2022–23 Houston Cougars men's basketball team

The 2022–23 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represented the University of Houston in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cougars were led by ninth-year head coach Kelvin Sampson. The team played their home games at the Fertitta Center as members of the American Athletic Conference. In September 2021, Houston and fellow conference members Cincinnati and UCF accepted bids to join the Big 12 Conference.^[1] They finished the season 33–4, 17–1 in AAC play, to win the AAC regular season championship. They defeated East Carolina and Cincinnati to advance to the AAC tournament championship game where they lost to Memphis. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the #1 seed in the Midwest Regional. They defeated Northern Kentucky and Auburn to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth consecutive year. There they lost to Miami (FL).

2022–23 Houston Cougars men's basketball
AAC regular season champions
NCAA tournament, Sweet Sixteen
Conference	American Athletic Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 6
AP	No. 2
Record	33–4 (17–1 AAC)
Head coach	Kelvin Sampson (9th season)
Assistant coaches	K.C. Beard Hollis Price Kellen Sampson Quannas White
Home arena	Fertitta Center
Seasons ← 2021–22 2023–24 →

2022–23 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 2 Houston	17	–	1		.944			33	–	4		.892
No. 24 Memphis †	13	–	5		.722			26	–	9		.743
Tulane	12	–	6		.667			20	–	11		.645
Cincinnati	11	–	7		.611			23	–	13		.639
Temple	10	–	8		.556			16	–	16		.500
Wichita State	9	–	9		.500			17	–	15		.531
UCF	8	–	10		.444			19	–	15		.559
South Florida	7	–	11		.389			14	–	18		.438
East Carolina	6	–	12		.333			16	–	17		.485
SMU	5	–	13		.278			10	–	22		.313
Tulsa	1	–	17		.056			5	–	25		.167
† 2023 AAC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll

On November 28, 2022, the team reached the number one ranking in the AP poll, marking the first time they had held the top spot since 1983. The season marked Houston's last as a member of the AAC. They became a member of the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023.^[2][3]

Previous season

The Cougars finished the 2021–22 season 26–5, 15–3 in AAC play, to win the AAC regular season championship. They defeated Cincinnati, Tulane and Memphis to win the AAC tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 5 seed in the South region. They defeated UAB and Illinois to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the third consecutive season. There they defeated Arizona before losing to Villanova in the Elite Eight.

Offseason

Departing players

Houston departing players

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Reason for departure
Robbie Armbrester	2	G	6'4"	220	Freshman	Atlanta, GA	Transferred to Stephen F. Austin[4]
Tazé Moore	4	G	6'5"	195	Graduate student	Southaven, MS	Exhausted eligibility
Kyler Edwards	11	G	6'4"	205	Senior	Arlington, TX	Graduated; declared for the 2022 NBA draft[5]
Josh Carlton	25	F/C	6'10"	245	Graduate student	Winterville, NC	Exhausted eligibility
Fabian White Jr.	35	F	6'8"	230	Graduate student	Atascocita, TX	Exhausted eligibility
Kiyron Powell	52	C	6'8"	210	Sophomore	Evansville, IN	Transferred to Southern Indiana[6]

Incoming transfers

Houston incoming transfers

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Previous school
Mylik Wilson[7]	13	G	6'3"	175	Senior	Rayville, LA	Texas Tech
Sadarius Bowser[8]	22	C	6'9"	230	Graduate student	Gaffney, SC	Charleston Southern

2022 recruiting class

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Emanuel Sharp SG	Tampa, FL	Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	May 13, 2021
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:   247Sports:   ESPN grade: 82
Terrance Arceneaux SF	Beaumont, TX	Beaumont United High School	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Sep 17, 2021
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:   247Sports:   ESPN grade: 83
Jarace Walker PF / SF	New Freedom, PA	IMG Academy	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Nov 4, 2021
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:   247Sports:   ESPN grade: 92
Recruit rankings:    247Sports: 12
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, ESPN, and On3 may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 17, 2021.

