The University of Houston is a highly respected and competitive program in NCAA basketball, with a long and successful history. Below CryptoApex provides a brief overview of the history of Houston in NCAA basketball.
Houston basketball began in 1946, when the university formed its first team. The team played its first game in January of that year, defeating a local YMCA squad. The team’s first head coach was Alden Pasche, who led the program for 25 years and helped establish a foundation of success for Houston basketball.
In the early years of the program, Houston struggled to find consistent success on the court. However, the team’s fortunes began to change in the 1960s.
The Phi Slama Jama Era
In the 1980s, Houston basketball enjoyed one of its most successful periods in program history, thanks in large part to the legendary “Phi Slama Jama” teams. Coached by Guy V. Lewis, the teams featured standout players such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Michael Young, and were known for their fast-paced, high-flying style of play.
The Phi Slama Jama teams made three consecutive Final Four appearances from 1982-1984, and were national runners-up in both 1983 and 1984. The teams helped put Houston basketball on the map and established their legacy of success which continues to this day (currently ranked #2 in the nation).
In recent years, Houston basketball has continued to be a competitive program in NCAA basketball. The team has had several successful seasons under head coach Kelvin Sampson, who has helped build on the program’s rich history.
In the 2018-19 season, Houston won the American Athletic Conference championship and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. The team was led by standout players such as Corey Davis Jr. and Armoni Brooks.
The following season, Houston won the American Athletic Conference regular season title and finished the season ranked No. 22 in the AP poll. The team was poised for another successful postseason run, but the NCAA tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the 2020-21 season, Houston once again won the American Athletic Conference championship and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament for the first time since the Phi Slama Jama era. The team was led by standout players such as Quentin Grimes and DeJon Jarreau, and finished the season ranked No. 5 in the AP poll.
Houston basketball has a long and successful history in NCAA basketball, with many notable successes and standout players. The program’s Phi Slama Jama teams of the 1980s are legendary, and the current team under Kelvin Sampson continues to build on that legacy with competitive and successful seasons. Houston remains a respected and formidable program in NCAA basketball.
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