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Jersey Number 11
Joseph Tugler
- Position:
- Forward
- Height:
- 6-8
- Weight:
- 230
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Monroe, La.
- High School:
- Cypress Falls HS [Houston]
HONORS
• 2024-25 Lefty Driesell Award
• 2024-25 Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year
• 2024-25 All-Big 12 Conference Third Team
• 2025-26 All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention
• 2025-26 Big 12 All Tournament Team
• 2025-26 Big 12 Conference All-Defensive Team
• 2024-25 Big 12 Conference All-Defensive Team
• 2023-24 Big 12 All-Freshman Team
• 2025-26 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year presented by MOLECULE Finalist
• 2024-25 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year presented by MOLECULE Finalist
• 2024-25 Winter All-Big 12 Academic Team
JUNIOR (2025-26)
Was one of five student-athletes to compete in all 37 games... Led Cougars with a.576 field-goal percentage (129-of-224) and blocks per game (1.5) and finished second on team with 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest... Finished eighth in Big 12 with his blocks average... Averaged 8.4 points per game... Led Cougars and ranked fifth in the Big 12 with 3.0 offensive rebounds per game... Finished second on team with three double-doubles... Recorded 15 double-digit scoring performances... Led or tied for team lead in blocks in 27 games... Made his season debut against Lehigh in season opener in Fertitta Center... Totaled 11 points with two rebounds, three assists and a game-high four blocked shots in win over Mountain Hawks (11/3)... Scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds, including three offensive boards, with game-high five steals in win over Towson in Fertitta Center (11/8)... Scored four points, grabbed four rebounds and blocked four shots with an assist and two steals in home win over Oakland (11/12)... Grabbed seven rebounds with four points, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot in win over #22/25 Auburn during RxBenefits Battleground 2k25 inside Legacy Arena at The BJCC in Birmingham, Ala. (11/16)... Led all players with nine rebounds and added 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting with two assists, three steals and four blocks in home win over Rider (11/20)... Blocked a game-high five shots against Syracuse during first day of Players Era Championship inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (11/24)... Scored 10 points and led all players with eight rebounds in win over Notre Dame during final day of Players Era Championship inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (11/26)... Posted 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and tied for team lead with six rebounds in home win over Middle Tennessee (12/29)... Scored eight points on 4-of-5 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, including a game-high five offensive boards, with four steals, two blocks and an assist in road win at Cincinnati (1/3)... Recorded his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds, including seven offensive boards, in home win over #14/14 Texas Tech... Added a pair of steals against the Red Raiders (1/6)... Posted his second straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, including eight offensive, in road win at Baylor (1/10)... Scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds, including five offensive boards, with four steals in home win over West Virginia (1/13)... Posted 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, including four offensive boards, with three steals and a pair of blocked shots in home win over Arizona State (1/18)... Led all players with three blocked shots and scored seven points with six rebounds, including five offensive boards, in home win over Cincinnati (1/31)... Posted 10 points with team highs of six rebounds and two blocked shots in road win at #16/14 BYU (2/7)... Scored 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from field and 6-of-7 from free throw line in home win over Colorado (2/28)... Finished with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed six rebounds with a pair of steals in Senior Night win over Baylor (3/4)... Posted 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting shooting and led Houston with six rebounds and three blocked shots in road win at Oklahoma State (3/7). Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament: Scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds, including five offensive boards with four assists, four steals and two blocked shots (3/12)... Led Cougars with 20 points and 10 rebound and added three assists, a steal and blocked shot in Championship Game against #2/2 (1) Arizona (3/14). NCAA Tournament: Scored six points with five rebounds and blocked three shots with a pair of assists in Second-Round win over (10) Texas A&M (3/21)... Dished out a game-high five assists and added six points and four rebounds in Sweet 16 vs. #13/12 (3) Illinois inside Toyota Center (3/26).
