Mandatory Credit: Photo by Scott Kinser/CSM/Shutterstock (13783451bj) Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead (1) uses the the screen from forward Ja’Vier Francis (5) to get away from East Carolina Pirates guard Jaden Walker (21) during the second half of the AAC basketball matchup at Minges Coliseum in Greenville, NC NCAA Basketball Houston at East Carolina, Greenville, USA – 25 Feb 2023

Houston Cougars basketball stays at No. 1 in both national polls

Clovis Shropshire
February 27, 2023
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3 minutes read

The Houston Cougars basketball team stayed steady at No. 1 in both the Associated Press poll and USA Today coaches poll following another undefeated week.

Houston received 1,531 total points and 49 first-place votes in Monday morning’s AP poll. Right behind the Cougars were the Alabama Crimson Tide, who received only five first-place votes.

Sitting at No. 3 in the AP poll were the Kansas Jayhawks, who got eight first-place votes but only totaled 1,445 total points from voters.

UCLA was at No. 4 and Purdue was at No. 5 to round out the top five in the AP poll. Baylor moved up to No. 7 following a strong win on Saturday over Texas. The Longhorns dropped to No. 9. TCU sat at No. 22 and Texas A&M sat at No. 24 to round out the teams in the state in the top 25.

In the coaches poll, the Cougars also remained in the top spot as it received 794 total points and 27 first-place votes. Alabama also sat second behind Houston. It got two first-place votes. Kansas also sat at third in the coaches poll. The Jayhawks got three first-place votes.

UCLA is fourth in the coaches poll and Purdue is fifth. Texas actually rose to seventh and stayed ahead of Baylor, who rose to eighth. Texas A&M rose to No. 21 while TCU cracked the top 25 again after being out for one week. The Horned Frogs stood at No. 22 in Monday’s poll.

The Houston Cougars basketball team is still No. 1 in the NCAA Evaluation Tool rankings. Alabama is No. 2 in the NET rankings, Tennessee is third, UCLA is fourth and Purdue is fifth. Texas is 10th, Baylor is 12th, TCU is 22nd and Texas A&M is 26th in the NET rankings.

Houston will play its two final regular season games this week, including at home on Thursday against Wichita State and on the road on Sunday against Memphis. The Cougars clinched the outright American Athletic Conference regular season title on Saturday after beating East Carolina.