The West Virginia Mountaineers head to Houston, Texas, to take on the No. 10-ranked Cougars.
Here’s a breakdown of Houston’s season so far:
Through their first seven games, the Cougars were a lackluster 4-3, sitting just one game above .500. Their losses came against tough opponents — now No. 1-ranked Auburn, now No. 4-ranked Alabama, and 10-4 San Diego State.
Since then, Houston has won eight straight games and carries significant momentum into the matchup with West Virginia. Adding to their confidence, the Cougars are undefeated at home this season and will look to extend their streak to 10 straight wins at the Fertitta Center this season.
Houston is led by senior guard L.J. Cryer, who is tied as the team’s leading scorer with an average of 14.1 points per game. Cryer transferred to Houston after three seasons at Baylor and has been a key contributor for the Cougars. He’s been efficient from beyond the arc, shooting 41% on 3-point attempts this season.
Junior guard Emmanuel Sharp also averages 14.1 points per game and is regarded as one of the top shooters in the nation. Sharp leads all NCAA players in 3-point shooting percentage at 48.8%. He’s equally reliable from the free-throw line, shooting 92.3%, making him practically automatic when he steps to the stripe.
As a team, Houston ranks first in the Big 12 in 3-point shooting percentage and ninth in field-goal percentage. Defensively, the Cougars lead the conference in several key categories, including opponent points per game, and and opponent 3-point percentage. They rank fourth in opponents field goal percentage. These defensive stats have given Houston the best point differential in the Big 12.
West Virginia will face a tall task in Houston, trying to overcome the Cougars’ defensive dominance and strong shooting from beyond the arc. West Virginia will be going into a hostile environment, attempting to ruin Houston’s eight game win streak, undefeated home record, and give them their first loss in Big 12 play.
Will it be a repeat of the Mountaineers’ upset win over Kansas a few weeks ago? Only time will tell.