SOPHOMORE (2024-25)
One of five Cougars to compete in all 40 games, setting a school single-season record... Started each of the last 33 games... Led Houston with 77 blocks and 1.0 blocks per game... Finished 11th nationally with 77 blocks and was 26th with 1.9 blocks per game... Ranked second in the Big 12 with 1.9 blocks per game... Finished second among Cougars with 5.9 rebounds per game... Grabbed nine rebounds, including a game-high eight offensive boards, and added two blocks and a pair of steals in charity exhibition win vs. #13/15 Texas A&M (10/27)... Tied for team lead with five points and led Cougars with three blocked shots in season-opening win vs. Jackson State inside Fertitta Center... Added five points against the Tigers (11/4)... Scored 10 points, tied for lead lead with seven rebounds and blocked two shots against #11/11 Auburn in Mattress Firm Battleground 2k24 inside Toyota Center (11/9)... Led all players with four offensive rebounds in home win over Louisiana (11/13)... Led the Cougars with 17 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field and grabbed four rebounds with four assists in home win over Hofstra.. Also drained a pair of 3-pointers and blocked a shot against the Pride (11/22)... Blocked a game-high eight shots and added eight rebounds with two points and a pair of assists against #9/9 Alabama during first day of Players Era Festival inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (11/26)... Became only sixth Cougar in school history to block 8+shots in a game... Grabbed nine rebounds, including five offensive boards, and added two points and three assists against San Diego State during Players Era Festival Third-Place Game (11/30)... Scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and grabbed three rebounds with three blocks, two steals and an assist in home win over Toledo (12/18)... Grabbed seven rebounds and tied for team lead with four blocks in home win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (12/21)... Tied for team lead with six rebounds, including four offensive boards, anda dded three points with two asists, three blocks and a steal in home win over TCU (1/6)... Posted first double-double of career with 13 points and 10 rebounds in road win at Kansas State... Added two assists and a pair of blocked shots against the Wildcats (1/11)... Led all players with four offensive rebounds and two blocks in home win over rv/#25 West Virginia (1/15)... Led all players with five blocked shots and grabbed seven rebounds in road win at #12/11 Kansas (1/25)... Led all players with seven rebounds and scored 12 points in road win at rv/rv West Virginia (1/29)... Led all players with eight rebounds, including five offensive boards, against #22/19 Texas Tech (2/1)... Scored seven points with nine rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocked shots in home win over Oklahoma State (2/4)... Led all players with 10 rebounds, including six offensive boards, in road win at Colorado (2/8)... Scored six points and led all players with eight rebounds, including five offensive boards, in home win over rv/rv Baylor (2/10)... Led Cougars with seven rebounds and tied for team lead with two blocks in Senior Night home win over Kansas (3/3). Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship: Scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds with three blocked shots in Quarterfinal win over (16) Colorado (3/13)... Blocked a game-high three shots with two points and six rebounds in Title Game win over rv/#24 (3) Arizona (3/15). NCAA Tournament: Posted 10 points with a game-high 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and added two blocks and an assist in Second Round win over #24/23 (8) Gonzaga inside INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan. (3/22)... With score tied and less than three seconds left, took inbounds pass from Milos Uzan and quickly passed back for game-winning layup with less than a second remaining in thrilling Sweet 16 win over #22/22 (4) Purdue inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis (3/28)... Scored six points with two assists and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in Elite Eight win over #6/6 (2) Tennessee (3/30).
FRESHMAN (2023-24)
Competed in 28 games with one start before suffering a season-ending foot injury in late February... Ranked second among Cougars and 11th in Big 12 with 1.1 blocks per game... Finished third on team with 1.9 offensive rebounds per contest... Made his Houston debut in season-opening win over ULM... Finished with two points and six rebounds, including a game-high-tying four offensive boards against the Warhawks (11/6)... Battled through foul trouble to score six points with six rebounds and two blocked shots in nearly 13 minutes at Xavier (12/1)... Led all players with four steals and scored seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field with two offensive rebounds and a blocked shot in home win over Rice (12/6)... Grabbed nine rebounds, including five offensive boards with three steals in home win over Jackson State (12/9)... Scored four points with five rebounds, including three offensive, and blocked three shots in win over rv/rv Texas A&M in The Halal Guys Showcase inside Toyota Center (12/16)... Made his first career start in home win over Penn... Finished with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, including three offensive, with two blocks and two steals against the Quakers (12/30)... Totaled six points with five rebounds and two steals in Big 12-opening win over West Virginia (1/6)... Snared five rebounds at rv/rv Iowa State (1/9)... Led all players with four offensive rebounds in home win over UCF (1/20)... Led all players with four offensive rebounds and finished with five boards, four points and two blocks in road win at rv/rv Texas... Snared an offensive board and flushed it to give the Cougars a 70-67 lead with only 1:27 left in overtime against the Longhorns(1/29)... Scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds with two steals at #8/9 Kansas (2/3)... Tied for team lead with six rebounds in home win over Oklahoma State (2/6)... Lost for the remainder of the season following successful surgery on a foot injury in late February.
