#houston-cougars

#houston-cougars

Houston averages 77.5 points per game (142nd in college basketball) while giving up 62.3 per outing (second in college basketball). It has a +455 scoring differential overall and outscores opponents by 15.2 points per game. The 77.5 points the Cougars average are 5.0 fewer than the Cowboys give up.

If you're a fan of high-level, "teeth-gritting" basketball, cancel your plans tonight, because Houston vs Iowa State is exactly what you're looking for. The Big 12 title race is reaching a boiling point as the No. 2 Cougars head into the absolute furnace that is Hilton Coliseum to take on the No. 6 Cyclones. This isn't just any matchup between two top-ten teams, it's a clash of similar programs that pride themselves on making life miserable for their opponents.

Houston missed 10 shots in a row over a 5 1/2-minute span early, then had another 0-for-10 span in the final 6 1/2 minutes of the first half. But the Cougars took control of the game with a 23-3 run in the six minutes between those droughts. Sharp and Harwell both had two 3-pointers in that big spurt. The Cougars trailed 14-6 before Sharp ignited that run, and a 3 by Harwell put them ahead to stay.

Florida Gators boast depth with multiple frontcourt players capable of starting. The team likely utilizes big lineups, potentially featuring 6-foot-11 Alex Condon at small forward.

The Razorbacks will face Houston at Brooklyn's Barclays Center this December, shifting from early expectations of Madison Square Garden, but maintaining competitive significance.