Houston basketball has been revived since Kelvin Sampson took over as coach in 2014, reaching its second Final Four since 2021.
The Cougars also hold the nation’s longest Sweet 16 streak, reaching the second weekend for the sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament after beating 8-seed Gonzaga, which had the previous record, in the second round.
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Houston has risen back to college basketball’s grandest stage in recent years for the first time since Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon led “Phi Slama Jama” as one of the most exciting teams of the early 1980s.
After missing on the NCAA Tournament in his first three seasons at Houston, Sampson is looking earn two more wins and secure a national championship.
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Would a national championship in 2025 be the Cougars’ first ever? Here’s what to know of Houston’s championship history:
Has Houston won a national championship?
Houston made the national championship game in back-to-back years from 1983-84, but was unable to secure a title win, falling to NC State and Georgetown, respectively.
The Cougars have never won a national championship, and are looking for their first in 2025.
The “Phi Slama Jama” team had one of the most loaded college rosters ever, with two future Hall of Famers in Drexler and Olajuwon. Houston fell to the Wolfpack on a game-winning shot by Lorenzo Charles in 1983 before falling to the John Thompson-led Hoyas the following season.
Houston has been close in recent seasons, reaching the Final Four in 2021 and the Elite Eight in 2022. Sampson and the Cougars haven’t lost more than eight games in a season since 2017-18.
Houston NCAA Tournament history
Here’s a look at Houston’s NCAA Tournament history:
- National championship runner-up: 1983, 1984
- Final Four appearances: 1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2021, 2025
- Elite Eight appearances: 1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2021, 2022, 2025
- Sweet 16 appearances: 1956, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- NCAA Tournament appearances: 1956, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Houston basketball recruiting
The Cougars don’t seem to be going away anytime soon, as they have the No. 2-ranked recruiting class in 2025, per 247Sports’ Composite rankings.
Houston is bringing in four prospects, including five-star forward Chris Cenac Jr. The Cougars will likely have a few transfer portal additions, as well.
Here’s a look at each of Houston’s incoming freshmen for the 2025-26 season:
- Foward Chris Cenac Jr. (five-star, No. 7 nationally)
- Guard Isiah Harwell (four-star, No. 16 nationally)
- Guard Kingston Flemings (four-star, No. 23 nationally)
- Guard Bryce Jackson (three-star, No. 214 nationally)
Kelvin Sampson record
Here’s a look at Sampson’s year-by-year record at Houston:
- 2014-15: 13-19
- 2015-16: 22-10 (NIT first round)
- 2016-17: 21-11 (NIT first round)
- 2017-18: 27-8 (NCAA Tournament Round of 32)
- 2018-19: 33-4 (Sweet 16)
- 2019-20: 23-8 (no postseason)
- 2020-21: 28-4 (Final Four)
- 2021-22: 32-6 (Elite Eight)
- 2022-23: 33-4 (Sweet 16)
- 2023-24: 32-5 (Sweet 16)
- 2024-25: 34-4 (Final Four)
