Houston Men’s Basketball 2023-24 Basketball Schedule Analysis
The 2023-24 Houston Cougars men’s basketball schedule is complete and here is an analysis of the entire schedule as basketball season nears.
Season Opener
The Cougars will open the season at home at the Fertitta Center against ULM on Nov. 6. The Warhawks went 11-21 last season.
The Charleston
The Cougars will play in the Shriners Children Charleston Classic in Charleston, S.C., as their non-conference tournament. The Cougars will get Towson in the first round. After that, the Cougars could tease us with a second-round game against future Big 12 member Utah, if the Utes can beat Wake Forest. A third opponent would be determined by second-round action.
Best Non-Con Game
The Cougars have several, but their Dec. 16 game against Texas A&M is part of the H-Town Showdown at the Toyota Center in Houston. The Aggies reached the NCAA Tournament and won 25 games last season. Head coach Buzz Williams has the Aggies headed in the right direction and this should be one of the best games of the second half of December.
Big EAST/Big 12 Battle
The Cougars drew a game against Xavier on Dec. 1, one of the few new Big 12 schools to participate in the annual crossover event. The Musketeers are coming off a 27-win season and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. This should be one of the best Big EAST/Big 12 Battles of the bunch.
Mid-Major Danger Game
In the season’s second game the Cougars host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 11. That’s a good time for the Islanders to catch the Cougars, as they will be trying to work through the team chemistry. The Islanders won 24 games last season, claimed the Southland Conference’s regular-season and tournament titles, along with winning an NCAA Tournament First Four game against Southeast Missouri. Alabama eliminated the Islanders in the first round.
Big 12 Opener
The Cougars drew a home game for their Big 12 opener, as they’ll host West Virginia on Jan. 6.
Big 12 Road Opener
The Cougars will get on a plane and get a taste of ‘Hilton Magic’ when they face Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum on Jan. 9.
Brutal Big 12 Stretch
We will find out a lot about Houston starting on Jan. 27 when the start a long stretch against Kansas State, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, Texas, Iowa State and Baylor. That’s rigorous to say the least.
What Should Happen?
The Cougars should be the most competitive of the four new Big 12 teams and tapping former Baylor guard L.J. Cryer out of the transfer portal should help the Cougars adjust to the rigors of the league. The Cougars have made each of the last five NCAA Tournaments and reached the 2021 Final Four, where Baylor won the national championship. The Cougars should be good enough to reach the NCAA Tournament again and compete for the top of the Big 12 Conference.
2023-24 Houston Men’s Basketball Schedule
Nov. 6 vs. ULM, TBA
Nov. 11 vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, TBA
Nov. 13 vs. Stetson, TBA
Nov. 16 vs. Towson@, 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 17 vs. Utah or Wake Forest@, TBA
Nov. 19 TBA@, TBA
Nov. 24 vs. Montana, TBA
Dec. 1 at Xavier#, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 6 vs. Rice, TBA
Dec. 9 vs. Jackson State, TBA
Dec. 16 vs. Texas A&M$, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 21 vs. Texas State, TBA
Dec. 30 vs. Penn, TBA
Jan. 6 vs. West Virginia*, 1 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Iowa State*, 6 p.m.
Jan. 13 at TCU*, 6 p.m.
Jan. 17 vs. Texas Tech*, 8 p.m.
Jan. 20 vs. UCF*, 1 p.m.
Jan. 23 at BYU*, 8 p.m.
Jan. 27 vs. Kansas State*, 11 a.m.
Jan. 29 at Texas*, 8 p.m.
Feb. 3 at Kansas*, 3 p.m.
Feb. 6 vs. Oklahoma State*, 6 p.m.
Feb. 10 at Cincinnati*, 3 p.m.
Feb. 17 vs. Texas*, noon
Feb. 19 vs. Iowa State*, 6 p.m.
Feb. 24 at Baylor*, 11 a.m.
Feb. 27 vs. Cincinnati*, 6 p.m.
March 2 at Oklahoma*, 7 p.m.
March 6 at UCF*, 6 p.m.
March 9 vs. Kansas*, 3 p.m.
Bold denotes home games; @-Shriners Children Charleston Classic, Charleston, S.C.; #-Big East/Big 12 Battle; $-H-Town Showdown, Toyota Center, Houston, Texas; Game times local to Houston (central); *-Big 12 games; Home games at Fertitta Center, Houston, Texas. Big 12 Tournament, March 12-16, Kansas City, Mo.
