#4/4 Men’s Basketball Meets #8/9 Kansas on Saturday

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Winners of its last five games, the University of Houston Men's Basketball program returns to the road and opens the month of February to face #8/9 Kansas inside Phog Allen Fieldhouse at 3 p.m., Saturday.

This will be the first meeting against the Jayhawks since a loss at the Maui Invitational on Nov. 20, 2001, and the first road contest since a setback in Phog Allen Fieldhouse on Dec. 15, 1984.

#4/4 Houston enters this weekend's game following a tough 76-72 win in overtime at rv/rv Texas in Austin, Texas, on Monday night. Senior point guard Jamal Shead posted a game-high 25 points with eight rebounds and four assists while senior guard LJ Cryer and senior forward J'Wan Roberts chipped in with 14 points apiece.

Earlier this week, Shead and Cryer were named to three prestigious postseason watch lists.

Shead earned as place as a Bob Cousy Award Top-10 candidate. That honor is presented annually to the nation's top point guard.

In 2023-24, Shead is averaging 12.3 points, 5.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game while draining more than 45 percent of his shots. The Manor, Texas, native ranks among the Big 12's Top-10 leaders in all four categories.

Cryer was named a Jerry West Award Top-10 candidate for the honor given to the nation's top shooting guard each season and was named to the John R. Wooden Award presented by Principal Late Season Top-20 Watch List.

This season, Cryer leads the Cougars with 15.1 points per game and ranks among the league leaders in 3-point field goal percentage (37.8) and 3-point field goals per game (3.0).

Saturday's game will be Houston's 18th matchup with both teams ranked in the AP Top-10 in program history according to the best Houston records, and the first since #5/4 Houston claimed a 69-61 win at #2/2 Virginia on Dec. 17, 2022.

Saturday's matchup also will serve as a preview for the launch of Big 12 Mexico on Dec. 14, 2024, when the two teams (men's and women's) square off at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Ticket information and additional details will be forthcoming on Big 12 social media platforms.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN with Jon Sciambi (play-by-play), Fran Fraschilla (analyst) and Kris Budden (reporter) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Saturday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play). The pregame show begins at 2:45 p.m., Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT KANSAS
• Kansas brings a 17-4 overall record and 5-3 Big 12 mark into Saturday's game in Lawrence, Kan.
• The Jayhawks stood at #8 in the Associated Press and at #9 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches polls as of Jan. 29.
• Kansas is tied with TCU for fourth in the latest league standings
• The Jayhawks are 11-0 in home games during the 2023-24 season.
• Kansas has alternated wins and losses in its last five games with an 83-54 home win over Oklahoma State in Lawrence, Kan., on Jan. 30, 2024.
• Against Oklahoma State, all five Kansas starters scored double-digit points with forward KJ Adams Jr and center Hunter Dickinson finishing with 16 points apiece. Guard Dajuan Harris Jr totaled 12 points with three rebounds and a game-high seven assists while guard Johnny Furphy posted 11 points and six rebounds. Guard Elmarko Jackson added 10 points in the win with Dickinson's 11 rebounds leading all players.
• This season, guard Kevin McCullar Jr. leads Kansas with 19.8 points per game. Dickinson is second with 18.7 points per contest but leads the Jayhawks with 11.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Adams is third with 12.8 points per game with Harris' 6.9 assists per contest leading the team.
• Head Coach Bill Self is in his 21st season at Kansas and his 31st year as a collegiate head coach.
• Self has posted a 582-136 record with Kansas and is 789-241 during his career.
• Self previously built a 78-24 record at Illinois (2000-03), was 74-27 at Tulsa (1997-00 and compiled a 55-54 mark at Oral Roberts (1993-97).
• Self is 0-1 against Houston during his career.
• Self is 2-4 against Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1985 graduate of Oklahoma State.

SERIES HISTORY vs. KANSAS
• Kansas owns a 5-2 lead against Houston in the series, which began during the 1966-67 season.
• Saturday's game will be the first of two regular-season meetings against Texas during the 2023-24 season. The Jayhawks visit Fertitta Center in Houston in the regular-season finale for both teams on March 9.
• Saturday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Kansas since the 2001-02 season. It will be the first time Houston has faced the Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kan., since the 1984-85 season.
• Kansas has won the last three meetings and five of the last six. Only a 91-76 Houston win in Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston on Nov. 26, 1983, prevents a longer streak.
• In the first meeting, Houston took a 66-53 win in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional in Lawrence, Kan., on March 17, 1967.
on Road: Kansas owns a 2-1 lead against Houston in games played in Lawrence, Kan., during the series.
• Kansas has won the last two meetings in Lawrence, Kan., including an 87-75 victory on Dec. 15, 1984, in the most recent meeting.
• In the first road encounter, Houston took a 66-53 win in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional in Lawrence, Kan., on March 17, 1967.

UP NEXT
• Following Saturday's game, the Cougars return to Fertitta Center to host Oklahoma State at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 6. That game will air on ESPN2.
• From there, the Cougars take on Cincinnati at 3 p.m. (CST), Saturday, Feb. 10, inside Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati. That game will air on ESPN or ESPN2.
• Houston then meets rv/rv Texas for the second time in 2023-24 when it hosts the Longhorns at Noon, Saturday, Feb. 17, inside Fertitta Center. That game will air on CBS.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective, giving to Houston Rise and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.

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.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X, formerly known as 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.

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