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Houston Selected as Preseason American Favorite
10/13/2019 5:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Cougars receive seven first-place votes from league coaches, junior guard DeJon Jarreau named to Preseason First Team
PHILADELPHIA – Less than a year after winning the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship, the University of Houston Men's Basketball program was selected to defend its title by the league's head coaches on Monday morning.
The Cougars received 113 points to tie with Memphis in the Preseason American Athletic Conference Coaches Poll, released Monday morning in Philadelphia. Under two-time, defending American Coach of the Year Kelvin Sampson, Houston received seven-first place votes from the league's head coaches, the most of any team.
Memphis received four first-place votes and tied with the Cougars with 113 points. Cincinnati also received a first-place vote and was picked third with 94 points. Wichita State (88), USF (79), UConn (75), Temple (72), SMU (47), UCF (40), Tulsa (36), ECU (20) and Tulane (15) rounded out the poll.
Junior guard DeJon Jarreau was named to the league's Preseason First Team. Jarreau returns in 2019-20 as the Cougars' leader with 8.7 points and 3.3 assists per game.
The New Orleans native competed in 30 games while helping lead Houston to a school-record 33 wins, the program's first outright conference regular-season title since 1984, the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and Top-12 rankings in both final national polls.
He scored double-digit points 12 times with a season-high 18 points in a road win at UConn and dished out a season-high nine assists in a road win at ECU.
For his impressive efforts, Jarreau was named The American Sixth Man of the Year, the second straight season in which a Cougar received that award.
Jarreau was joined on the First Team by Cincinnati guard Jarron Cumberland, Temple guard Quinton Rose, Memphis center James Wiseman and USF guard Laquincy Rideau.
USF forward Alexis Yetna, ECU forward Jayden Gardner, Temple guard Nate Pierre-Louis, UConn guard Alterique Gilbert, USF guard David Collins and UConn guard Christian Vital were named to the league's Second Team.
Cumberland was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while Wiseman was selected as the Preseason Rookie of the Year.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE COACHES' PRESEASON POLL
PRESEASON FIRST TEAM
PRESEASON SECOND TEAM
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
PRESEASON ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS on SALE
Beginning at 10 a.m. (CDT) Monday, fans can purchase single-game tickets for 16 Houston Men's Basketball regular-season home games inside the Fertitta Center at the Houston Athletics Ticket Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, and any time at uhcougars.com/tickets.
The Cougars have already sold out of 2019-20 season tickets, a first since 1998-99.
Fans who were unable to purchase season tickets can get a head start for the 2020-21 season by placing their names on the Priority Waiting List for only a $50 deposit. To reserve places on the Priority Waiting List, fans can register by clicking here and following the appropriate links from the right column, beginning at 10 a.m., Oct. 14.
Houston looks to defend its American Athletic Conference regular-season championship with 16 regular-season home games inside the beautiful Fertitta Center this season. The campaign begins at 5 p.m., Nov. 9 with an exhibition game against Angelo State, a 7 p.m., regular-season opener against Alabama State on Nov. 12 and The American opener against UCF on Jan. 3, all inside the Fertitta Center.
Last season, more than 100,000 fans poured into the Fertitta Center to help lead the Cougars to a 15-1 home record in their new $60-million home facility, including a nation's best 33 straight home wins dating back to the 2017-18 season at one point.
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 Jordan Brand 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, fans can 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' Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
The Cougars received 113 points to tie with Memphis in the Preseason American Athletic Conference Coaches Poll, released Monday morning in Philadelphia. Under two-time, defending American Coach of the Year Kelvin Sampson, Houston received seven-first place votes from the league's head coaches, the most of any team.
Memphis received four first-place votes and tied with the Cougars with 113 points. Cincinnati also received a first-place vote and was picked third with 94 points. Wichita State (88), USF (79), UConn (75), Temple (72), SMU (47), UCF (40), Tulsa (36), ECU (20) and Tulane (15) rounded out the poll.
