Both were eventually postponed due to the pandemic.
    • Two previously scheduled games were postponed (vs. Sam Houston State on Dec 9th and vs. Rice on Dec 12th) due to positive COVID-19 tests in the Houston program.[12]
    • The game vs. UCF originally scheduled for Dec 15th was moved to Dec 26th due to positive COVID-19 tests in the Houston program.[13]
    • The game vs. South Florida originally scheduled for January 14th was moved to February 10th due to COVID–19 issues.[14]
    • The game vs. Cincinnati originally scheduled for Jan 23rd was postponed due to COVID-19 issues.[15]
    • The game vs. Temple originally scheduled for Feb 10th was rescheduled for Jan 23rd due to Houston's previously scheduled game being postponed.[16]
    • The games @ Cincinnati originally scheduled for Feb 21st was moved to Houston.[18]

    Schedule
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Non-conference regular season
    November 25, 2020*
    2:00 p.m., ESPN+    		 No. 17 Lamar W 89–45  1–0
    		  25 – Sasser  8 – Mark  4 – Grimes  Fertitta Center (1,859)
    Houston, TX
    November 27, 2020*
    2:00 p.m., ESPN+    		 No. 17 Boise State
    Southwest Showcase    		 W 68–58  2–0
    		  25 – Grimes  14 – Roberts  2 – Sasser  Fertitta Center (1,859)
    Houston, TX
    November 29, 2020*
    4:00 p.m., ESPN    		 No. 17 vs. No. 14 Texas Tech
    Southwest Showcase    		 W 64–53  3–0
    		  17 – Sasser  9 – Jarreau  5 – Jarreau  Dickies Arena (3,568)
    Fort Worth, TX
    December 5, 2020*
    5:00 p.m., ESPN+    		 No. 10 South Carolina
    American/SEC Alliance    		 W 77–67  4–0
    		  23 – Grimes  8 – Jarreau  3 – Tied  Fertitta Center (1,859)
    Houston, TX
    December 9, 2020*
    7:00 p.m., ESPN+    		 No. 10 Sam Houston State Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[19] Fertitta Center 
    Houston, TX
    December 12, 2020*
    1:00 p.m., ESPN+    		 No. 10 Rice Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[20] Fertitta Center 
    Houston, TX
    December 20, 2020*
    3:00 p.m., ESPN+    		 No. 6 Alcorn State W 88–55  5–0
    		  27 – Grimes  15 – Gorham  7 – Jarreau  Fertitta Center (1,859)
    Houston, TX
    AAC regular season
    December 22, 2020
    7:00 p.m., ESPN+    		 No. 6 Temple W 76–50  6–0
    (1–0)    		  22 – Grimes  12 – Gorham  4 – Tied  Fertitta Center (1,859)
    Houston, TX
    December 26, 2020
    12:00 p.m., ABC    		 No. 6 at UCF W 63–54  7–0
    (2–0)    		  19 – Sasser  5 – Tied  5 – Jarreau  Addition Financial Arena (1,476)
    Orlando, FL
    December 29, 2020
    8:00 p.m., ESPN2    		 No. 5 at Tulsa L 64–65  7–1
    (2–1)    		  19 – Grimes  7 – Grimes  4 – Grimes  Reynolds Center 
    Tulsa, OK
    January 3, 2021
    6:00 p.m., ESPN2    		 No. 5 at SMU
    Rivalry    		 W 74–60  8–1
    (3–1)    		  17 – Sasser  19 – Gorham  5 – Jarreau  Moody Coliseum 
    University Park, TX
    January 6, 2021
    7:00 p.m., ESPN+    		 No. 11 Wichita State W 70–63  9–1
    (4–1)    		  22 – Grimes  10 – Tied  5 – Jarreau  Fertitta Center (1,859)
    Houston, TX
    January 9, 2021
    7:00 p.m., ESPNU    		 No. 11 Tulane W 71–50  10–1
    (5–1)    		  28 – Sasser  11 – Gorham  3 – Tied  Fertitta Center (1,859)
    Houston, TX
    January 17, 2021
    1:00 p.m., ESPNU    		 No. 11 UCF W 75–58  11–1
    (6–1)    		  18 – Grimes  9 – Gorham  5 – Jarreau  Fertitta Center (1,859)
    Houston, TX
    January 20, 2021
    7:00 p.m., ESPN+    		 No. 8 Tulsa W 86–59  12–1
    (7–1)    		  26 – Sasser  11 – Gorham  5 – Tied  Fertitta Center (1,859)
    Houston, TX
    January 23, 2021
    11:00 a.m., CBS    		 No. 8 Cincinnati Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[21] Fertitta Center 
    Houston, TX
    January 23, 2021
    11:00 a.m., CBS    		 No. 8 at Temple W 68–51  13–1
    (8–1)    		  15 – Tied  10 – Gorham  6 – Jarreau  Liacouras Center 
    Philadelphia, PA
    January 28, 2021
    8:00 p.m., ESPN    		 No. 6 at Tulane W 83–60  14–1
    (9–1)    		  31 – Tyson  15 – Gorham  4 – Tied  Devlin Fieldhouse 
    New Orleans, LA
    January 31, 2021
    12:00 p.m., ESPN    		 No. 6 SMU
    Rivalry    		 W 70–48  15–1
    (10–1)    		  19 – Sasser  17 – Gorham  5 – Jarreau  Fertitta Center 
    Houston, TX
    February 3, 2021
    5:00 p.m., ESPN+    		 No. 5 at East Carolina L 73–82  15–2
    (10–2)    		  25 – Jarreau  11 – Gorham  5 – Jarreau  Williams Arena (78)
    Greenville, NC
    February 6, 2021*
    2:00 p.m., ESPN+    		 No. 5 Our Lady of the Lake W 112–46  16–2
    (10–2)    		  32 – Tyson  12 – Powell  11 – Shead  Fertitta Center 
    Houston, TX
    February 10, 2021
    		 No. 8 at South Florida     Yuengling Center 
    Tampa, FL
    February 14, 2021
    12:00 p.m., ESPN    		 No. 8 Memphis     Fertitta Center 
    Houston, TX
    February 17, 2021
     ESPN+    		 East Carolina     Fertitta Center 
    Houston, TX
    February 21, 2021
    12:00 p.m., ESPN    		 at Cincinnati     Fertitta Center 
    Houston, TX
    February 25, 2021
    6:00 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2    		 at Wichita State     Charles Koch Arena 
    Wichita, KS
    February 28, 2021
    3:00 p.m., ESPNU    		 South Florida     Fertitta Center 
    Houston, TX
    March 7, 2021
    11:00 a.m., CBS    		 at Memphis     FedEx Forum 
    Memphis, TN
    AAC Tournament
    March 11–14, 2021
    TBD    		 vs.      Dickies Arena 
    Fort Worth, TX
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.

