Saturday, March 9
Houston, Texas
3 p.m.
University of Houston
vs
#14/15 Kansas
PREVIEW: #1/1 Men’s Basketball Ready for Senior Day
3/8/2024 6:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Cougars host #14/15 Kansas at 3 p.m., Saturday in Fertitta Center; Senior Day activities begin at 2:30 p.m.
HOUSTON – After 30 games, the #1/1 University of Houston Men's Basketball programs closes the regular season when it meets #14/15 Kansas at 3 p.m., Saturday, inside Fertitta Center. Saturday's game is presented by Stewart J. Guss Injury Lawyers.
The Cougars enter this weekend's game following a 67-59 win over UCF inside Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Wednesday night. Behind senior guard LJ Cryer's 25 points and 16 points and eight assists from senior point guard Jamal Shead, the Cougars clinched a share of the Big 12 Conference regular-season title in their first year in the league.
With a win against the Jayhawks, Houston will claim the outright regular-season title and the #1 seed at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, set for March 12-16 inside T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. The Cougars would also record a perfect 17-0 home record inside Fertitta Center during the 2023-24 season.
SENIOR DAY CEREMONY
• Prior to Saturday's game, Houston Men's Basketball will celebrate the careers of their senior student-athletes and student managers beginning at 2:30 p.m.
• Houston Men's Basketball will recognize guards Jamal Shead, LJ Cryer, Mylik Wilson, Damian Dunn and Ryan Elvin and forward J'Wan Roberts as well as student managers Daniela Perdomo, Blaise Dupre and Jonathan Loredo with Head Coach Kelvin Sampson and Vice President of Athletics Chris Pezman.
• The Senior Ceremony will be held at midcourt with student-athletes' backs to the team benches and facing the student section in The Cage.
GAME PROMOTIONS
• Saturday's game is presented by Stewart J. Guss Injury Lawyers.
• University of Houston students are invited to the Block Party on Cullen on Saturday. Beginning at Noon, free tacos will be available while supplies last at the student tailgate in Cemo Plaza by showing student ID and a valid ticket to the game.
• At halftime, Houston Athletics will celebrate the legendary career of alum and CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz.
• Head Coach Willie Fritz will lead the Whose House chant prior to tipoff.
• The senior spirit members also will be recognized during the game's first timeout.
• Cougar Brass will perform the national anthem.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN with Jon Sciambi (play-by-play), Fran Fraschilla (analyst) and Kris Budden (reporter) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Saturday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes calling the action. The pregame show begins at 2:45 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.
ABOUT KANSAS
• Kansas brings a 22-8 overall record and 10-7 Big 12 mark into Saturday's game in Fertitta Center.
• The Jayhawks are ranked #14 in the Associated Press poll and at #15 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll, released Monday.
• Kansas is tied with Texas Tech for fourth in the Big 12 standings
• The Jayhawks are 3-6 in road games and 7-7 in non-home games this season.
• Kansas has won three of its last five games, including a 90-68 home win over Kansas State on Tuesday to stop a two-game losing skid.
• Against Kansas State, senior center Hunter Dickinson totaled 15 points with a game-high 20 rebounds and five blocked shots. Senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. totaled a game-high 19 points with three rebounds, three assists and three steals while graduate guard Nicolas Timberlake added 18 points with a rebound and assist. Sophomore forward KJ Adams Jr posted 16 points with five rebounds and two steals in the win.
• This season, McCullar leads the Jayhawks with 19.1 points per game and is second on the squad with 6.2 rebounds per contest. Dickinson is second with 18.2 points per game but leads the Jayhawks with 11.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game. Adams stands third with 12.2 points per game while guard Dajuan Harris averages team bests with 6.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
• Head Coach Bill Self is in his 21st season at Kansas and his 31st year as a collegiate head coach.
• Self has posted a 587-140 record with Kansas and is 794-245 during his career.
• Self previously built a 78-24 record at Illinois (2000-03), a 74-27 mark at Tulsa (1997-00) and a 55-54 record at Oral Roberts (1993-97).
• Self has posted a 1-1 record against Houston during his career. That includes a 1-0 record with Kansas and an 0-1 mark with Tulsa.
• Self has posted a 3-4 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers. That includes a 2-1 mark with Kansas and a 0-3 record with Oral Roberts.
• 1985 graduate of Oklahoma State
SERIES HISTORY vs. KANSAS
• Kansas holds a 6-2 lead against Houston in the series, which began during the 1966-67 season.
• Saturday's game is the second of two regular-season meetings against Kansas during the 2023-24 season. The Jayhawks took a 78-65 win inside Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan., on Feb. 3.
• Kansas has won the last four meetings and six of the last seven. Only a 91-76 Houston win in Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Nov. 26, 1983, prevents a longer streak.
• In the most recent meeting against Kansas, Houston dropped a 78-65 decision inside Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan., on Feb. 3.
• In the first meeting against Kansas, Houston took a 66-53 win in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional in Lawrence, Kan., on March 17, 1967.
at Home: Houston is 1-0 against Kansas in games played in Houston during the series history.
