Houston Cougars basketball’s guards believe they are the best trio in the country

Following the Houston Cougars basketball team’s victory over Memphis on Sunday, redshirt sophomore guard Tramon Mark said he believes they have the No. 1 trio of guards in the nation.

“I think we are the best three-guard backcourt in the country,” Mark told Gallery Sports within the tunnels of the FedEx Forum. “Especially late in games because we can all do anything we need to for us to win the game, and that is what Jamal [Shead] did tonight.”

Senior guard Marcus Sasser backed up his fellow teammate’s statement following Houston’s practice on Tuesday afternoon.

For him, the difference between UH’s three guards and others in the country is that each one of them can play well on both ends of the court.

“Yeah, I feel like we are the best in the country,” Sasser said. “Just because of our chemistry, the way we defend. That is why I say we are the best trio because of the way we play offense and defense.”

Houston’s trio of guards averaged 37 points, 10.5 assists, and 10.6 rebounds per game throughout the regular season. Sasser was named the American Athletic Conference’s player of the year, and Shead was named the league’s defensive player of the year.

In comparison, UCLA’s trio of Jaime Jaquez Jr., Jaylen Clark, and Tyger Campbell averaged 43.4 points, 16.5 rebounds, and nine assists per game. Clark will reportedly miss the remainder of the Bruins’ season after suffering an Achilles injury.

Kansas’ three guards — Gradey Dick, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Dajuan Harris Jr. — averaged 34 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 10.3 assists a game this season. Texas’ trio — Marcus Carr, Sir’Jabari Rice, and Tyrese Hunter — averaged 39.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists.

Tennessee’s trio of Santiago Vescovi, Zakai Zeigler, and Josiah-Jordan James averaged 33.5 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists per game. Baylor’s three — Keyonte George, Adam Flagler, and LJ Cryer — averaged 46.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 9.7 assists.

The Cougars rank sixth in Ken Pom’s adjusted defensive ratings and fifth in adjusted offensive ratings. All three of Houston’s guards have been key pieces to the team’s high metrics.

“We probably aren’t the best-scoring trio in the country,” Sasser said. “We probably are not the best three defenders in the country, but when you put them together, I think we are the best.”