Houston Cougars (35-5, 19-1 Big 12)

The second-ranked Cougars are expected to be one of the nation’s top teams after falling to Florida 65-63 in the national title game last season. They return three starters and seven lettermen from a team that won 31 of its final 33 games last season to advance to the Final Four for the seventh time in program history and second under coach Kelvin Sampson. Houston’s 35 wins were a school record they won both the regular season Big 12 title and the conference tournament in their second year in the league.

Players to watch

Emanuel Sharp (senior, G, 6-3, 12.6 ppg). Sharp returns for his fourth season with the Cougars after earning the NCAA Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player honors and the Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Player award. He’ll loo

See Full Page