BASKETBALL ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS: 3204 Cullen Blvd

GAME 1 • vs. LAMAR • 2 p.m. • NOV. 25, 2020

@UHCougarMBK

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

BASKETBALL

ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS: 3204 Cullen Blvd. • Suite 2008 • Houston, TX • 77204 • Contact: Jeﬀ Conrad ([email protected]) O: (713) 743-9410 | C: (713) 557-3841 • UHCougars.com

SETTING the SCENE

#17/18 HOUSTON COUGARS (0-0 • 0-0 American)

LAMAR CARDINALS (0-0 • 0-0 SLC)

at #17/18 HOUSTON COUGARS (0-0 • 0-0 American)

2 p.m. • Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 Fertitta Center (7,035) • Houston

Nov. 25 LAMAR

ESPN+

TBA

2 p.m. 2 p.m.

4 p.m.

Television:

ESPN+

Southwest Showcase (Fertitta Center)

Matt Thomas (PxP) Reid Gettys (analyst)

Nov. 27 BOISE STATE

Southwest Showcase (Fort Worth, Texas)

Radio: 950 AM KPRC / TuneIn App

Jeremy Branham (PxP)

Nov. 29

vs. #14/13 Texas Tech

ESPN+ • KPRC 950 AM

Elvin Hayes (analyst)

Dec. 5 Dec. 9 Dec. 12 RICE Dec. 16 * UCF
SOUTH CAROLINA SAM HOUSTON STATE
ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ TBA
7 p.m. TBA
1 p.m. TBA

Pregame show begins at 1:45 p.m.

COUGARS SET to OPEN UNIQUE 2020-21 SEASON in FERTITTA CENTER

• The Houston Cougars begin their 76th season of basketball when they meet state- Series vs. LU:

Houston leads 24-3
Houston won last three,

rival Lamar at 2 p.m., Wednesday, inside the Fertitta Center in the 2020-21 season

Dec. 19

at rv/#25 Alabama

TBA

opener for both teams

ﬁve of last six & 14 of last 16 First meeting since Dec. 4, 2018
Houston won last, 79-56

Dec. 22 * TEMPLE

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, capacity inside the Fertitta Center has been limited to 25 percent under guidance from the American Athletic Conference and local and state health oﬃcials.

Dec. 29

* at Tulsa

TBA

Fertitta Center • Houston (Dec. 4, 2018) Houston leads 1-0 in season openers Houston leads 1-0 in Fertitta Center
Houston leads 16-0 in Houston

•This will be the second time in the last three seasons that the Cougars have faced the Cardinals. In the most recent meeting, Houston enjoyed a 79-56 victory on Dec. 4, 2018, in the second game in the Fertitta Center’s history.

Jan. 2

* at SMU

TBA

TBA TBA

TBA

TBA TBA

TB TBA

TBA

TBA
Jan. 6 Jan. 9

Jan. 13 Jan. 16

* WICHITA STATE * TULANE

* at USF

HERE COMES No. 200

Houston Head Coach: Kelvin Sampson

(UNC Pembroke ‘78)
* at UCF

• When his teams tips oﬀ vs. Lamar in their 2020-21 season opener, Head Coach Kelvin Sampson will lead the Cougars for the 200th time in his Houston career.
• Entering Wednesday’s game, Sampson has posted a 139-60 record during his Cougar career. He ranks ﬁrst in Houston history with a .698 overall winning percentage and a .657 percentage (71-37 record) in conference games.

Jan. 20 * TULSA Jan. 23 * CINCINNATI

Jan. 27

Jan. 30 * SMU

Career Record: 639-330 (31st year) Houston Record: 139-60 (6th year) vs. Lamar: 2-0

* at Tulane
(1-0 with Houston; 1-0 with Oklahoma)

vs. Tic Price: 1-1

• Sampson needs only four wins in 2020-21 to move past Pat Foster (142-73 record,
1986-93) and become the second-winningest coach in program history, trailing only Hall of Famer Guy V. Lewis.

Feb. 3

* at ECU

TBA

TBA TBA

TBA

TBA TBA

(1-0 with Houston; 1-0 with Oklahoma)

Feb. 10

* at Temple

Feb. 14 * rv/rv MEMPHIS Feb. 17 * ECU

Feb. 21 Feb. 25

Feb. 28 * USF

Lamar Head Coach:

Tic Price

HEADLINES and STORYLINES

(Virginia Tech ‘79)

• Cougars enter the season ranked in both national preseason polls for the ﬁrst time

Career Record: 272-239 (18th yr.)
LU Record: 105-117 (8th yr.) vs. Houston: 2-4

* at Cincinnati * at Wichita State

TBA since November 1983.

