Houston Cougars Gear Up for Big 12 Tournament

The No. 2 seed Cougars have a bye until the quarterfinals in Kansas City

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The University of Houston men's basketball team is heading to the Big 12 Conference tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Cougars have a bye until the quarterfinals on Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri, where they will look to make a deep run in their first Big 12 postseason appearance.

Why it matters

This is a pivotal moment for the Houston Cougars program as they transition to the highly competitive Big 12 Conference after years of success in the American Athletic Conference. A strong showing in the Big 12 tournament could help establish the Cougars as a force to be reckoned with in their new league.

The details

The Cougars finished the regular season with a 27-5 record and a 15-3 mark in Big 12 play, earning them the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. Houston will not play until the quarterfinals on Thursday, where they will face the winner of the first-round matchup between the No. 7 and No. 10 seeds.

  • The Big 12 tournament runs from March 13-16, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri.
  • The Cougars will play their first tournament game on Thursday, March 13.

The players

University of Houston

The University of Houston's men's basketball team, known as the Cougars, is making its first appearance in the Big 12 Conference tournament after years of success in the American Athletic Conference.

Joseph Duarte

Joseph Duarte is a sports reporter for the Houston Chronicle who covers the University of Houston athletics and the Big 12 Conference.

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What they’re saying

“A strong showing in the Big 12 tournament could help establish the Cougars as a force to be reckoned with in their new league.”

— Joseph Duarte, Sports Reporter (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

The Cougars will face the winner of the first-round matchup between the No. 7 and No. 10 seeds in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 13.

The takeaway

The University of Houston men's basketball team is poised to make a statement in their first Big 12 Conference tournament appearance, as they look to build on their successful regular season and establish themselves as a top contender in their new league.