University of Houston Athletics
Men’s Hoops Unveils Non-Conference Schedule
8/2/2022 5:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Nine home games inside Fertitta Center highlight slate, beginning Nov. 7 vs. Northern Colorado
HOUSTON – Nine home games inside the Fertitta Center highlight the University of Houston Men's Basketball program's 2022-23 non-conference schedule, Head Coach Kelvin Sampson announced Wednesday.
BREAKING IT DOWN
Nine of the Cougars' 13 non-conference opponents won at least 19 games in 2021-22 with Northern Colorado (22), Oregon (20), Kent State (23), Norfolk State (24), Saint Mary's (26) and Virginia (21) finishing as 20-game winners.
Eight teams played in the 2022 postseason with Texas Southern, Norfolk State, Saint Mary's and Alabama competing in the NCAA Tournament and Oregon (NIT), Virginia (NIT), Northern Colorado (CBI) and Kent State (The Basketball Classic) playing in their respective tournaments.
Six schools finished among the Top Three in their respective conferences with Norfolk State capturing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title.
THE SCHEDULE
The Cougars open the season when they meet Northern Colorado on Nov. 7 inside the Fertitta Center. From there, Houston will hit the road to compete at the Veterans Classic against Saint Joseph's on Nov. 11 in Annapolis, Md., in a game airing on CBS Sports Network.
From there, the Cougars return to Houston to compete in the Cougar Classic. The Cougars open that event against Oral Roberts on Nov. 14 inside the Fertitta Center. Oral Roberts takes on Texas Southern on Nov. 15 inside H&PE Arena on the TSU campus with the Cougars meeting Texas Southern on Nov. 16 inside the Fertitta Center.
It will be the first time Houston faces Texas Southern since the 2012-13 season.
After a road game at Oregon on Nov. 20, in Eugene, Ore., the Cougars meet Kent State (Nov. 26) and Norfolk State (Nov. 29) inside the Fertitta Center.
Houston then opens the month of December against Saint Mary's (Calif.) as part of The Battleground 2K22 inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The Cougars have enjoyed tremendous success inside that facility with an 8-0 record there, winning back-to-back American Athletic Conference Tournament titles as well as non-conference showdowns against nationally ranked Texas Tech and Oklahoma State during the last two years.
Houston returns home to play host to three straight games inside the Fertitta Center against North Florida (Dec. 6), Alabama (Dec. 10) and North Carolina A&T (Dec. 13) with the last contest played as part of the Coaches vs. Racism Game.
The Cougars meet Virginia on Dec. 17 in Charlottesville, Va., before closing out the non-conference slate against McNeese inside the Fertitta Center on Dec. 21.
FIRST-TIMERS
This will be the first time in Men's Basketball history in which the Cougars will face Northern Colorado, Saint Joseph's, Kent State, Norfolk State and North Florida.
The Cougars have faced Oral Roberts only once, dropping a 118-108 decision at the All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City on Dec. 28, 1973.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OPPONENTS BREAKDOWN
The Cougars and American Athletic Conference office recently announced the schedule matrix for 2022-23.
Houston will face Cincinnati, Memphis, SMU, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UCF and Wichita State in home-and-away games while meeting Tulsa inside the Fertitta Center only and playing at East Carolina only.
Houston's complete schedule with American Athletic Conference opponents, game times and networks will be released soon.
ABOUT the HOUSTON COUGARS
Three starters and seven lettermen return from the Cougars' 2021-22 team, which posted a 32-6 overall record, advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, swept the American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles and finished among the nation's Top 10 for the second straight season.
Under Sampson's leadership, the Cougars have posted seven consecutive 20-win seasons, including a pair of 30-win campaigns, and competed in each of the last four NCAA Tournaments, tying a school record.
Guard Marcus Sasser returns for his senior season after missing most of the 2021-22 campaign following foot surgery. The Dallas native was averaging a team-high 17.7 points per game and was a Preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection before being sidelined.
Like Sasser, junior guard Tramon Mark missed most of the season a year ago following shoulder surgery but is healthy for the 2022-23 campaign. The Dickinson, Texas, native averaged 10.1 points per game in seven contests before his surgery.
Junior guard Jamal Shead led the Cougars and the American Athletic Conference with 221 assists in 2021-22, the second-highest total in school single-season history. Shead was the only NCAA Division I student-athlete to rank among the nation's Top-10 leaders in both assists and assist-turnover ratio and was an All-American Athletic Conference honoree.
