White is the most prominent returner up front (21 starts), and he represents exactly what Sampson looks for in his bigs: strength, awareness on defense, and a “chip on his shoulder” attitude that enables him to battle on the glass on both ends. Gorham also fits that bill, coming from Coach Pat Skerry’s system at Towson that attacks the offensive glass maniacally; he’ll be raring to be unleashed from his year of redshirting. Harris is the biggest of the bunch and must be used sparingly due to his propensity to commit fouls and harm innocent spectators with his loose cannon free throw shooting (went just 6/29, 21%, from the line last year).

An advantage this year’s defense will have is a considerable increase in backcourt size. Both senior starters, Corey Davis and Galen Robinson, stood 6’1 last year, and Armoni Brooks wasn’t much bigger on the wing at 6’3. This year, all three of those spots could be manned by 6’5 guys: DeJon Jarreau (thin but extremely lanky), Nate Hinton, and Alley (built like a linebacker) or the waiver-hopeful Quentin Grimes. With Alley likely spending some time up front, 6’3 redshirt freshman Caleb Mills will get a lot of minutes, and incoming freshman Marcus Sasser has the type of disruptive anticipation that can give opposing guards nightmares. That group may not be as fluent in Sampson’s schemes as the experienced departures, but their added length and physical stature can help offset that loss. Plus, I would not bet against Sampson whipping them into shape; the man can coach defense.

Offensively, a significant burden will fall to Jarreau, a former top 50 recruit who is often equal parts erratic and brilliant. He’s a tremendous driver, and his length and quickness make him a matchup problem for the smaller defenders that opponents have to throw at him. When locked in, he can take over a game (he had huge bursts at Cincinnati and against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament), so he just needs to find more consistency and take better care of the ball. When Jarreau was the primary ball-handler last year (playing without Robinson), the Houston offense scored 1.11 points per possession, compared to 1.04ppp in all other situations. Clearly, Jarreau is a crucial piece.

Perhaps an even larger question offensively will be perimeter shooting, where the loss of Davis and Brooks robs the lineup of a staggering 232 made threes. Hinton is a popular breakout pick, and the former top 100 recruit flashed his offensive upside as a big wing who can drive and shoot from deep. Mills may be the key, though, as a smooth combo guard who impressed in practice last year after enrolling at the semester break. If Grimes is ruled eligible immediately, he has the talent/pedigree to be a major contributor - we await our NCAA overlords for a decision.

Given those backcourt questions, the rock of the Cougar offense will be its ferocity on the glass. White, Gresham, and Harris all grabbed more than 10% of available offensive rebounds when on the floor, and Gorham is a near-certainty to post similar numbers. But as UCF, Cincinnati, and Kentucky showed late last year, opponents that can “out-tough” Houston (or at least match the physicality) and take away put-backs and open kick-out threes will frustrate the Cougars.

Bottom Line: Brooks’s unexpected departure put a dent in the Cougars’ ceiling, and unless the NCAA grants the waiver for Grimes, Houston’s perimeter depth is dangerously thin. Sampson’s proven ability to orchestrate a terrific defense keeps the floor relatively high, though, particularly with the length and bulk that this roster features. They don’t have the raw talent of Memphis or the star power of Cincy’s Jarron Cumberland, but the Cougars will likely be in the mix at the top of the American all the same, aiming for a third straight tournament berth in the process.