UH Basketball Faces Tough Big 12 Gauntlet, Starting at Iowa State

Cougars' three-game stretch against top-ranked opponents will test their bid for third straight Big 12 title

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The University of Houston men's basketball team is set to face a daunting three-game stretch in the Big 12 Conference, starting with a road game against No. 5 Iowa State on Monday. The Cougars, currently alone in first place in the Big 12, will also take on No. 1 Arizona and No. 9 Kansas over the next seven days in a season-defining run that will go a long way toward determining their chances of winning a third straight regular-season conference title.

Why it matters

The Big 12 has been widely regarded as the toughest conference in college basketball this season, with four teams currently ranked in the top 10 nationally. These upcoming matchups against elite opponents will test the Cougars' mettle and could have major implications for their NCAA Tournament seeding.

The details

Houston's three-game gauntlet begins Monday night at Hilton Coliseum, one of the most challenging road environments in college basketball. The Cougars will then return home to face Arizona before traveling to Lawrence, Kansas to take on the Jayhawks. This stretch will feature several top-10 showdowns, with the Cougars looking to solidify their status as one of the nation's elite teams.

  • The three-game stretch begins on Monday, February 20, 2026 when Houston plays at Iowa State.
  • Houston will host Arizona on Saturday, February 24, 2026.
  • The Cougars will then travel to Kansas on Monday, February 27, 2026 to face the Jayhawks.

The players

Kelvin Sampson

The head coach of the University of Houston men's basketball team, who is in his 8th season leading the Cougars program.

Fred Hoiberg

The former star guard for Iowa State, who was nicknamed 'The Mayor' and played his final home game against Sampson's Oklahoma team in 1995.

Milos Uzan

The starting point guard for the University of Houston Cougars.

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What they’re saying

“Who wins at Iowa State on Senior Night? Nobody. But we did.”

— Kelvin Sampson, Head Coach, University of Houston (Houston Chronicle)

“That's why you want to play in the Big 12, for those big-time matchups, especially on the road.”

— Milos Uzan, Point Guard, University of Houston (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

The Cougars will look to carry momentum from a potential win at Iowa State into their home matchup against top-ranked Arizona on February 24th. A victory over the Wildcats would further bolster Houston's case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This three-game stretch against elite Big 12 opponents will be a true test of the Cougars' championship mettle. While winning the regular-season title is the goal, the ultimate prize is securing a high NCAA Tournament seed and making a deep March Madness run. These upcoming battles will go a long way in determining Houston's postseason fate.