.png&width=48&height=48&type=webp)
University of Houston Athletics
Photo by: Stephen Pinchback
Men’s Basketball Ready for Big 12 Tipoff
10/17/2023 2:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Cougars begin annual media event inside T-Mobile Center in Kansas City at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Houston Men's Basketball Head Coach Kelvin Sampson will join seniors Jamal Shead, J'Wan Roberts and LJ Cryer at Big 12 Basketball Tipoff inside T-Mobile Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Sampson and the Cougars will meet with media members in a variety of interview sessions. Big 12 Now on ESPN+ will provide two different feeds of coverage each day with the main set simulcast on ESPNU from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. CT.
The Cougars begin their media sessions at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday. Fans can watch the ESPNU simulcast by clicking here.
Tipoff interviews will be conducted by Kris Budden, Hannah Wing and Fran Fraschilla.
The Kid Reporters program returns to the Tipoff for the second year, as third and fourth graders at KIPP Elementary School, a public charter elementary school in Kansas City, Missouri, will interview student-athletes and coaches.
Third-graders McKinley Tucker and Kyree Harbour along with fourth-graders Maceio Jones and Kinsley Sowell will participate in the event. Content created by the Kid Reporters will be shared throughout the basketball season.
ABOUT the HOUSTON COUGARS
Under Sampson's leadership, the Cougars are preparing for their first season as Big 12 members. The Cougars return six lettermen and two starters from last year's squad, which captured its fourth conference regular-season title in the last six years and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 or farther for the fourth consecutive season, a first in school history.
Houston was ranked among the Top Seven in both preseason national polls earlier this week and recently received 153 points and a pair of first-place votes to rank second in the league's Coaches Preseason Poll.
This marked the fourth straight season in which the Cougars were ranked in a preseason national poll. The Cougars also enjoyed their 22nd straight poll among the nation's Top 10 and extended their school record to 65 consecutive weeks in at least one national poll.
Cryer and senior point guard Jamal Shead earned places on the Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Team. Cryer was named to the five-man Preseason squad while Shead received Honorable Mention.
ABOUT LJ CRYER
Cryer is in his first season at Houston in 2023-24 after transferring from Baylor during the summer.
A three-year letterman during an award-winning career, Cryer earned 2022-23 All-Big 12 and USBWA All-District VII Team recognition after averaging 15.0 points per game while hitting 45.3 percent (163-of-360) from the field, including 41.5 percent (80-of-193) from behind the arc.
The Katy, Texas, native set Baylor's NCAA Tournament scoring record with 30 points against rv/#22 Creighton and posted the program's single-season free throw percentage record at 89.4 percent (59-of-66).
ABOUT JAMAL SHEAD
Shead has been a leader with the Cougars for three seasons and enters the 2023-24 season with 460 career assists to rank seventh in school history.
As a junior a year ago, he was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 10.5 points per game with a team-high 200 assists. The Manor, Texas, native joined Houston great Reid Gettys as the only players in school history with multiple seasons with 200+ assists.
Shead was one of only 10 student-athletes to rank among the nation's Top-30 leaders in both assists per game and assist-turnover ratio.
ABOUT J'WAN ROBERTS
Roberts will be a leader for the Cougars in the frontcourt in 2023-24 after averaging 10.0 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game a year ago.
The St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, native was honored as the American Athletic Conference Most Improved Player of the Year in 2022-23 and was one of only three Cougars to compete in all 37 games.
Roberts led Houston and ranked among The American leaders with a 61.3 field goal percentage, 1.32 blocks per game and seven double-doubles. He snared a career-high 20 rebounds against Memphis in The American Championship title game and scored a personal-best 26 points in a home win against Tulane.
BUY 2023-24 TICKETS
The Cougars have sold out of their season ticket allotment inside Fertitta Center for the 2023-24 season.
Information about group and single-game tickets will be available soon.
UP NEXT
Sampson and his Cougars open the 2023-24 season with their exhibition opener against UNC Pembroke – Sampson's alma mater – at 3 p.m., Oct. 28, inside the Fertitta Center.
Houston opens its 2023-24 regular season when it meets ULM at 7 p.m., Nov. 6, inside the Fertitta Center.
