Kelvin Sampson Delivers Early College Basketball Warning With Remodeled Roster
The University of Houston men’s basketball team defeated the Michigan Wolverines 83-66 in an exhibition game in Grand Rapids, Michigan, offering a clear look at a revamped roster built to solve past shortcomings.
That 17-point exhibition win followed an earlier preseason tune-up against Montana Tech, giving coach Kelvin Sampson a practical testing ground for a group featuring nine newcomers. Ranked No. 10 in the preseason AP Poll and picked second in the Big 12 preseason media poll behind Arizona, the Cougars enter the 2026-27 campaign with a distinctive identity shaped by the transfer portal rather than high-profile five-star freshmen.
Building a Frontcourt to Withstand Postseason Fatigue
The genesis of this roster overhaul traces directly back to a painful finish two seasons ago. As the Houston Chronicle reported, Kelvin Sampson watched the 2025 national championship game unfold and saw Florida utilize its size and frontcourt depth to rally for a 65-63 victory while Houston big men Joseph Tugler and Ja’Vier Francis battled foul trouble.
“The team we have now, that idea was born that night in San Antonio,” Sampson said, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. “I said we can’t do that again.”
To ensure foul trouble and size deficits would not derail another deep run, the program spent the offseason constructing a formidable frontcourt rotation. The unit is built around returning senior forward Joseph Tugler, whose 7-foot-6 wingspan established him as a two-time Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist. Joining him is transfer Delrecco Gillespie, who arrived in Houston, alongside backup big men Braden East and Arafan Diané.
Sampson Addresses Significant Roster Transition After Losing Four Starters
Losing four starters from a 30-win Sweet 16 team—including Kingston Flemings, Chris Cenac Jr., Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan—presents a significant roster transition. Yet Sampson noted a distinct philosophical difference from last season’s reliance on immediate freshman starters.
“We’re not counting on true freshmen as much, not that you can’t win,” Sampson said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “We had a great year last year. I think there’s probably about 400 teams that would love to go 30-7 and be a win away from a third straight Big 12 championship. That’s pretty good at a lot of schools.”
The exhibition matchup against Michigan provided early empirical evidence of how those pieces fit together. Senior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. orchestrated the offense with a game-high 25 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Meanwhile, Gillespie contributed 16 points and six rebounds, and Braden East added six rebounds off the bench.
While shooting consistency has occasionally challenged past Houston squads, the current rotation incorporates floor-spacing options. Redshirt sophomore forward Chase McCarty projects as a primary perimeter shooting threat, junior guard Mercy Miller has displayed dual-threat growth, and veteran sixth man Corey Hadnot Jr. provides backcourt scoring punch.
The Cougars officially tip off the 2026-27 regular season against La Salle at the Fertitta Center, carrying high expectations as favorites in the Big 12.
