NCAAB Team Profiles: Houston Cougars

The Houston Cougars have the tenth most NCAA final four appearances of all time, and they have maintained an impressive record for strong players and power as a team ever since they first came into the light in 1945.

Something that makes the University of Houston basketball team stand out is the fact that the women’s basketball team precedes them. This is a complete look into the Cougars’ profile, complete with some of their origins, key players, and iconic rivalries seen throughout history.

Game Of The Century

Firstly, the Cougars have been credited for making college basketball highly popular. 1968 was a big year for the team, as they secured a defeat over the UCLA Bruins under the watchful eye of 50,000 fans in the Astrodome. This was an incredibly momentous time for the Cougars, who were later credited for playing ‘above the rim’ in a modern style which was unheard of in the late sixties.

However, it wasn’t until 1983 that the emergence of ‘dunking’ became highly fashionable for young people. This is what contributed to the widespread popularity of basketball around the world. The Cougars were a big part of this, because they had a unique way of playing which was up-tempo and entertaining.

Interestingly, it wasn’t until 2014 that the team joined the NCAA. The Cougars have had their share of ups and downs as a team since the beginning, and many believe that they still have a great deal of tricks up their sleeves. It is worth keeping a close eye on the latest March Madness odds to look out for the team’s next major breakthrough.

Key Players

The Cougars have so many existing and previous members who demonstrated an enormous capacity for athletic success through their immense power, speed, and stamina. Many players who were once key players in the Cougars can currently be seen competing in the NBA.

These players include Danuel House, Quentin Grimes, and Armoni Brooks. They continue to set a high standard for the Cougars as professional athletes. Others who helped orchestrate some of the change that the eighties saw within basketball’s popularity are Hakeem Olajuwon, also known as ‘the Dream’, Otis Birdsong, and Benny Anders.

Rivalries

Some of the most well-known rivalries that the Cougars have faced throughout history are with other Houston-based basketball teams. This is simply because of the geographical proximity, which means that they spend more time competing against each other on a regular basis.

The Owls men’s basketball team from Rice University is around five miles from Houston’s campus. This is one of the few cross-town rivalries  within the NCAA to exist. This is mostly because many large college towns have their own rivalries between multiple campuses in the city.

The Southern Methodist University Mustangs are also some of the Cougars’ main rivals. They were first seen together in 1972, when Houston joined the Southwest Conference. However, Houston have undergone some serious reconstruction over the years, and are currently leading the SMU 53-34.

Summary

Basketball has come a long way since it was first demonstrated at the beginning of the twentieth century, and there are many ways in which the standard for athletic achievements and personal records continues to get higher and higher. Athletes are training hard to demonstrate their skill, determination, and stamina on the court.

It is therefore worth staying tuned for the latest developments within the NCAAB to see what the future holds for the Houston Cougars. Regardless of what happens, they have already shown that they have a capacity for greatness, and will continue to achieve high levels of success in the coming years.