MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In a recent clash, West Virginia’s Javon Small could be seen frantically beckoning for a teammate to position themselves closer to the basket. When this plea went unanswered, the leading scorer in the Big 12 was forced to shoot a pressured three-pointer just seconds before the shot clock expired. The result? A disappointing miss.
This game served as yet another example of No. 6 Houston’s relentless defense, which has consistently neutralized the strengths of its opponents. With an impressive record of 17-3 and an undefeated 9-0 in Big 12 play, the Cougars are currently enjoying a 13-game winning streak, showcasing the best defensive performance in the nation.
“We pride ourselves on being a defensively-oriented team,” remarked Houston guard L.J. Cryer following a 63-49 victory over the Mountaineers. “Our practices heavily focus on defense. When shots aren’t falling for us, we rely on our defense to keep us in the game. Thanks to our defensive efforts, we’re able to secure wins even on nights when we struggle to score.”
Houston’s defensive strategies force opponents to develop alternative game plans when faced with aggressive double and triple team defenses. Cryer, along with teammates Joseph Tugler, J’Wan Roberts, and Terrance Arceneaux, consistently pressured Small, limiting him to only seven shots and reducing his scoring to eight points—well below his average.
This pattern of stifling opposing players is not new. UCF’s Keyshawn Hall, who previously celebrated a career-high score of 40 points, was held to just six points with a shooting percentage of 16.7% against Houston. Similarly, Utah’s Gabe Madsen managed only eight points on 30% shooting in a game where his team saw their lowest scoring total since 2011—just 36 points. BYU’s Richie Saunders also found himself constrained, scoring only nine points after hitting a personal best of 30 the previous game.
Houston boasts an impressive defensive record, permitting an average of 55.6 points per game—outpacing the next closest team, Drake, by 2.4 points. Additionally, opponents struggle to hit their shots against the Cougars, achieving a national-low field goal percentage of 36%.
Despite starting the season ranked No. 4, Houston experienced a rocky beginning, with a 4-3 record that included close overtime losses to both San Diego State and Alabama, as well as a narrow defeat to the top-ranked Auburn. Since those games, however, the team has not looked back.
Head Coach Kelvin Sampson, who has guided Houston since 2014, attributes the team’s sustained success to its long-standing focus on defense. He expresses pride in coaching a stable group of players amid an era of transfers and shifting rosters. This season, eight of the squad’s top ten players returned, along with four starters.
“This continuity is essential,” Sampson noted. “A big part of our success lies in our program’s integrity and character. I am fortunate to work with a group of players who consistently exhibit dedication and effort, which greatly alleviates the coaching burden.”
Cryer leads the scoring for Houston, averaging 13.5 points per game, positioning him 18th within the Big 12, with Emanuel Sharp closely behind at 13.4. The Cougars maintain a significant scoring margin of 21 points, the best in the nation, while also forcing an average of 6.1 more turnovers than they commit, placing them fourth in that category.
“Defensively, they are incredibly cohesive,” noted West Virginia coach Darian DeVries. “Their aggression is evident, and they swarm to the ball. Cracking their defense proves to be a challenge.”
“Not many teams have succeeded,” he added, emphasizing just how tough it is to break through Houston’s formidable defensive unit.