CYPRESS FALLS HIGH SCHOOL
Consensus 4-star prospect... Ranked No. 77 nationally and No. 8 in state in ESPN100... Ranked in Top 100 nationally by 247Sports... Chose Houston over Texas, TCU, SMU, Kansas State and Tulsa. Senior (2022-23): Invited to compete at USA U19 National Team Training Camp... Unanimous selection as District 16-6A Most Valuable Player... Honored as THSCA Class 6A Super Elite Team Most Valuable Player... Member of UIL Class 6A All-State Team... Named to HABCA All-Star Game... Was a finalist for the Guy V. Lewis Award. Junior (2021-22): Named to All-District 16-6A First Team... Scored team-high 16 points against Westfield High to lead Cypress Falls High to Region II-6A semifinals... Finished with eight blocks and 12 rebounds in win over College Park High.
PERSONAL
Full name is Joseph De’Merrius Tugler... Last name is pronounced Tug-Lur... Son of Brenda Tugler... Has twin sisters, Alexar and Elexar... Born in Monroe, La... Majoring in integrated studies.
• 2024-25 Lefty Driesell Award
• 2024-25 Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year
• 2024-25 All-Big 12 Conference Third Team
• 2025-26 All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention
• 2025-26 Big 12 All Tournament Team
• 2025-26 Big 12 Conference All-Defensive Team
• 2024-25 Big 12 Conference All-Defensive Team
• 2023-24 Big 12 All-Freshman Team
• 2025-26 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year presented by MOLECULE Finalist
• 2024-25 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year presented by MOLECULE Finalist
• 2024-25 Winter All-Big 12 Academic Team
| Game Highs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 20 | vs. #2/2 (1) Arizona (3/14/26) | ||
| FG | 9 | vs. #2/2 (1) Arizona (3/14/26) | ||
| FGA | 15 | vs. #2/2 (1) Arizona (3/14/26) | ||
| 3FG | 2 | vs. Hofstra (11/22/24) | ||
| 3FGA | 2 2 |
vs. #9/9 Alabama (11/26/24) vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (11/11/23) |
||
| FT | 6 6 |
vs. Colorado (2/28/26) vs. #11/11 Auburn (11/9/24) |
||
| FTA | 8 | vs. #11/11 Auburn (11/9/24) | ||
| Rebounds | 11 11 |
at Baylor (1/10/26) vs. #24/23 (8) Gonzaga (3/22/25) |
||
| Off. Rebounds | 8 | at Baylor (1/10/26) | ||
| Def. Rebounds | 6 6 6 |
vs. Rider (11/20/25) vs. Butler (12/7/24) vs. #9/9 Alabama (11/26/24) |
||
| Assists | 5 5 |
vs. #13/12 (3) Illinois (3/26/26) vs. #17/16 Tennessee (11/25/25) |
||
| Steals | 5 | vs. Towson (11/8/25) | ||
| Blocks | 8 | vs. #9/9 Alabama (11/26/24) | ||
| Minutes | 35:37 | at #12/11 Kansas (1/25/25) | ||
Was one of five student-athletes to compete in all 37 games... Led Cougars with a.576 field-goal percentage (129-of-224) and blocks per game (1.5) and finished second on team with 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest... Finished eighth in Big 12 with his blocks average... Averaged 8.4 points per game... Led Cougars and ranked fifth in the Big 12 with 3.0 offensive rebounds per game... Finished second on team with three double-doubles... Recorded 15 double-digit scoring performances... Led or tied for team lead in blocks in 27 games... Made his season debut against Lehigh in season opener in Fertitta Center... Totaled 11 points with two rebounds, three assists and a game-high four blocked shots in win over Mountain Hawks (11/3)... Scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds, including three offensive boards, with game-high five steals in win over Towson in Fertitta Center (11/8)... Scored four points, grabbed four rebounds and blocked four shots with an assist and two steals in home win over Oakland (11/12)... Grabbed seven rebounds with four points, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot in win over #22/25 Auburn during RxBenefits Battleground 2k25 inside Legacy Arena at The BJCC in Birmingham, Ala. (11/16)... Led all players with nine rebounds and added 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting with two assists, three steals and four blocks in home win over Rider (11/20)... Blocked a game-high five shots against Syracuse during first day of Players Era Championship inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (11/24)... Scored 10 points and led all players with eight rebounds in win over Notre Dame during final day of Players Era Championship inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (11/26)... Posted 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and tied for team lead with six rebounds in home win over Middle Tennessee (12/29)... Scored eight points on 4-of-5 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, including a game-high five offensive boards, with four steals, two blocks and an assist in road win at Cincinnati (1/3)... Recorded his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds, including seven offensive boards, in home win over #14/14 Texas Tech... Added a pair of steals against the Red Raiders (1/6)... Posted his second straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, including eight offensive, in road win at Baylor (1/10)... Scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds, including five offensive boards, with four steals in home win over West Virginia (1/13)... Posted 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, including four offensive boards, with three steals and a pair of blocked shots in home win over Arizona State (1/18)... Led all players with three blocked shots and scored seven points with six rebounds, including five offensive boards, in home win over Cincinnati (1/31)... Posted 10 points with team highs of six rebounds and two blocked shots in road win at #16/14 BYU (2/7)... Scored 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from field and 6-of-7 from free throw line in home win over Colorado (2/28)... Finished with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed six rebounds with a pair of steals in Senior Night win over Baylor (3/4)... Posted 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting shooting and led Houston with six rebounds and three blocked shots in road win at Oklahoma State (3/7). Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament: Scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds, including five offensive boards with four assists, four steals and two blocked shots (3/12)... Led Cougars with 20 points and 10 rebound and added three assists, a steal and blocked shot in Championship Game against #2/2 (1) Arizona (3/14). NCAA Tournament: Scored six points with five rebounds and blocked three shots with a pair of assists in Second-Round win over (10) Texas A&M (3/21)... Dished out a game-high five assists and added six points and four rebounds in Sweet 16 vs. #13/12 (3) Illinois inside Toyota Center (3/26).
SOPHOMORE (2024-25)
One of five Cougars to compete in all 40 games, setting a school single-season record... Started each of the last 33 games... Led Houston with 77 blocks and 1.0 blocks per game... Finished 11th nationally with 77 blocks and was 26th with 1.9 blocks per game... Ranked second in the Big 12 with 1.9 blocks per game... Finished second among Cougars with 5.9 rebounds per game... Grabbed nine rebounds, including a game-high eight offensive boards, and added two blocks and a pair of steals in charity exhibition win vs. #13/15 Texas A&M (10/27)... Tied for team lead with five points and led Cougars with three blocked shots in season-opening win vs. Jackson State inside Fertitta Center... Added five points against the Tigers (11/4)... Scored 10 points, tied for lead lead with seven rebounds and blocked two shots against #11/11 Auburn in Mattress Firm Battleground 2k24 inside Toyota Center (11/9)... Led all players with four offensive rebounds in home win over Louisiana (11/13)... Led the Cougars with 17 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field and grabbed four rebounds with four assists in home win over Hofstra.. Also drained a pair of 3-pointers and blocked a shot against the Pride (11/22)... Blocked a game-high eight shots and added eight rebounds with two points and a pair of assists against #9/9 Alabama during first day of Players Era Festival inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (11/26)... Became only sixth Cougar in school history to block 8+shots in a game... Grabbed nine rebounds, including five offensive boards, and added two points and three assists against San Diego State during Players Era Festival Third-Place Game (11/30)... Scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and grabbed three rebounds with three blocks, two steals and an assist in home win over Toledo (12/18)... Grabbed seven rebounds and tied for team lead with four blocks in home win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (12/21)... Tied for team lead with six rebounds, including four offensive boards, anda dded three points with two asists, three blocks and a steal in home win over TCU (1/6)... Posted first double-double of career with 13 points and 10 rebounds in road win at Kansas State... Added two assists and a pair of blocked shots against the Wildcats (1/11)... Led all players with four offensive rebounds and two blocks in home win over rv/#25 West Virginia (1/15)... Led all players with five blocked shots and grabbed seven rebounds in road win at #12/11 Kansas (1/25)... Led all players with seven rebounds and scored 12 points in road win at rv/rv West Virginia (1/29)... Led all players with eight rebounds, including five offensive boards, against #22/19 Texas Tech (2/1)... Scored seven points with nine rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocked shots in home win over Oklahoma State (2/4)... Led all players with 10 rebounds, including six offensive boards, in road win at Colorado (2/8)... Scored six points and led all players with eight rebounds, including five offensive boards, in home win over rv/rv Baylor (2/10)... Led Cougars with seven rebounds and tied for team lead with two blocks in Senior Night home win over Kansas (3/3). Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship: Scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds with three blocked shots in Quarterfinal win over (16) Colorado (3/13)... Blocked a game-high three shots with two points and six rebounds in Title Game win over rv/#24 (3) Arizona (3/15). NCAA Tournament: Posted 10 points with a game-high 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and added two blocks and an assist in Second Round win over #24/23 (8) Gonzaga inside INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan. (3/22)... With score tied and less than three seconds left, took inbounds pass from Milos Uzan and quickly passed back for game-winning layup with less than a second remaining in thrilling Sweet 16 win over #22/22 (4) Purdue inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis (3/28)... Scored six points with two assists and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in Elite Eight win over #6/6 (2) Tennessee (3/30).
