Houston Cougars Regroup After Rare 3-Game Skid

No. 5 Cougars look to bounce back in final regular season games before Big 12 tournament and March Madness

Feb. 27, 2026 at 8:03pm

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The University of Houston men's basketball team, ranked No. 5 in the country, is coming off a rare three-game losing streak against ranked opponents Iowa State, Arizona, and Kansas. Head coach Kelvin Sampson says the losses were a "wakeup call" for the team, who are now focused on finishing the regular season strong and preparing for the postseason.

Why it matters

Houston has been one of the country's winningest programs over the past seven seasons, so the three-game skid is highly unusual. However, the Cougars still have a chance to finish in the top two of the Big 12 standings and secure a high NCAA Tournament seed, potentially playing close to home in the South Regional at Toyota Center.

The details

The Cougars lost to No. 6 Iowa State, No. 11 Arizona, and No. 14 Kansas in an eight-day span, with lengthy offensive droughts dooming them in the losses. Houston led in all three games but was unable to hold on. Veteran leaders Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp have been dealing with injuries, but the team had one of its best practices of the season after two days off to reset.

  • The Cougars' three-game losing streak is their longest since January 2017.
  • Houston hosts Colorado on Saturday, February 29, 2026 in its final home game of the regular season.
  • The Big 12 tournament begins on March 11, 2026.

The players

Kelvin Sampson

Head coach of the University of Houston men's basketball team.

Mercy Miller

Sophomore guard for the University of Houston.

Emanuel Sharp

Senior guard for the University of Houston.

Milos Uzan

Senior point guard for the University of Houston.

Chase McCarty

Redshirt freshman forward for the University of Houston.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like it was a wakeup call for us. Sometimes you need it to put you on the right track. I feel like everybody is on the (same) page. If that's what was needed for us to be what we want to be, we'll live with it.”

— Mercy Miller, Sophomore guard (Houston Chronicle)

“We kind of know what it is. We've got to keep coming together and we'll be fine. We're not panicking. It's basketball. At the end of the day, we're a good team. It's not like we got destroyed in every game we played.”

— Emanuel Sharp, Senior guard (Houston Chronicle)

“Sometimes you learn more in your losses than you do in your wins. I think it was good for us to lose those games how we did. It will be better for us in the future if we learn from them. Sometimes it doesn't go how you want it to go. But if you can learn from the situation, you'll get better and grow.”

— Milos Uzan, Senior point guard (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.