2020–21 Houston Cougars men's basketball team explained

Mode:Basketball
Year:2020–21
Prev Year:2019–20
Next Year:2021–22
Team:Houston Cougars
Conference:American Athletic Conference
Short Conf:AAC
Coachrank:3
Aprank:6
Record:28–4
Conf Record:14–3
Hc Year:7th
Asst Coach2:Kellen Sampson
Asst Coach3:Quannas White
Champion:AAC tournament champions
Tourney:NCAA tournament, Final Four

The 2020–21 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represented the University of Houston during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars were led by seventh-year head coach Kelvin Sampson as members of the American Athletic Conference. It was the third season that the team played its home games at the Fertitta Center. They won their first ever AAC tournament to clinch an auto-bid to the NCAA tournament, where they were selected as a #2 seed in the Midwest Region. The team advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1984. They eventually lost to Baylor in the Final Four who went on to become the national champions that season.

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

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Chris Harris Jr. 1 C 6'10" 255 Graduated
11 G 6'5" 210 Play professionally[1]
Cedrick Alley Jr. 23 F 6'6" 225 Transferred to UTSA[2]

2020 recruiting class

Houston also added preferred walk-on Ryan Elvin, a 6'0" point guard 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
1 Houston 99 (9)
2 Memphis 90 (2)
3 SMU 80
4 Cincinnati 77
5 South Florida 61
6 Tulsa 50
7 Wichita State 44
8 UCF 37
9 East Carolina 34
10 Temple 18
11 Tulane 15

Preseason Awards

Roster

Schedule and results

COVID-19 impact

See 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.

Schedule

|-!colspan=12 style=| Regular season|-!colspan=12 style=| AAC Tournament|-|-!colspan=9 style=| NCAA tournament|-

Rankings

See also: 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings. *AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings
^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll

Awards and honors

All-American

John McLendon Award

American Athletic Conference honors

All-AAC Awards

Quentin Grimes

All-AAC First Team

All-AAC Second Team

Source[16]

Notes and References

  1. News: Duarte . Joseph . 18 May 2020 . Nate Hinton plans to leave UH, play professionally . houstonchronicle.com . . 19 May 2020 .
  2. Duarte . Joseph . Joseph_Duarte . 1259988129647386624 . 11 May 2020 . Houston forward Cedrick Alley Jr. plans to transfer to UTSA . https://twitter.com/Joseph_Duarte/status/1259988129647386624 . 11 May 2020.
  3. News: Duarte . Joseph . Reggie Chaney transferring to UH basketball from Arkansas . 22 Jun 2020 . Houston Chronicle. 25 Jun 2020.
  4. JonRothstein . 1304130299152957440 . 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.. https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1304130299152957440 .
  5. Web site: . 2020 PG Ryan Elvin, New PWO Commit. coogfans.com. October 22, 2019 . Coogfans. 25 Jun 2020.
  6. Web site: Houston Tabbed as 2020-21 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Favorite. theAmerican.org. 28 October 2020.
  7. Joseph_Duarte . 1265780667578753024 . 27 May 2020 . Houston forward Fabian White Jr. has suffered a torn ACL, a source confirms. . https://twitter.com/joseph_duarte/status/1265780667578753024 . 28 May 2020 .
  8. Web site: Cobb . David . Houston guard Caleb Mills, the AAC Preseason Player of the Year, transferring from Cougars . CBS Sports . January 7, 2021 . January 5, 2021.
  9. Web site: Weiler . Curt . FSU basketball lands commitment from Houston transfer Caleb Mills . . January 13, 2021 . January 12, 2021.
  10. Rothstein . Jon . JonRothstein . 1252618014140370946 . 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. . https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1252618014140370946 . 21 Apr 2020 .
  11. JonRothstein . 1314913578374164480 . 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. .
  12. News: UH adds basketball game against Our Lady of the Lake . Houston Chronicle . 3 Feb 2021 . Duarte . Joseph .
  13. Web site: Cincinnati-Houston Men's Basketball Game Set for Feb. 21 Changes Location . 10 Feb 2021.
  14. Web site: Hilltoppers Add Nationally Televised Road Game at No. 6/5 Houston on Thursday; FIU Series Altered . 21 Feb 2021.
  15. Web site: Houston Announces Schedule Change. 26 Feb 2021.
  16. Web site: American Athletic Conference Announces Men's Basketball Honors. theamerican.org. en. 2021-03-10. 2021-03-10.

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