UH basketball climbs into Top 15 for first time since Phi Slama Jama

Houston Cougars guard Armoni Brooks (3) screams after his three-pointer put the Cougars on top during the second half of an NCAA Men's basketball game at Fertitta Center, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Houston. Houston won the game against Wichita State Shockers 79-70. less Houston Cougars guard Armoni Brooks (3) screams after his three-pointer put the Cougars on top during the second half of an NCAA Men's basketball game at Fertitta Center, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Houston. ... more Photo: Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Photo: Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close UH basketball climbs into Top 15 for first time since Phi Slama Jama 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

Houston climbed to No. 13 in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls Monday, the program’s highest ranking in 35 years.

The Cougars (20-1) posted double-digit wins over East Carolina and Tulsa last week to become the first Division I men’s basketball team to reach 20 wins this season.

It’s the first time the Cougars have been ranked in the top 15 in either major national poll since the 1983-84 season when Phi Slama Jama reached a third straight Final Four. That team, led by Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Young, peaked at No. 2 to end the regular season.

After a slow move up the polls for the past month and half, UH has surged eight spots in the last two weeks. Four teams ahead of them lost last week, allowing the Cougars to move up four spots in both polls.

For the first time this season, UH was on the ballot of all 64 voters in the AP poll. One voter had the Cougars No. 8, while two others placed them at No. 9; the lowest vote was at No. 20.

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"We had a long film session (Monday) and none of that stuff was brought up," UH coach Kelvin Sampson said. "I don't know how much they hear or what they hear. I had no idea what (we were ranked). What do you do? We're 20-1. I would think we would be ranked."

In the USA Today poll, the Nos. 10 through 13 spots — North Carolina, Virginia Tech. Kansas and UH — were separated by 74 points.

Even with a rich men’s basketball history, any type of ranking has been largely unchartered territory for most of the past three-plus decades. This is just the fourth season since the end of the Phi Slama Jama dynasty that the Cougars have been ranked.

In addition to the two polls, UH is No. 7 in the NET Ranking, which was introduced this season as the replacement for the RPI in helping determine a team’s NCAA Tournament worthiness. Most NCAA bracket projections currently list the Cougars as a No. 3 seed.

Tennessee remained No. 1 in both polls Monday.

The only other Texas school in the rankings, Texas Tech (16-4), slipped to No. 15 in the USA Today poll and No. 16 in the AP poll after dropping three of the last four games.

UH has a chance to avenge its only loss of the season Thursday against Temple at Fertitta Center. The Owls beat UH 73-69 on Jan. 9 in Philadelphia.

Also Monday, starting center Breaon Brady was diagnosed with a bruised knee but is expected to be available for Thursday’s game. Brady, who is averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds, left late in Sunday’s 77-65 win at Tulsa.