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 as we begin Big 12 competition. 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.
Sampson and the Cougars will meet with media members in a variety of interview sessions. Big 12 Now on ESPN+ will provide two different feeds of coverage each day with the main set simulcast on ESPNU from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. CT.
The Cougars begin their media sessions at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday. Fans can watch the ESPNU simulcast by clicking here.
Tipoff interviews will be conducted by Kris Budden, Hannah Wing and Fran Fraschilla.The Kid Reporters program returns to the Tipoff for the second year, as third and fourth graders at KIPP Elementary School, a public charter elementary school in Kansas City, Missouri, will interview student-athletes and coaches.
Third-graders McKinley Tucker and Kyree Harbour along with fourth-graders Maceio Jones and Kinsley Sowell will participate in the event. Content created by the Kid Reporters will be shared throughout the basketball season.
ABOUT the HOUSTON COUGARS
Under Sampson's leadership, the Cougars are preparing for their first season as Big 12 members. The Cougars return six lettermen and two starters from last year's squad, which captured its fourth conference regular-season title in the last six years and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 or farther for the fourth consecutive season, a first in school history.
Houston was ranked among the Top Seven in both preseason national polls earlier this week and recently received 153 points and a pair of first-place votes to rank second in the league's Coaches Preseason Poll.
This marked the fourth straight season in which the Cougars were ranked in a preseason national poll. The Cougars also enjoyed their 22nd straight poll among the nation's Top 10 and extended their school record to 65 consecutive weeks in at least one national poll.
Cryer and senior point guard Jamal Shead earned places on the Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Team. Cryer was named to the five-man Preseason squad while Shead received Honorable Mention.
ABOUT LJ CRYER
Cryer is in his first season at Houston in 2023-24 after transferring from Baylor during the summer.
A three-year letterman during an award-winning career, Cryer earned 2022-23 All-Big 12 and USBWA All-District VII Team recognition after averaging 15.0 points per game while hitting 45.3 percent (163-of-360) from the field, including 41.5 percent (80-of-193) from behind the arc.
The Katy, Texas, native set Baylor's NCAA Tournament scoring record with 30 points against rv/#22 Creighton and posted the program's single-season free throw percentage record at 89.4 percent (59-of-66).
ABOUT JAMAL SHEAD
Shead has been a leader with the Cougars for three seasons and enters the 2023-24 season with 460 career assists to rank seventh in school history.
As a junior a year ago, he was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 10.5 points per game with a team-high 200 assists. The Manor, Texas, native joined Houston great Reid Gettys as the only players in school history with multiple seasons with 200+ assists.
Shead was one of only 10 student-athletes to rank among the nation's Top-30 leaders in both assists per game and assist-turnover ratio.
ABOUT J'WAN ROBERTS
Roberts will be a leader for the Cougars in the frontcourt in 2023-24 after averaging 10.0 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game a year ago.
The St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, native was honored as the American Athletic Conference Most Improved Player of the Year in 2022-23 and was one of only three Cougars to compete in all 37 games.
Roberts led Houston and ranked among The American leaders with a 61.3 field goal percentage, 1.32 blocks per game and seven double-doubles. He snared a career-high 20 rebounds against Memphis in The American Championship title game and scored a personal-best 26 points in a home win against Tulane.
BUY 2023-24 TICKETS
The Cougars have sold out of their season ticket allotment inside Fertitta Center for the 2023-24 season.
Information about group and single-game tickets will be available soon.
UP NEXT
Sampson and his Cougars open the 2023-24 season with their exhibition opener against UNC Pembroke – Sampson's alma mater – at 3 p.m., Oct. 28, inside the Fertitta Center.
Houston opens its 2023-24 regular season when it meets ULM at 7 p.m., Nov. 6, inside the Fertitta Center.
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 as we begin Big 12 competition. 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 –
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballPREVIEW – Coach Kelvin Sampson vs. Colorado (February 25, 2026)
Wednesday, February 25
POSTGAME — at #14 Kansas (Feb. 23, 2026)
Monday, February 23
POSTGAME — vs #4 Arizona (Feb. 21, 2026)
Saturday, February 21
POSTGAME — at Iowa State (Feb. 16, 2026
Monday, February 16