2023 recruiting class

College recruiting information (2023)
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Kordelius Jefferson CG	Arlington, TX	Martin High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	May 16, 2022
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:   247Sports:   ESPN grade: 79
Joseph Tugler PF / C	Houston, TX	Cypress Falls High School	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	May 25, 2022
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:   247Sports:   ESPN grade: 83
Jacob McFarland C	Moreno Valley, CA	Rancho Verde High School	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Sep 23, 2022
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:   247Sports:   ESPN grade: 82
Cedric Lath C	Abidjan, Ivory Coast	Balboa School (CA)	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	Nov 16, 2022
	Recruit ratings: 247Sports:
Recruit rankings:    247Sports: 23
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, ESPN, and On3 may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 22, 2022.

Preseason

AAC preseason media poll

On October 12, The American released the preseason poll and other preseason awards.^[9]

Coaches Poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Houston	100 (10)
2	Memphis	87 (1)
3	Cincinnati	82
4	Tulane	74
5	Temple	66
6	UCF	51
7	SMU	43
8	Wichita State	35
9	South Florida	33
10	Tulsa	21
11	East Carolina	13

Preseason awards

• Player of the Year – Marcus Sasser
• Rookie of the Year – Jarace Walker
• All-AAC First Team – Marcus Sasser
• All-AAC Second Team – Jamal Shead

Roster

2022–23 Houston Cougars men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 0 Marcus Sasser 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Sr Red Oak HS Dallas, TX G 1 Jamal Shead 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Manor HS Manor, TX G 3 Ramon Walker Jr. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Shadow Creek HS Pearland, TX C 4 Darius Bowser 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) GS Charleston Southern Gaffney, SC F 5 Ja'Vier Francis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) So Montverde Academy New Orleans, LA G 12 Tramon Mark 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS So Dickinson HS Dickinson, TX F 13 J'Wan Roberts 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Jr Shoemaker HS Saint Thomas, USVI G 20 Ryan Elvin (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Jr Cedar Ridge HS Round Rock, TX G 21 Emanuel Sharp 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS Fr Bishop McLaughlin CHS Tampa, FL G 23 Terrance Arceneaux 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Beaumont United HS Beaumont, TX G 24 Mylik Wilson  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sr Texas Tech Rayville, LA F 25 Jarace Walker 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Fr IMG Academy New Freedom, PA F 32 Reggie Chaney 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) GS Arkansas Tulsa, OK	Head coach Kelvin Sampson (UNC Pembroke) Assistant coach(es) K.C. Beard (Boise State) Hollis Price (Oklahoma) Kellen Sampson (Oklahoma) Quannas White (Oklahoma) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: March 30, 2024

