For the second year in a row, Houston is the top-ranked team heading into the Big 12 Tournament and should be clear favorites to secure its first conference tournament title since joining the Big 12.

Last year, the Cougars came up just short in the conference championship game, but this time, Houston should be able to run through the tournament with ease thanks to an elite roster and having one of the best coaches in the nation.

Stellar guard play

Senior guard LJ Cryer is playing at an elite level and has been the offensive focal point for most of this season. The Katy native leads the team in scoring with 15.3 points per game and is the league’s top 3-pointer shooter, making 43.1% of his shots from beyond the arc.

Houston’s other guard, Milos Uzan has been a perfect pickup in the transfer portal and has become a solid point guard for the Cougars. The junior leads the team with 4.4 assists per game and has stepped up offensively when needed, as seen when he dropped a season-high 22 points against Texas Tech on February 24th.

With the combination of Cryer and Uzan in the backcourt and an elite roster around them, the Cougars have created an excellent recipe for success.

Elite roster

In addition to their backcourt, Houston can attribute their success to J’Wan Roberts.

The senior forward has been with the program for six seasons and is the unquestioned leader of this team. Roberts has been a staple of this rotation since becoming a starter during the 22-23 season. During his tenure, the 23-year-old has become the all-time winningest player in University of Houston men's basketball history, further solidifying his elite school legacy.

Roberts leads the team in rebounds with 6.4 per game and can create his own shots, averaging 11.1 points per game this season.

Complementing Roberts in the frontcourt are Emanuel Sharp and the current Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Joseph Tugler to round out the rest of the starting rotation.

Sharp is a perfect 3-and-D player for this team and Tugler has become the defensive anchor for the Cougars, contributing 2.0 blocks per game.

Houston’s other impact players Mylik Wilson, Terrance Arceneaux and Ja’Vier Francis help give the team depth and solidify their bench.

The Cougars usually play only eight players per game this season, but that is more than enough depth to give Houston a chance to win every game.

Defense and coaching

Current Big 12 Coach of the Year Kelvin Sampson led the Cougars to their second consecutive regular season title with a 27-4 record and are currently the number 2 ranked team in the nation.

Sampson's success can be attributed to a defense-first mentality and knowing how to get the most out of his players year after year.

The Cougars have always had a formidable defense every year since Sampson took over the program, and this season is no different, as Houston is the top-ranked team in defensive efficiency and hold their opponents to 58.1 points per game.

With Sampson at the helm, the Cougars will be well-prepared for the Big 12 Tournament and will have their eyes set on the NCAA Tournament next.

Houston will face Colorado on Thursday at 2 pm to start their Big 12 Tournament play.