    Rankings
    See also: 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
    Week
    Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Final 
    AP 17 10 7 6 6 5 11 11 8 6 5 8 Not released 
    Coaches 18-T 18-T^ 8 8 7 5 11 11 8 6 5

    *AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings
    ^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll

    References
    1. Duarte, Joseph (18 May 2020). "Nate Hinton plans to leave UH, play professionally". houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
    2. Duarte, Joseph [@Joseph_Duarte] (11 May 2020). "Houston forward Cedrick Alley Jr. plans to transfer to UTSA" (Tweet). Retrieved 11 May 2020 – via Twitter.
    3. Duarte, Joesph (22 Jun 2020). "Reggie Chaney transferring to UH basketball from Arkansas". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 25 Jun 2020.
    4. @JonRothstein (10 Sep 2020). "Kelvin Sampson told reporters that Houston's Reggie Chaney has received a waiver from the NCAA and is eligible for the 20-21 season.Transfer from Arkansas" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    5. "2020 PG Ryan Elvin, New PWO Commit". coogfans.com. Coogfans. Retrieved 25 Jun 2020.
    6. "Houston Tabbed as 2020-21 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Favorite". theAmerican.org. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
    7. @Joseph_Duarte (27 May 2020). "Houston forward Fabian White Jr. has suffered a torn ACL, a source confirms" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 May 2020 – via Twitter.
    8. Cobb, David (January 5, 2021). "Houston guard Caleb Mills, the AAC Preseason Player of the Year, transferring from Cougars". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
    9. Weiler, Curt (January 12, 2021). "FSU basketball lands commitment from Houston transfer Caleb Mills". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
    10. Rothstein, Jon [@JonRothstein] (21 Apr 2020). "Sources: Houston and LSU will begin a home-and-home series next season at the Fertitta Center. Return game in Baton Rouge in 21-22" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 Apr 2020 – via Twitter.
    11. @JonRothstein (10 Oct 2020). "Sources: The home-and-home series between Alabama and Houston remains on as scheduled starting this season in Tuscaloosa. Terrific game for both teams" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    12. Duarte, Joesph (8 Dec 2020). "UH basketball pausing activities after positive COVID-19 tests". houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 21 Dec 2020.
    13. "Houston-UCF Men's Basketball Game on Dec. 15 Postponed". theamerican.org. 10 Dec 2020.
    14. "The American Announces Men's Basketball Schedule Changes". theamerican.org. 26 Jan 2021.
    15. "The American Announces Schedule Changes to Pair of Men's Basketball Games". 20 Jan 2021.
    16. "The American Announces Schedule Changes to Pair of Men's Basketball Games". 20 Jan 2021.
    17. "UH adds basketball game against Our Lady of the Lake". 3 Feb 2021.
    18. "Cincinnati-Houston Men's Basketball Game Set for Feb. 21 Changes Location". 10 Feb 2021.
    19. Duarte, Joesph (8 Dec 2020). "UH basketball pausing activities after positive COVID-19 tests". houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 21 Dec 2020.
    20. Duarte, Joesph (8 Dec 2020). "UH basketball pausing activities after positive COVID-19 tests". houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 21 Dec 2020.
    21. "The American Announces Schedule Changes to Pair of Men's Basketball Games". 20 Jan 2021.
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