Coach Kelvin Sampson and his UH players, as well as supporters of the program, take in the NCAA Tournament Selection Show at the Post Oak Hotel on Sunday.

Kelvin Sampson’s UH Cougars warmed up for the season with four exhibition games in Australia seven months ago.

The fun starts now.

The Cougars earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a dominant run to the Big 12 regular-season championship and a 30-4 record.

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UH will face Longwood in the first round on Friday at Memphis, Tenn. The Cougars could go against in-state rival Texas A&M in the second round. The Aggies are in an 8-9 matchup against former Big 12 foe Nebraska.

The Cougars as the top seed in the South, with the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight being played in Dallas, has been predicted for at least a month. Similarly, UConn as the No. 1 seed in the East and Purdue topping the Midwest have long been expected. ACC champion North Carolina claimed the No. 1 seed in the West.

On paper, the South is the weakest.

UH is a huge favorite (22 points) over Longwood, which has been playing basketball only since 1976 and didn’t move to Division I until 2007. The Lancers are making their second Tournament appearance.

RELATED: Can Cougars finally win NCAA title?

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The late Jerome Kersey, who passed away in 2015, is the only player from Longwood to reach the NBA. He was teammates and close friends with former UH star Clyde Drexler. The two played 11 seasons together in Portland.

A possible second-round matchup against the Aggies would be interesting. The teams met in December at Toyota Center, with UH pulling out a 70-66 victory in a game that was tied with a minute and a half left.

Sampson’s squad is light on depth with three key rotation players out for the season with injuries, but the NCAA Tournament isn’t as grueling as a conference tournament. There is a day off between games at a site, and several off days for teams that advance from the second round to a regional and from a regional to the Final Four.

UH had to play three straight days at the Big 12 tournament, and fatigue showed in the final that it lost to Iowa State 69-41.

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The Cougars are the best defensive team in the country, leading in points allowed and field goal percentage defense. Their problem is inconsistent offense.

When UH makes shots, it is almost unbeatable.

This is a team that can win a national championship, but a cold night could render the Cougars ripe for an upset. UH averaged 56.5 points in its four losses.

The region sets up nicely for the style of basketball UH plays.

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Powerhouses Kentucky and Duke are the Nos 3 and 4 seeds in the South, but they have 17 losses between them. A&M beat Kentucky (23-9) on Friday. Duke (24-8) was upset by North Carolina State early in the ACC tournament.

Marquette (25-9), led by former Texas coach Shaka Smart, is the No. 2 seed. The Golden Eagles were routed by UConn in the Big East tournament final on Saturday.

QOSHE - Solomon: UH started Down Under, hopes to finish on top - Jerome Solomon

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Solomon: UH started Down Under, hopes to finish on top

Jerome Solomon

Houston Chronicle

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18.03.2024

Coach Kelvin Sampson and his UH players, as well as supporters of the program, take in the NCAA Tournament Selection Show at the Post Oak Hotel on Sunday.

Kelvin Sampson’s UH Cougars warmed up for the season with four exhibition games in Australia seven months ago.

The fun starts now.

The Cougars earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a dominant run to the Big 12 regular-season championship and a 30-4 record.

Article continues below this ad

The Cougars as the top seed in the South, with the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight being played in........

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Solomon: UH started Down Under, hopes to finish on top

Jerome Solomon

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