The Houston Cougars have enjoyed virtually unparalleled success since Kelvin Sampson took over as the program’s head basketball coach in 2014.
Houston has made every NCAA Tournament over the last seven seasons—this year will make it eight—and has advanced to the Sweet Sixteen or better in each of the last five tournaments.
The Cougars have won at least a share of their conference in every season dating back to the 2018-19 season, and haven’t finished a full season with less than 27 wins since 2016-17.
While the program hasn’t won a national championship in Sampson’s tenure, they’ve done everything short of it, and they’ve maintained that level of success unlike anyone else. On Monday, Houston’s run of success passed a milestone that seems almost unfathomable in this age of college basketball.
For the 100th consecutive week, the Cougars are ranked in the Associated Press Top 25—the longest active streak in the nation.
The Cougars are 19-4 (11-1 Big 12) on the year and have won 15 of their last 16 games. Despite going 2-0 last week, UH actually fell one spot to No. 6 in this week’s rankings after Florida upended No. 1 Auburn on Saturday.
Houston remains the highest-ranked team in the Big 12 and sits atop the league standings, tied for first place alongside No. 13 Arizona (17-6, 11-1 Big 12).
Sampson’s squad will go for win No. 20 when they host Scott Drew and the Baylor Bears (15-8, 7-5 Big 12) on Monday night. Then, on Saturday, they’ll hit the road for one of the biggest games of the year against Arizona at McKale Center.
