Houston Cougars basketball stays put at third in both national polls

The Houston Cougars basketball team stayed steady at third in both The Associated Press poll and USA Today’s coaches poll on Monday.

Houston garnered 1,415 total points from voters in the AP Poll. Despite last week’s second-ranked school, Alabama, losing over the weekend to Oklahoma, the Cougars were passed up by Tennessee. The Volunteers went 2-0 during the week, which included securing an 82-71 win over Texas.

Purdue became the first No. 1 team to receive every first-place vote in the AP Poll this season. Alabama fell to fourth in this week’s AP Poll. Arizona rose to fifth to round out the top five.

Texas stayed at No. 10, while Baylor rose to 11th in the AP Poll. Texas Christian fell to 15th. Outside of Houston, those three schools are the only ones within the state ranked in the top 25. Memphis is the only other American Athletic Conference school besides Houston to receive votes.

In the USA Today coaches poll, Houston was also third and also saw Tennessee pass it up. Purdue was also the No. 1 team in the coaches poll, receiving all 32 first-place votes. Virginia was fourth in this week’s coaches poll. Alabama fell to fifth.

Texas was tied for ninth with UCLA. Baylor was 11th. TCU fell to 16th. Like the AP Poll, the Longhorns, Bears, and Horned Frogs were the only other schools besides the Cougars to be ranked in the top 25.

In the NCAA Evaluation Tool, or NET, rankings, Houston remained as the No. 1 team in the country through games played Sunday. The NET rankings factor in various indicators to order teams.

The Houston Cougars basketball team returns to action on Thursday night in Kansas to face off against Wichita State. The Cougars also travel to Philadelphia on Sunday for a rematch against Temple.