Houston Cougars Finish Second in Big 12 Despite Relying on Freshmen

Head coach Kelvin Sampson proud of young team's performance in tough conference

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Houston Cougars men's basketball team finished the regular season in second place in the Big 12 Conference, despite playing four freshmen starters. Head coach Kelvin Sampson expressed pride in his young team's accomplishments, noting that most freshmen don't typically see significant playing time at Houston. The Cougars will now prepare for the Big 12 tournament, where they will look to build on their strong regular season finish.

Why it matters

The Big 12 is widely considered one of the best conferences in college basketball, making Houston's second-place finish an impressive accomplishment, especially given the team's reliance on freshmen players. Sampson's ability to develop young talent and field a competitive team speaks to his coaching prowess and the program's bright future.

The details

The Cougars secured their second-place finish with an 82-75 victory over Oklahoma State in their final regular season game. Despite not winning the regular season title, Sampson praised his team's performance, noting that four freshmen were in the starting lineup. Key freshmen contributors included Kingston Flemings, who led the team in scoring, assists, rebounds and steals.

  • Houston finished the regular season on March 4, 2026.
  • The Cougars will next compete in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals on March 12, 2026.

The players

Kelvin Sampson

The head coach of the Houston Cougars men's basketball team, known for his ability to develop young talent and field competitive teams in tough conferences.

Kingston Flemings

A standout freshman for the Houston Cougars, leading the team in scoring, assists, rebounds and steals during the regular season.

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What they’re saying

“What this team did is almost as impressive. Because we played 4 freshmen. This is by far the youngest team we've ever had.”

— Kelvin Sampson, Head Coach, Houston Cougars (Paper City Magazine)

“Just remember, they're freshmen. Jamal Shead didn't even get to play as a freshman. Marcus (Sasser) didn't get to start until later in the year. Most freshmen don't play here.”

— Kelvin Sampson, Head Coach, Houston Cougars (Paper City Magazine)

What’s next

The Houston Cougars will compete in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals on March 12, 2026, looking to build on their strong regular season finish and secure an NCAA Tournament berth.

The takeaway

Kelvin Sampson's ability to develop young talent and field a competitive team in one of the nation's toughest conferences is a testament to his coaching prowess. The Cougars' second-place finish in the Big 12 despite relying on freshmen starters shows the program's bright future and Sampson's skill in molding young players into contributors at the highest level of college basketball.