• In the lone previous meeting, Houston took a 91-76 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Nov. 26, 1983.
in Fertitta Center: Saturday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Kansas inside Fertitta Center.
UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, Houston will compete in their first Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.
• That journey begins in the Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 14, inside T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
• Houston's seeding as well as its Quarterfinal opponent, game time and broadcasting network will be finalized with the completion of the regular season
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
The Cougars enter this weekend's game following a 67-59 win over UCF inside Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Wednesday night. Behind senior guard LJ Cryer's 25 points and 16 points and eight assists from senior point guard Jamal Shead, the Cougars clinched a share of the Big 12 Conference regular-season title in their first year in the league.
With a win against the Jayhawks, Houston will claim the outright regular-season title and the #1 seed at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, set for March 12-16 inside T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. The Cougars would also record a perfect 17-0 home record inside Fertitta Center during the 2023-24 season.
SENIOR DAY CEREMONY• Prior to Saturday's game, Houston Men's Basketball will celebrate the careers of their senior student-athletes and student managers beginning at 2:30 p.m.
• Houston Men's Basketball will recognize guards Jamal Shead, LJ Cryer, Mylik Wilson, Damian Dunn and Ryan Elvin and forward J'Wan Roberts as well as student managers Daniela Perdomo, Blaise Dupre and Jonathan Loredo with Head Coach Kelvin Sampson and Vice President of Athletics Chris Pezman.
• The Senior Ceremony will be held at midcourt with student-athletes' backs to the team benches and facing the student section in The Cage.
GAME PROMOTIONS
• Saturday's game is presented by Stewart J. Guss Injury Lawyers.
• University of Houston students are invited to the Block Party on Cullen on Saturday. Beginning at Noon, free tacos will be available while supplies last at the student tailgate in Cemo Plaza by showing student ID and a valid ticket to the game.
• At halftime, Houston Athletics will celebrate the legendary career of alum and CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz.
• Head Coach Willie Fritz will lead the Whose House chant prior to tipoff.
• The senior spirit members also will be recognized during the game's first timeout.
• Cougar Brass will perform the national anthem.
TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN with Jon Sciambi (play-by-play), Fran Fraschilla (analyst) and Kris Budden (reporter) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Saturday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes calling the action. The pregame show begins at 2:45 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.
ABOUT KANSAS
• Kansas brings a 22-8 overall record and 10-7 Big 12 mark into Saturday's game in Fertitta Center.
• The Jayhawks are ranked #14 in the Associated Press poll and at #15 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll, released Monday.
• Kansas is tied with Texas Tech for fourth in the Big 12 standings
• The Jayhawks are 3-6 in road games and 7-7 in non-home games this season.
• Kansas has won three of its last five games, including a 90-68 home win over Kansas State on Tuesday to stop a two-game losing skid.
• Against Kansas State, senior center Hunter Dickinson totaled 15 points with a game-high 20 rebounds and five blocked shots. Senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. totaled a game-high 19 points with three rebounds, three assists and three steals while graduate guard Nicolas Timberlake added 18 points with a rebound and assist. Sophomore forward KJ Adams Jr posted 16 points with five rebounds and two steals in the win.
• This season, McCullar leads the Jayhawks with 19.1 points per game and is second on the squad with 6.2 rebounds per contest. Dickinson is second with 18.2 points per game but leads the Jayhawks with 11.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game. Adams stands third with 12.2 points per game while guard Dajuan Harris averages team bests with 6.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
• Head Coach Bill Self is in his 21st season at Kansas and his 31st year as a collegiate head coach.
• Self has posted a 587-140 record with Kansas and is 794-245 during his career.
• Self previously built a 78-24 record at Illinois (2000-03), a 74-27 mark at Tulsa (1997-00) and a 55-54 record at Oral Roberts (1993-97).
• Self has posted a 1-1 record against Houston during his career. That includes a 1-0 record with Kansas and an 0-1 mark with Tulsa.
• Self has posted a 3-4 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers. That includes a 2-1 mark with Kansas and a 0-3 record with Oral Roberts.
• 1985 graduate of Oklahoma State
SERIES HISTORY vs. KANSAS
• Kansas holds a 6-2 lead against Houston in the series, which began during the 1966-67 season.
• Saturday's game is the second of two regular-season meetings against Kansas during the 2023-24 season. The Jayhawks took a 78-65 win inside Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan., on Feb. 3.
• Kansas has won the last four meetings and six of the last seven. Only a 91-76 Houston win in Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Nov. 26, 1983, prevents a longer streak.
• In the most recent meeting against Kansas, Houston dropped a 78-65 decision inside Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan., on Feb. 3.
• In the first meeting against Kansas, Houston took a 66-53 win in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional in Lawrence, Kan., on March 17, 1967.
at Home: Houston is 1-0 against Kansas in games played in Houston during the series history.
• In the lone previous meeting, Houston took a 91-76 win inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Nov. 26, 1983.
in Fertitta Center: Saturday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Kansas inside Fertitta Center.
UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, Houston will compete in their first Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.
• That journey begins in the Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 14, inside T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
• Houston's seeding as well as its Quarterfinal opponent, game time and broadcasting network will be finalized with the completion of the regular season
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –