#18/18 Men’s Hoops Opens Postseason on Friday

Cougars meet (8) Cincinnati/(9) East Carolina winner in The American Championship Quarterfinals at Noon, Friday in Fort Worth, Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas – The University of Houston Men's Basketball program takes its first steps in the postseason when it meets (8) Cincinnati at Noon, Friday, in the American Athletic Conference Championship Quarterfinals inside Dickies Arena.

#18/18 Houston enters The American Championship as the No. 1 seed after winning the league's regular-season title for the third time in the last four seasons, a first for the Cougars in any conference.

The Cougars (26-5 • 15-3 American) have won six of their last seven games. After playing three home games in a 5-day stretch and four games in the final eight days of the regular season, Houston should be rested for its Quarterfinal matchup.

(8) Cincinnati took a 74-63 win over (9) East Carolina in the first game of the American Athletic Conference Championship First Round on Thursday afternoon.

Earlier this week, five Cougars received postseason honors from the American Athletic Conference

Head Coach Kelvin Sampson was named the league's Coach of the Year for the third time in the last four years, while graduate forwards Fabian White Jr. and Josh Carlton were named to the league's first time. It was the first time since 2017 and only the second time since 1990 that the Cougars had two First-Team selections.

Senior guard Kyler Edwards was named to the Second Team after leading the Cougars with 13.6 points per game, while sophomore point guard Jamal Shead was named to the Third Team after leading Houston and The American with 5.9 assists per game and a 2.92 assist-turnover ratio.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Friday's game on ESPN2 with Kevin Brown (play-by-play), Mark Adams (analyst) and Myron Medcalf (reporter) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Friday's game on 950 AM KPRC or on The Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes calling the action.
• Fans can follow live stats from Friday's game on StatBroadcast.

HOME AWAY from HOME
• The Cougars and their fans should have pleasant memories of Dickies Arena in the facility's young history.
• Houston has posted a 5-0 record in the arena.
• In addition to the three wins in three days at the 2021 American Championship, the Cougars defeated #14/13 Texas Tech in the Southwest Showcase on Nov. 29, 2020, and knocked off Oklahoma State, 72-61, in Hoop Hype XL on Dec. 18, 2021.

POSTSEASON CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
• In 2021-22 Cougars are competing in their conference postseason tournament for the 17th time in the last 18 seasons and the 44th time in the last 46 seasons... Only an absence from the 2020 American Championship (COVID-19 pandemic) and the 2004 Conference USA Championship prevents a perfect streak.
• Cougars have posted a 50-37 record during conference postseason tournaments... That includes a 9-6 record in the American Athletic Conference, a 13-15 mark in Conference USA play and a 28-16 tally in the Southwest Conference.
• During its conference postseason history, Houston has advanced to the Semifinals 22 times, made 14 title game appearances and won seven tournament titles.

HOUSTON by SEEDING at CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
• This marks the fourth time that Houston has been seeded No. 1 at a conference championship (2019 American; 1984 SWC; 1983 SWC).
• Houston is 6-1 when competing as a No. 1 seed at a conference Championship. The Cougars are 2-1 when playing as the No. 1 seed at The American Championship.
• This is the second straight season Houston has been a No. 2 seed at a conference Championship.
• It is the second time Houston has competed as a No. 1 seed under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson.
• In the most recent tournament as the No. 1 seed, the Cougars advanced to the title game of the 2019 Championship before falling 69-57 to #24/23 (No. 2 seed) Cincinnati inside FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on March 17, 2019.
• The Cougars captured the 1984 and the 1983 Southwest Conference Championship titles as the No. 1 seed with a pair of victories each season.

HOUSTON vs. SEEDING at CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
vs. No. 8 seed
• Houston is 3-1 when facing the No. 8 seed at conference championships.
• If Houston faces No. 8 seed Cincinnati on Wednesday, it will be the first time the Cougars meet the No. 8 seed at The American Championship.
• In its last meeting against the No. 9 seed, the Cougars – playing as the No. 9 seed – dropped a 67-62 decision to (8) UTEP in the 2012 Conference USA Championship inside FedxForum in Memphis, Tenn., on March 7, 2012.
• Prior to 2012, the Cougars meet No. 8 seeds in 1981 (vs. TCU, W, 73-53, March 5); in 1980 (vs. Rice, W, 92-80, Feb. 25) and 1978 (vs. Rice, W, 108-67, Feb. 25).

vs. No. 9 seed
• Houston is 2-0 when facing the No. 9 seed at conference championships.
• The Cougars have posted a 1-0 record against the No. 9 seed at The American Championship.
• In its last meeting against the No. 9 seed, the Cougars – playing as the No. 1 seed – took an 84-45 win over (9) UConn inside FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on March 15, 2019.

STREAKING NATIONALLY
With Monday's release, the Cougars were ranked in the Associated Press poll for the 44^th consecutive week, extending their school record. Houston has been ranked in every AP poll since Jan. 20, 2019.

This is the fifth straight season under Sampson in which the Cougars were ranked for at least one week. Houston finished at No. 6 in the final AP and at No. 3 in the final Ferris Mowers Coaches polls a year ago after advancing to the sixth NCAA Final Four in school history.

ABOUT CINCINNATI

• Cincinnati enters The American Championship Quarterfinals with an 18-14 overall record and 7-11 mark in American Athletic Conference play.

• The Bearcats are competing as the No. 8 seed at The American Championship

• Cincinnati has posted a 2-1 record in neutral site games this season.

• In its most recent action, Cincinnati claimed a 74-63 win over No. 9 seed East Carolina in The American Championship First Round inside Dickies Arena on Thursday to advance to the Quarterfinals

• The win snapped the Bearcats' five-game losing streak to end the regular season.

• Against East Carolina, senior guard David DeJulius led the Bearcats with 22 points and added four rebounds and three assists. Junior guard Jeremiah Davenport finished with 11 points, thanks to three 3-pointers, and grabbed six rebounds, while sophomore guard Mike Saunders Jr. added 10 points. Junior wing John Newman III led the way with eight rebounds and five assists.

• This season, DeJulius leads Cincinnati with 14.7 points per game. Davenport stands second with 13.4 points per contest but leads the team with 5.5 rebounds per game. Junior guard Mika Adams-Woods is tops with 3.1 assists per game.

• Head Coach Wes Miller is in his first season at Cincinnati and his 11th season as a collegiate head coach.

• Miller has compiled an 18-14 record at Cincinnati and is 194-146 during his career.

• Previously built a 176-132 record at UNC Greensboro (2011-21)

• Miller has posted an 0-2 record against Houston during his career.

• Miller has posted an 0-2 record against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers

• 2007 graduate of North Carolina.

UP NEXT
• With a win over (8) Cincinnati in Friday's Quarterfinals, the Cougars will advance to Saturday's Semifinals.
• Houston would meet the winner of the (4) Temple/(5) Tulane matchup at 2 p.m., Saturday. That game would air on ESPN2.
• With a win in the Semifinals, Houston would advance to The American Championship Title Game, set for 2:15 p.m., Sunday. That game would air on ESPN.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.

2022-23 SEASON TICKETS PRIORITY WAIT LIST
Fans who were unable to secure 2021-22 season tickets may start preparing for next season by putting down a $75 deposit and placing their names on the 2022-23 Men's Basketball Season Ticket Priority Wait List by clicking here.

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, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.

For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).

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