TBA

• Head Coach Kelvin Sampson will compete in the 200th game of his Houston career in Wednesday’s season opener vs. Lamar. During his Houston tenure, Sampson has led the Cougars to a 139-60 record, two NCAA Tournament appearances and backto-back American Athletic Conference regular-season championships.
• Houston is 55-20 in its season-opener history with wins in 15 of its last 16 openers (vs. Georgia Southern, Nov. 11, 2008). Head Coach Kelvin Sampson is 25-2 in season openers during his career.

(2-2 with Memphis; 0-2 with McNeese)

vs. Kelvin Sampson: 1-1

March 6/7 * at rv/rv Memphis

TBA

(0-1 with Lamar; 1-0 with Memphis)

American Athletic Conference Championship (Fort Worth, Texas)

March11-14 vs. TBA

NCAA Tournament First/Second Rounds

March 18-21 TBA

NCAA Tournament Regionals

March 25-28 TBA
TBA TBA TBA
TBA TBA TBA

Up Next for Houston:

Southwest Showcase

vs. Boise State
2 p.m. • Friday, Nov. 27 Fertitta Center • Houston ESPN+ • KPRC 950 AM

TIES with LAMAR
• Assistant Coach Alvin Brooks is no stranger to Lamar.

• The longtime Houston assistant coach and former head coach competed for the Cardinals from 1979-81.
• As a two-year starter, Brooks was a 1981 All-Southland Conference honoree and was the starting point guard on Lamar’s 1980 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 team.
• Inducted into Cardinal Hall of Honor in 2019.

NCAA Tournament Final Four (Indianapolis)

April 3,5 TBA TBA

TBA

Home Games played in Fertitta Center and listed in BOLD CAPS
Times are Central and subject to change

@UHCOUGARMBK

#ForTheCity

• Was named one of ﬁve greatest players in Lamar history by Beaumont Enterprise readers in 1997.

Rankings listed as Associated Press/USA TODAY Coaches’ All games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC • Subject to change

• Began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant with the Cardinals from 1981 to 1986.

#GoCoogs

THE KELVIN SAMPSON RADIO SHOW

7-8 p.m. • Mondays • Beginning Dec. 28

HOUSTON COUGARS at a GLANCE (Starters based on last game)

PROBABLE STARTERS Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl.-Exp. Hometown

G-GS PPG

30-17 8.1 31-7 13.2

RPG

Other

02Marcus Sasser Caleb Mills
GGGF
6-1 200 So.-1L 6-3 175 r-So.-1L Arden, N.C. 6-5 205 Jr.-1L

Red Oak, Texas

2.4 1.9 3FG/gm

2.6 1.6 3FG/gm

Head Coach Kelvin Samp-

son holds his weekly radio show on

24 Quentin Grimes

The Woodlands, Texas 30-21 12.1

3.7

2.5
2.6 apg 0.3 apg

Mondays, beginning Dec. 28.

4

Justin Gorham

6-7 235 r-Sr.-1L Columbia, Md.

30-0

3.0

Hosted by Jeremy Branham,

the show airs from 7 to 8 p.m.,

55 Brison Gresham

F/C 6-8 230 r-Sr.-2L New Orleans, La.

31-11 2.9

3.5 64.3 FG%

during the American Athletic Confer-

RESERVES

Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl.-Exp. Hometown

G-GS PPG

––– ––– 30-18 9.0 ––– ––– ––– –––

RPG

–––
4.3
––– ––– ––– –––

Other

–––

ence season.

135Jamal Shead DeJon Jarreau Cameron Tyson
GGGGFGCFCF

6-1 175

Fr.-HS

Manor, Texas

Each week, Coach Sampson and Jeremy discuss the latest news about Houston Basketball, the American Athletic Conference, the NCAA and more. Student-athlete and coaching and support staﬀ guests also join Coach and Jeremy on shows throughout the season.
Fans can tune in to KPRC 950 AM

6-5 185 r-Sr.-2L New Orleans, La. 6-2 200 r-So.-RS Bothell, Wash.
3.7 apg
–––
12 Tramon Mark 13 J’Wan Roberts 20 Ryan Elvin

6-5 180

Fr.-HS

Dickinson, Texas

–––

6-6 210 r-Fr.-RS St.Thomas,U.S.VirginIslands ––– ––– 6-0 155 Fr.-HS Round Rock, Texas ––– –––
6-0 1.0
–––

Dec. 28 Jan. 4 Jan. 11 Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Feb. 1
Feb. 8

or listen via Houston All-Access at

uhcougars.com/allaccess or the TuneIn app

Fans can participate by tweeting questions to @UHCougarMBK.

