New conference? No problem: Houston secures outright Big 12 title
By SAM LANCE
Houston walked into the best league in the country and won in it outright in its first season. The Kelvin Sampson machine is real.
With Iowa State falling to Kansas State on the road, 65-58 on Saturday, Houston will win the Big 12 outright no matter the result vs. No. 14 Kansas (game underway). The Cyclones fall to 13-5 in league play, and Houston currently sits at 14-3.
A large part of Houston’s success has been the play of its seniors, and the Cougars are celebrating several on senior day including guards Jamal Shead, LJ Cryer, Mylik Wilson, Damian Dunn, Ryan Elvin and forward Juwan Roberts.
Bill Self said on pregame radio Shead will likely be the player on the year in the conference.
Sampson and Houston had won four of the last five American Athletic Conference (AAC) regular season titles before joining the Big 12 this season. By winning the Big 12 outright — the Cougars will not only be the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 tournament — they will almost surely be a No. 1 seed come Selection Sunday.
Houston currently leads Kansas 29-9 at the under-8 first half media timeout.
This story will be updated postgame.
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