.png&width=48&height=48&type=webp)
Houston Picked Third in American Preseason Coaches Poll
10/14/2018 8:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Senior guard Corey Davis Jr. named to Preseason Second Team; Nate Hinton selected as league’s Preseason Freshman of the Year
 |
PHILADELPHIA - After a 27-win season and the program's first NCAA Tournament win in more than 30 years, the University of Houston Men's Basketball program was picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll.
Two Cougars also received Preseason Conference honors. Senior guard Corey Davis Jr. was named to the league's Preseason Second Team, while guard Nate Hinton was recognized as the league's Preseason Freshman of the Year.
The Cougars received 103 points, including a pair of first-place votes, to finish third behind UCF (114 pts., 6 first-place votes) and Cincinnati (107 pts., 3 first-place votes). Memphis (85 pts., 1 first-place vote), UConn (75), Temple (74), SMU (63), Wichita State (60), Tulsa (48), Tulane (23), ECU (22) and USF (18) rounded out the poll. Voting was done by the league's 12 head coaches.
Davis was named to the league's Preseason All-Conference Second Team.
Davis returns as the Cougars' leading scorer after averaging 13.1 points per game and earning The American All-Tournament Team honors a year ago. The Lafayette, La., native became the fifth player in school history to sink 100+ 3-pointers in a single season and buried at least one trey in 29 straight games, the second longest streak in school history.
Davis led The American with 2.9 treys per game and finished among the nation's top-30 leaders in 3-point field goal percentage (.429).
Davis was joined on the Second Team by Tacko Fall (UCF), Jarrey Foster (SMU), Markis McDuffie (Wichita State), Jahmal McMurray (SMU) and Sterling Taplin (Tulsa). Jalen Adams (UConn), Jarrod Cumberland (Cincinnati), Jeremiah Martin (Memphis), Quinton Rose (Temple) and B.J. Taylor (UCF) were named to the First Team.
Taylor also was honored as the league's Preseason Player of the Year.
Hinton was recognized as the league's Preseason Freshman of the Year.
The Gastonia, N.C., native was a member of the ESPN 100 after an award-winning career at Gaston Day School. As a senior in 2017-18, Hinton averaged 19.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 4.0 steals per game on the way to earning NCISAA Class 2A All-State honors.
He led his team to the NCISAA state semifinals for two straight seasons and finished his high school career with more than 2,200 points.
Hinton was listed as a 4-star recruit by ESPN.com and chose Houston over Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgetown, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Seton H all and Tennessee.
MEDIA DAY COVERAGE
Fans can tune in to The American Basketball Media Day on the American Digital Network's Facebook page by clicking here.
Sampson will join analyst Andy Katz and fellow coaches Penny Hardaway (Memphis), Brian Gregory (USF) and Mike Dunleavy Sr. (Tulane) for a Coaches' Roundtable, beginning at 7:45 a.m. (CDT) Monday.
From there, Sampson and Robinson will offer their insights into the 2018-19 season with host Hali Oughton and analyst Mike O'Donnell on the live show, beginning at 8:20 a.m. (CDT).
ON-AIR SCHEDULE
Coaches' Roundtable
7:45 a.m. (CDT) – Coach Kelvin Sampson | WATCH on American Athletic Conference Twitter
Live Show
8:20 a.m. (CDT) – Coach Kelvin Sampson, Galen Robinson Jr. | WATCH on American Digital Network Facebook
BUY TICKETS
Season tickets and mini-plans for the 2018-19 season are on sale now in the Houston Athletics Ticket Office.
Fans can purchase season tickets for all 2018-19 Houston Men's Basketball home games for as low as $175, a value of less than $9 per game. Two- and six-game mini-plans are now available, beginning at only $40. University of Houston graduates from the previous five academic years qualify for special Young Alumni pricing in Section 117 for only $125.
The Cougars will play host to 20 regular-season home games as well as a Nov. 1 exhibition against Dallas Baptist. Houston will compete inside H&PE Arena on the campus of Texas Southern University during the month of November before entering a new era with the opening of the $60-million Fertitta Center on Dec. 1 against Oregon.
Due to overwhelming response, fans are encouraged to buy their mini-plans and season tickets soon. To order, fans can call 713-462-6647 or visit uhcougars.com/tickets and follow the appropriate links.
To find the best seats inside the Fertitta Center, fans can check out a 3D map by visiting uhcougars.com/fertittacenter3d.
ABOUT THE FERTITTA CENTER
With a capacity of 7,100, the Fertitta Center will feature a premium club and courtside club as well as a reconfigured bowl with mid-court seating closer to game action. The facility also includes floor-level seating opposite the team benches for UH students.
The University will transform an area adjacent to the Fertitta Center into Hofheinz Pavilion, where fans will be greeted by a bronze statue of former Harris Country Judge Roy Hofheinz.
The renovation was made possible through a generous $20-million donation from University of Houston System Board of Regents Chairman Tillman J. Fertitta and his family in 2016.
JOIN the 50-50 CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered team apparel, a signed basketball, invitations to practice, a tour of the $25-million Guy V. Lewis Development Facility, regular updates about the program and much more.
To join the 50-50 Club, fans can call 713-743-9742 or email UHMensBasketball@uh.edu. For more information about the 50-50 Club, levels of giving and benefits, click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook and Instagram pages.