–––

Feb. 15 Feb. 22 March 1 March 8 March 15

30 Caleb Broodo 32 Reggie Chaney 52 Kiyron Powell 35 Fabian White Jr.

6-8 240 r-Jr.-SQ Midland, Mich.

0.5 100.0FG/FT%

6-8 225 6-10 205 6-7 230
Jr.-TR Fr.-HS Sr.-3L
Tulsa, Okla.

Evansville, Ind.

––– –––

–––

Atascocita, Texas Will not play in 2020-21 due to injury

2 NCAA National Championship Game Appearances • 5 NCAA Final Four Appearances • 21 NCAA Tournaments • 14 Conference Championships • 2 NBA Draft No. 1 Overall Picks • 11 NBA Draft First-Round Selections

@UHCougarMBK

QUICK FACTS

2020-21 HOUSTON COUGARS

GENERAL INFORMATION

No. Name

Pos. Ht.

Wt. Cl.-Exp. Hometown-High School (Last School)

Location:

Houston, Texas
1927

012345

Marcus Sasser

G

GGGF
6-1 6-1 6-3 6-5 6-7 6-2 6-5 6-7 6-0 6-5 6-8 6-8 6-8 6-8
190 190
So.-1L Red Oak, Texas-Red Oak

Founded:

Jamal Shead Caleb Mills

Fr.-HS

Manor, Texas-Manor

Enrollment:

46,355

180 r-So.-1L Arden, N.C.-T.C. Roberson

Nickname:

Cougars

DeJon Jarreau Justin Gorham Cameron Tyson
185 r-Sr.-2L New Orleans, La.-McDonogh 35 (UMass) 225 r-Sr.-1L Columbia, Md.-Calvert Hall (Towson) 190 r-So.-RS Bothell, Wash.-Bothell (Idaho)

Colors:

Scarlet (PMS 186) and White
Fertitta Center (7,035)
NCAA Division I American Athletic Dr. Renu Khator Chris Pezman

Arena (capacity): Aﬃliation:

GGF
12 Tramon Mark 13 J’wan Roberts 20 Ryan Elvin

180

Fr.-HS

Dickinson, Texas-Dickinson

Conference:

220 r-Fr.-RS St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands-Shoemaker [Killeen, Texas]

President/Chancellor: Vice President for Athletics: NCAA Faculty Representative

GGCFFC
155 205
Fr.-HS Jr.-1L
Round Rock, Texas-Cedar Ridge

The Woodlands, Texas-College Park (Kansas)

24 Quentin Grimes

30 Caleb Broodo 32 Reggie Chaney 35 * Fabian White Jr. 52 Kiyron Powell 55 Brison Gresham

Dr. Richard Scamell
(713) 743-9969

240 r-Jr.-SQ Midland, Mich.-Dow

Department of Athletics Phone: Athletics Ticket Oﬃce Phone: (713) Go-Coogs (462-6647)

225 225 205
Jr.-TR Sr.-3L Fr.-HS
Tulsa, Okla.-Findlay Prep [Henderson, Nev.] (Arkansas) Atascocita, Texas-Atascocita Evansville, Ind.-Benjamin Bosse

COACHING STAFF

F/C 6-8

230 r-Sr.-2L New Orleans, La.-McDonogh 35 (UMass)

Head Coach:

Kelvin Sampson (UNC Pembroke ‘78)
139-60 (7th yr.)

* will sit out as a redshirt in 2020-21 due to injury

Record at Houston: Career Record:

639-330 (32nd yr.)