BUY 2022-23 SEASON TICKETS
Fans now may purchase season tickets for the 2022-23 season. A limited number of season tickets are available, so fans are encouraged to purchase soon before supplies run out.
To purchase 2022-23 season tickets, fans may call the Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours or click here at any time.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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).
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 page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
BREAKING IT DOWN
Nine of the Cougars' 13 non-conference opponents won at least 19 games in 2021-22 with Northern Colorado (22), Oregon (20), Kent State (23), Norfolk State (24), Saint Mary's (26) and Virginia (21) finishing as 20-game winners.
Eight teams played in the 2022 postseason with Texas Southern, Norfolk State, Saint Mary's and Alabama competing in the NCAA Tournament and Oregon (NIT), Virginia (NIT), Northern Colorado (CBI) and Kent State (The Basketball Classic) playing in their respective tournaments.Six schools finished among the Top Three in their respective conferences with Norfolk State capturing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title.
THE SCHEDULE
The Cougars open the season when they meet Northern Colorado on Nov. 7 inside the Fertitta Center. From there, Houston will hit the road to compete at the Veterans Classic against Saint Joseph's on Nov. 11 in Annapolis, Md., in a game airing on CBS Sports Network.
From there, the Cougars return to Houston to compete in the Cougar Classic. The Cougars open that event against Oral Roberts on Nov. 14 inside the Fertitta Center. Oral Roberts takes on Texas Southern on Nov. 15 inside H&PE Arena on the TSU campus with the Cougars meeting Texas Southern on Nov. 16 inside the Fertitta Center.
It will be the first time Houston faces Texas Southern since the 2012-13 season.
After a road game at Oregon on Nov. 20, in Eugene, Ore., the Cougars meet Kent State (Nov. 26) and Norfolk State (Nov. 29) inside the Fertitta Center.
Houston then opens the month of December against Saint Mary's (Calif.) as part of The Battleground 2K22 inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The Cougars have enjoyed tremendous success inside that facility with an 8-0 record there, winning back-to-back American Athletic Conference Tournament titles as well as non-conference showdowns against nationally ranked Texas Tech and Oklahoma State during the last two years.
Houston returns home to play host to three straight games inside the Fertitta Center against North Florida (Dec. 6), Alabama (Dec. 10) and North Carolina A&T (Dec. 13) with the last contest played as part of the Coaches vs. Racism Game.
The Cougars meet Virginia on Dec. 17 in Charlottesville, Va., before closing out the non-conference slate against McNeese inside the Fertitta Center on Dec. 21.
FIRST-TIMERS
This will be the first time in Men's Basketball history in which the Cougars will face Northern Colorado, Saint Joseph's, Kent State, Norfolk State and North Florida.
The Cougars have faced Oral Roberts only once, dropping a 118-108 decision at the All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City on Dec. 28, 1973.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OPPONENTS BREAKDOWN
The Cougars and American Athletic Conference office recently announced the schedule matrix for 2022-23.
Houston will face Cincinnati, Memphis, SMU, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UCF and Wichita State in home-and-away games while meeting Tulsa inside the Fertitta Center only and playing at East Carolina only.
Houston's complete schedule with American Athletic Conference opponents, game times and networks will be released soon.
ABOUT the HOUSTON COUGARS
Three starters and seven lettermen return from the Cougars' 2021-22 team, which posted a 32-6 overall record, advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, swept the American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles and finished among the nation's Top 10 for the second straight season.
Under Sampson's leadership, the Cougars have posted seven consecutive 20-win seasons, including a pair of 30-win campaigns, and competed in each of the last four NCAA Tournaments, tying a school record.
Guard Marcus Sasser returns for his senior season after missing most of the 2021-22 campaign following foot surgery. The Dallas native was averaging a team-high 17.7 points per game and was a Preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection before being sidelined.
Like Sasser, junior guard Tramon Mark missed most of the season a year ago following shoulder surgery but is healthy for the 2022-23 campaign. The Dickinson, Texas, native averaged 10.1 points per game in seven contests before his surgery.
Junior guard Jamal Shead led the Cougars and the American Athletic Conference with 221 assists in 2021-22, the second-highest total in school single-season history. Shead was the only NCAA Division I student-athlete to rank among the nation's Top-10 leaders in both assists and assist-turnover ratio and was an All-American Athletic Conference honoree.
BUY 2022-23 SEASON TICKETS
Fans now may purchase season tickets for the 2022-23 season. A limited number of season tickets are available, so fans are encouraged to purchase soon before supplies run out.
To purchase 2022-23 season tickets, fans may call the Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours or click here at any time.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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).
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 page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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