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 7, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 3	Northern Colorado	W 83–36	1–0	21 – Sasser	12 – J. Walker	9 – Shead	Fertitta Center (7,042) Houston, TX
November 11, 2022* 5:00 p.m., CBSSN	No. 3	vs. Saint Joseph's Veterans Classic	W 81–55	2–0	23 – J. Walker	12 – Roberts	8 – Shead	Alumni Hall (2,889) Annapolis, MD
November 14, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 3	Oral Roberts Cougar Classic	W 83–45	3–0	23 – Mark	11 – Francis	3 – Shead	Fertitta Center (7,246) Houston, TX
November 16, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 3	Texas Southern Cougar Classic	W 83–48	4–0	20 – Sasser	6 – J. Walker	6 – tied	Fertitta Center (7,322) Houston, TX
November 20, 2022* 8:30 p.m., ESPN	No. 3	at Oregon	W 66–56	5–0	16 – Sasser	6 – J. Walker	4 – Shead	Matthew Knight Arena (7,002) Eugene, OR
November 26, 2022* 1:30 p.m., ESPN+	No. 2	Kent State	W 49–44	6–0	19 – Sasser	14 – Roberts	3 – Mark	Fertitta Center (7,378) Houston, TX
November 29, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 1	Norfolk State	W 100–52	7–0	25 – Sasser	8 – tied	11 – Shead	Fertitta Center (7,308) Houston, TX
December 3, 2022* 8:30 p.m., ESPN2	No. 1	vs. Saint Mary's The Battleground 2k22	W 53–48	8–0	15 – Roberts	8 – Roberts	4 – Sasser	Dickies Arena (2,812) Fort Worth, TX
December 6, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 1	North Florida	W 76–42	9–0	14 – Francis	10 – J. Walker	10 – Shead	Fertitta Center (7,283) Houston, TX
December 10, 2022* 2:00 p.m., ABC	No. 1	No. 8 Alabama	L 65–71	9–1	19 – Shead	9 – Roberts	3 – Shead	Fertitta Center (7,718) Houston, TX
December 13, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 5	North Carolina A&T	W 74–46	10–1	17 – tied	15 – Francis	4 – Shead	Fertitta Center (7,268) Houston, TX
December 17, 2022* 1:00 p.m., ESPN2	No. 5	at No. 2 Virginia	W 69–61	11–1	17 – J. Walker	7 – J. Walker	4 – tied	John Paul Jones Arena (14,629) Charlottesville, VA
December 21, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 3	McNeese	W 83–44	12–1	23 – Francis	13 – Francis	9 – Shead	Fertitta Center (7,418) Houston, TX
AAC Regular Season
December 28, 2022 8:00 p.m., ESPNU	No. 3	at Tulsa	W 89–50	13–1 (1–0)	15 – Roberts	9 – Roberts	5 – Sasser	Reynolds Center (4,807) Tulsa, OK
December 31, 2022 1:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 3	UCF	W 71–65	14–1 (2–0)	19 – Mark	7 – Francis	4 – Shead	Fertitta Center (7,457) Houston, TX
January 5, 2023 6:00 p.m., ESPN2	No. 2	SMU Rivalry	W 87–53	15–1 (3–0)	23 – J. Walker	10 – J. Walker	7 – Sasser	Fertitta Center (7,478) Houston, TX
January 8, 2023 2:00 p.m., ESPN	No. 2	at Cincinnati	W 72–59	16–1 (4–0)	21 – J. Walker	11 – Roberts	5 – Mark	Fifth Third Arena (10,264) Cincinnati, OH
January 11, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 1	South Florida	W 83–77	17–1 (5–0)	31 – Sasser	6 – tied	4 – Sasser	Fertitta Center (7,473) Houston, TX
January 17, 2023 6:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 1	at Tulane	W 80–60	18–1 (6–0)	23 – Sasser	9 – J. Walker	7 – Shead	Devlin Fieldhouse (3,621) New Orleans, LA
January 22, 2023 2:00 p.m., ESPN	No. 1	Temple	L 55–56	18–2 (6–1)	13 – Shead	12 – J. Walker	5 – Sasser	Fertitta Center (7,484) Houston, TX
January 25, 2023 6:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 3	at UCF	W 82–71	19–2 (7–1)	18 – Sharp	9 – Roberts	10 – Shead	Addition Financial Arena (9,383) Orlando, FL
January 28, 2023 1:15 p.m., CBS	No. 3	Cincinnati	W 75–69	20–2 (8–1)	25 – J. Walker	7 – J. Walker	5 – Shead	Fertitta Center (7,477) Houston, TX
February 2, 2023 8:00 p.m., ESPN2	No. 3	at Wichita State	W 70–61	21–2 (9–1)	15 – tied	6 – tied	7 – Shead	Charles Koch Arena (7,274) Wichita, KS
February 5, 2023 5:00 p.m., ESPN2	No. 3	at Temple	W 81–65	22–2 (10–1)	23 – J. Walker	6 – J. Walker	7 – Shead	Liacouras Center (10,206) Philadelphia, PA
February 8, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 2	Tulsa	W 80–42	23–2 (11–1)	25 – Sasser	10 – Roberts	12 – Shead	Fertitta Center (7,369) Houston, TX
February 16, 2023 6:00 p.m., ESPN2	No. 2	at SMU Rivalry	W 80–65	24–2 (12–1)	20 – Sasser	10 – Roberts	8 – Shead	Moody Coliseum (6,278) University Park, TX
February 19, 2023 2:00 p.m., ESPN	No. 2	Memphis	W 72–64	25–2 (13–1)	20 – tied	12 – Roberts	3 – J. Walker	Fertitta Center (7,730) Houston, TX
February 22, 2023 8:00 p.m., ESPNU	No. 1	Tulane	W 89–59	26–2 (14–1)	26 – Roberts	13 – J. Walker	6 – tied	Fertitta Center (7,763) Houston, TX
February 25, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN2	No. 1	at East Carolina	W 76–57	27–2 (15–1)	22 – Sasser	12 – Roberts	3 – tied	Williams Arena (7,589) Greenville, NC
March 2, 2023 6:00 p.m., ESPN2	No. 1	Wichita State	W 83–66	28–2 (16–1)	25 – Shead	9 – J. Walker	4 – tied	Fertitta Center (7,879) Houston, TX
March 5, 2023 11:00 a.m., CBS	No. 1	at Memphis	W 67–65	29–2 (17–1)	16 – tied	8 – Mark	7 – Shead	FedExForum (18,437) Memphis, TN
AAC tournament
March 10, 2023 12:00 p.m., ESPN2	(1) No. 1	vs. (9) East Carolina Quarterfinals	W 60–46	30–2	30 – Sasser	12 – Roberts	4 – tied	Dickies Arena  Fort Worth, TX
March 11, 2023 2:00 p.m., ESPN2	(1) No. 1	vs. (4) Cincinnati Semifinals	W 69–48	31–2	16 – tied	8 – tied	9 – Shead	Dickies Arena  Fort Worth, TX
March 12, 2023 2:15 p.m., ESPN	(1) No. 1	vs. (2) Memphis Championship	L 65–75	31–3	16 – Shead	20 – Roberts	4 – Shead	Dickies Arena  Fort Worth, TX
NCAA tournament
March 16, 2023* 8:20 p.m., TNT	(1 MW) No. 2	vs. (16 MW) Northern Kentucky First Round	W 63–52	32–3	16 – J. Walker	12 – Roberts	6 – Shead	Legacy Arena (15,154) Birmingham, AL
March 18, 2023* 6:10 p.m., TBS	(1 MW) No. 2	vs. (9 MW) Auburn Second Round	W 81–64	33–3	26 – Mark	10 – J. Walker	5 – Shead	Legacy Arena (15,198) Birmingham, AL
March 24, 2023* 6:15 p.m., CBS	(1 MW) No. 2	vs. (5 MW) No. 16 Miami (FL) Sweet Sixteen	L 75–89	33–4	16 – J. Walker	11 – J. Walker	5 – tied	T-Mobile Center (17,429) Kansas City, MO
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time.

