The Houston Cougars, and as a result, the Big 12 Conference, are heading back to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 after UH beat Tennessee 69-50 in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Final on Sunday.
After just surviving against Purdue in the Sweet 16, Houston got off to a red-hot start against Tennessee and hung on in the second half. The Cougars led 29-8 with four minutes left in the first half.
Tennessee’s 15 first-half points were the lowest in NCAA Tournament history by a team with a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in any round of March Madness. While the Volunteers did wake up in the second half, it was just too little, too late.
Houston had a balanced attack, led by LJ Cryer with 17 points, while Emanuel Sharp added 16 points. J’Wan Roberts finished third on the team with 9 points. Houston shot 36% from three-point range, hitting 9-25, but more importantly held Tennessee to under 20% from three, as the Vols only made 5-29.
Houston basketball is heading back to the Final Four for the first time since 2021, and the second time since 1984, which was the last of three Final Four appearances in a row for the Cougars. Houston won games over SIUE, Gonzaga, Purdue and Tennessee to reach the National semifinals in San Antonio next week.
In 2020–21, the Cougars were ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation. After winning the AAC Tournament, the Cougars were awarded a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament. UH defeated Cleveland State, Rutgers, Syracuse and Oregon State to reach that Final Four. They would lose to eventual national champion Baylor in the Final Four.
For the Big 12 Conference, it avoids a third-straight season without a Final Four appearance, after having no teams make this stage of the Tournament in 2023 and 2024. The Big 12 had not had a Final Four team since 2022, when the Kansas Jayhawks won the National Championship as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest.