FRESHMAN (2023-24)
Competed in 28 games with one start before suffering a season-ending foot injury in late February... Ranked second among Cougars and 11th in Big 12 with 1.1 blocks per game... Finished third on team with 1.9 offensive rebounds per contest... Made his Houston debut in season-opening win over ULM... Finished with two points and six rebounds, including a game-high-tying four offensive boards against the Warhawks (11/6)... Battled through foul trouble to score six points with six rebounds and two blocked shots in nearly 13 minutes at Xavier (12/1)... Led all players with four steals and scored seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field with two offensive rebounds and a blocked shot in home win over Rice (12/6)... Grabbed nine rebounds, including five offensive boards with three steals in home win over Jackson State (12/9)... Scored four points with five rebounds, including three offensive, and blocked three shots in win over rv/rv Texas A&M in The Halal Guys Showcase inside Toyota Center (12/16)... Made his first career start in home win over Penn... Finished with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, including three offensive, with two blocks and two steals against the Quakers (12/30)... Totaled six points with five rebounds and two steals in Big 12-opening win over West Virginia (1/6)... Snared five rebounds at rv/rv Iowa State (1/9)... Led all players with four offensive rebounds in home win over UCF (1/20)... Led all players with four offensive rebounds and finished with five boards, four points and two blocks in road win at rv/rv Texas... Snared an offensive board and flushed it to give the Cougars a 70-67 lead with only 1:27 left in overtime against the Longhorns(1/29)... Scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds with two steals at #8/9 Kansas (2/3)... Tied for team lead with six rebounds in home win over Oklahoma State (2/6)... Lost for the remainder of the season following successful surgery on a foot injury in late February.
CYPRESS FALLS HIGH SCHOOL
Consensus 4-star prospect... Ranked No. 77 nationally and No. 8 in state in ESPN100... Ranked in Top 100 nationally by 247Sports... Chose Houston over Texas, TCU, SMU, Kansas State and Tulsa. Senior (2022-23): Invited to compete at USA U19 National Team Training Camp... Unanimous selection as District 16-6A Most Valuable Player... Honored as THSCA Class 6A Super Elite Team Most Valuable Player... Member of UIL Class 6A All-State Team... Named to HABCA All-Star Game... Was a finalist for the Guy V. Lewis Award. Junior (2021-22): Named to All-District 16-6A First Team... Scored team-high 16 points against Westfield High to lead Cypress Falls High to Region II-6A semifinals... Finished with eight blocks and 12 rebounds in win over College Park High.
PERSONAL
Full name is Joseph De’Merrius Tugler... Last name is pronounced Tug-Lur... Son of Brenda Tugler... Has twin sisters, Alexar and Elexar... Born in Monroe, La... Majoring in integrated studies.
CHRIS CENAC Jr. (April 10, 2026)
Tuesday, April 14
COACH KELVIN SAMPSON (April 9, 2026)
Thursday, April 09
PREVIEW – Coach Kelvin Sampson vs. #13/12 (3) Illinois (March 23, 2026)
Tuesday, March 24
HIGHLIGHTS – vs. (10) Texas A&M (March 21, 2026)
Monday, March 23