Source^[10]

Rankings

See also: 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Final
AP	3 (1)	3 (2)	2 (9)	1 (45)	1 (37)	5	3	3	2	1 (34)	1 (34)	3	3	2 (22)	2 (22)	1 (48)	1 (49)	1 (58)	2 (9)	Not released
Coaches	3 (1)	3 (2)	2 (7)	1 (23)	1 (21)	4	3	3	2 (2)	1 (14)	1 (17)	3	3	2 (13)	2 (15)	1 (24)	1 (27)	1 (29)	1 (21)	6

*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings.

Awards and honors

All-American

• Marcus Sasser – AP (1st), USBWA (1st), NABC (1st), SN (2nd)

Jerry West Award

• Marcus Sasser

American Athletic Conference honors

All-AAC Awards

• Player of the Year: Marcus Sasser
• Coach of the Year: Kelvin Sampson
• Freshman of the Year: Jarace Walker
• Defensive Player of the Year: Jamal Shead
• Most Improved Player: J'Wan Roberts
• Sixth Man of the Year: Reggie Chaney

All-AAC First Team

• Marcus Sasser

All-AAC Second Team

• Jamal Shead
• J'Wan Roberts
• Jarace Walker

All-Freshman Team

• Jarace Walker
• Terrance Arceneaux
• Emanuel Sharp

Source^[11]