COACHING STAFF

Assistant Coaches:

Alvin Brooks, Kellen Sampson,
Quannas White

Head Coach: Kelvin Sampson (UNC Pembroke ‘78), 7th season Assistant Coach: Alvin Brooks (Lamar ‘82), 23rd season Assistant Coach: Kellen Sampson (Oklahoma ‘07), 7th season Assistant Coach: Quannas White (Oklahoma ‘06), 4th season

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

Names

BILAL BATLEY Buh-Lall (rhymes with Ball) Bat-Lee CALEB BROODO Justin GORHAM BRISON GRESHAM DeJON JARREAU TRAMON Mark CALEB Mills KIYRON Powell J’WAN Roberts JAMAL SHEAD FABIAN White QUANNAS White
Kay-Leb Brew-Doe
Gore-Um

SUPPORT STAFF

Director of Operations:

Meshu Negga Lauren Sampson
Hollis Price K.C. Beard John Houston

SUPPORT STAFF

Bry-Son Gresh-am Day-Zhon Juh-Roe
Truh-Mon

Director of External Operations: Director of Player Development: Video Coordinator:

Director of Operations: Meshu Negga (Houston ‘14) Director of External Operations: Lauren Sampson (Oklahoma ‘04) Director of Player Development: Hollis Price (Oklahoma ‘11) Assistant Director of Player Development: Mikhail McLean (Houston ‘14) Video Coordinator: K.C. Beard (Boise State ‘08)

Kay-Leb

Assistant AD for Sports Medicine: Director of Men’s Basketball Sports Performance: Director of On-Campus Recruiting: Associate Director of Operations:

Kee-Ron Juh-wahn
Alan Bishop

Bilal Batley Raul Ganzalez
Juh-Mall Shed Fay-Bee-Un Kwah-Nus

Assistant AD for Sports Medicine: John Houston (Texas Tech ‘91) Director of Men’s Basketball Sports Performance: Alan Bishop (Utah State‘09) Director of On-Campus Relations: Bilal Batley (Oklahoma ‘07) Associate Director of Operations: Raul Ganzalez (Houston ‘16)

Internal Operations: Matthew McDonald (Houston ‘19); Kellen Hutchinson, Ryner Martin

Associate Director of Player Development: Mikhail McLean Internal Operations:

Matthew McDonald,
Kellen Hutchinson, Ryner Martin
Geoﬀ Beckham, Owen Gray,

Cities

BOTHELL, Wash. GASTONIA, N.C. ATASCOCITA, Texas
Baw-thel
Gas-Toe-Nee-Uh
Uh-Task-Uh-See-Tuh

Student Managers:

Student Managers: Geoﬀ Beckham, Owen Gray, Laith Akhras, Mo Ba, Jay Silver, Nick Jordan, Ben Drewell

Laith Ahkras, Mo Ba, Nick Jordan, Jay Silver, Ben Drewell

HISTORY

WITH A WIN...

First Season:

1946
1,310-863 (.603)
21 / 2019

• Houston improves to 1-0.

All-Time Record: NCAA Tournament Appearances / Last: Postseason Record: Final Four Appearances: 5 (1984, 1983, 1982, 1968, 1967) Elite Eight Appearances: 5 (1984, 1983, 1982, 1968, 1967) Sweet 16 Appearances: 12 (2019, 1983, 1983, 1982, 1971,

1970, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1961, 1956)

• The Cougars win their season opener for the seventh consecutive season.

37-40 (.481)

• Houston improves to 25-3 in the series history against Lamar. • The Cougars collect their fourth straight win against the Cardinals and their sixth in the last seven meetings.
• Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson ties Homer Drew for 44th in NCAA history (10+ years at Division I level) with 640 career victories.

HOUSTON x JORDAN BRAND

• In April 2018, the Cougars became the seventh school to be selected to join the Jordan Brand family.

Last NCAA Appearance:

2019 NCAA Tournament

• Head Coach Kelvin Sampson

(lost to #7/7 Kentucky, NCAA Sweet 16)

Conference Regular-Season Championships / Last: 9 (2019-20) Conference Tournament Championships / Last: 6 (2010) NIT Appearances: 11 (2017, 2016, 2006, 2005, 2002, 1993,

1991, 1988, 1985, 1977, 1962

• Houston is one of only eight schools to wear the Jumpman logo, joining North Caroimproves to 640-330 during his career and 140-60 during his Houston tenure.

• Head Coach Kelvin Sampson

improves to 3-0 against Lamar during his career and 2-1 against Lamar Head Coach Tic Price during their careers.

TEAM COMPARISON

lina, Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgetown and Marquette... San Diego State was selected shortly after Houston’s announcement.