Junior guard DeJon Jarreau was named to the league's Preseason First Team. Jarreau returns in 2019-20 as the Cougars' leader with 8.7 points and 3.3 assists per game.
The New Orleans native competed in 30 games while helping lead Houston to a school-record 33 wins, the program's first outright conference regular-season title since 1984, the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and Top-12 rankings in both final national polls.
He scored double-digit points 12 times with a season-high 18 points in a road win at UConn and dished out a season-high nine assists in a road win at ECU.
For his impressive efforts, Jarreau was named The American Sixth Man of the Year, the second straight season in which a Cougar received that award.
Jarreau was joined on the First Team by Cincinnati guard Jarron Cumberland, Temple guard Quinton Rose, Memphis center James Wiseman and USF guard Laquincy Rideau.
USF forward Alexis Yetna, ECU forward Jayden Gardner, Temple guard Nate Pierre-Louis, UConn guard Alterique Gilbert, USF guard David Collins and UConn guard Christian Vital were named to the league's Second Team.
Cumberland was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while Wiseman was selected as the Preseason Rookie of the Year.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE COACHES' PRESEASON POLL
| Rk. | Team (1st-Place Votes) | Points |
| t1. | Houston (7) | 113 |
| t1. | Memphis (4) | 113 |
| 3. | Cincinnati (1) | 94 |
| 4. | Wichita State | 88 |
| 5. | USF | 79 |
| 6. | UConn | 75 |
| 7. | Temple | 72 |
| 8. | SMU | 47 |
| 9. | UCF | 40 |
| 10. | Tulsa | 36 |
| 11. | ECU | 20 |
| 12. | Tulane | 15 |
PRESEASON FIRST TEAM
| Player | Pos. | Cl. | School |
| DeJon Jarreau | G | r-Jr. | Houston |
| Jarron Cumberland | G | Sr. | Cincinnati |
| Quinton Rose | G | Sr. | Temple |
| James Wiseman | C | Fr. | Memphis |
| Laquincy Rideau | G | r-Sr. | USF |
PRESEASON SECOND TEAM
| Player | Pos. | Cl. | School |
| Alexis Yetna | F | Jr. | USF |
| Jayden Gardner | F | So. | ECU |
| Nate Pierre-Louis | G | Jr. | Temple |
| Alterique Gilbert | G | r-Jr. | UConn |
| David Collins | G | Jr. | USF |
| Christian Vital | G | Jr. | UConn |
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
| Player | Pos. | Cl. | School |
| Jarron Cumberland | G | Sr. | Cincinnati |
PRESEASON ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
| Player | Pos. | Cl. | School |
| James Wiseman | C | Fr. | Memphis |
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS on SALE
Beginning at 10 a.m. (CDT) Monday, fans can purchase single-game tickets for 16 Houston Men's Basketball regular-season home games inside the Fertitta Center at the Houston Athletics Ticket Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, and any time at uhcougars.com/tickets.
The Cougars have already sold out of 2019-20 season tickets, a first since 1998-99.
Fans who were unable to purchase season tickets can get a head start for the 2020-21 season by placing their names on the Priority Waiting List for only a $50 deposit. To reserve places on the Priority Waiting List, fans can register by clicking here and following the appropriate links from the right column, beginning at 10 a.m., Oct. 14.
Houston looks to defend its American Athletic Conference regular-season championship with 16 regular-season home games inside the beautiful Fertitta Center this season. The campaign begins at 5 p.m., Nov. 9 with an exhibition game against Angelo State, a 7 p.m., regular-season opener against Alabama State on Nov. 12 and The American opener against UCF on Jan. 3, all inside the Fertitta Center.
Last season, more than 100,000 fans poured into the Fertitta Center to help lead the Cougars to a 15-1 home record in their new $60-million home facility, including a nation's best 33 straight home wins dating back to the 2017-18 season at one point.
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 Jordan Brand 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, fans can 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' Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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