2023-24 Houston
Yes, the 2025 Cougars made it to the doorstep of a national title, but Kelvin Sampson’s 2024 squad was a force in and of itself. In Houston’s first year in the Big 12, it went 15-3 (30-4 overall), capturing the regular season crown by two games. With bulldog guard Jamal Shead setting the tone, the sheer physicality and athleticism of the defense were overwhelming.
Shead’s ankle injury in the Sweet Sixteen derailed any hope of a title, though. The Cougars lost a sloppy slugfest to Duke, and we will never know if Houston could have stood in the way of UConn’s steamrolling run to a repeat championship.
2024-25 Houston
Probably Kelvin Sampson’s best team, Houston’s miracle comeback against Duke in the Final Four set the Cougars up for a chance to earn Sampson his first title. However, after building an 11-point lead over Florida in the championship, the Cougars’ offense sputtered, and they fell to the Gators by a single basket.
At one point during the season, Houston won 31 of 32 games. The Cougars lost just twice in regulation all season, and they went 22-1 against Big 12 opponents. Led by fifth-year veterans LJ Cryer and J’Wan Roberts, they were old, physical and terrifying defensively while also ranking third nationally in 3-point percentage on offense.
I think the list is pretty solid, except I would add the 2005-06 UConn Team instead of the 2013-14 Wichita State team.
That 2005 UConn team had like 5 lotto picks on it and had been number 1 for much of the season. They were upset by George Mason in the Elite 8. I think that if they had made it to the F4, they beat Florida and UCLA and win the title.
I am still mad about that 2004-05 Illinois team. They cost me $150 in my F4 tourney pool!
