THIS IS COUGAR BASKETBALL Five NCAA Final Four Appearances 28 Postseason Berths Seven Conference Championships 23 All-Americans
BUILDING ON TRADITION WITH EACH PASSING YEAR, THE COUGARS ADD TO THEIR IMPRESSIVE LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS. From Alden Pasche to Guy Lewis, to The Big E, to Clyde the Glide, to Hakeem The Dream, to the Silent Assassin, to college basketball s Game of the Century to Phi Slama Jama, to 28 postseason tournament berths, to Five NCAA Final Four Teams, to a record-setting head coach who ranks among college basketball s greatest of all time, the University of Houston has a storied tradition as one of college basketball s greatest programs. Houston s success began in 1946 under Pasche when his team captain Guy Lewis teamed with fellow All-Conference teammate Willie Wells and led the Cougars to a pair of Lone Star Conference championships and the NAIB national tournament during the program s first two years of existence. Lewis took over for Pasche as head coach in 1956, and began an historic coaching career during the next 30 seasons. By the time he retired in 1986 with 592 career wins, Lewis had led Houston to five NCAA Final Four appearances, coached 14 All-American players and two National Players of the Year. He also was named the National Coach of the Year in 1968 and 1983, and helped revolutionize basketball in the Southwest when he signed Houston s first two African-American basketball players, Elvin Hayes and Don Chaney. Despite this success, it was his outrageous idea that originally put Houston s basketball program on the national map. On Jan. 20, 1968, Hayes led the second-ranked Cougars to a 71-69 victory over No. 1 UCLA in the Astrodome, the Eighth Wonder of the World. CHAMPIONSHIP LEGACY 28 Postseason Tournament Berths (NCAA NIT CBI) 18 NCAA Tournament Berths Five NCAA Final Four Appearances Two NCAA Finalist Teams One NIT Appearance Seven Conference Championships Five Conference Tournament Championships That game changed the way fans watch college basketball today. It featured the top two ranked teams playing in the first nationally televised game and first game played in a domed stadium. Hayes and Chaney helped lead Houston to its first two NCAA Finals Fours during their careers before playing in the NBA. In 1989, Hayes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. This fall, he will join Lewis and Clyde Drexler as members of the newly created College Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City. Houston also played in the NCAA Final Four three straight years in the early 1980s. The 1982-83 team was nicknamed Phi Slama Jama and advanced to the NCAA Championship game after beating No. 2 Louisville in the semifinals. The Cougars fell to NC State in the title game, and that game helped turn the NCAA Tournament into March Madness. The following year, Houston s Hakeem Olajuwon and the Silent Assassin Michael Young led the Cougars back to the NCAA title game against Georgetown. In December 2007, Young was honored with the retirement of his No. 42 jersey, joining Hayes, Otis Birdsong, Drexler and Olajuwon as the only men s basketball players who have had their jerseys retired. In addition, current head coach Tom Penders has joined some of college basketball s most successful coaches as he collected his 600th victory and competed in his 1,000th game during the 2007-08 season. During the past four seasons, Penders has recorded 81 of those wins at Houston, leading the Cougars to three postseason tournaments and their most successful seasons as a member of Conference USA. 12 uhcougars.com
1981-82 NCAA Final Four Team 1982-83 NCAA FInalist - Phi Slama Jama Elvin Hayes 1967-68 National Player of the Year 1966-67 Consensus All-American 1965-66 First-Team All-American Clyde Drexler 1982-83 All-American 1992 Olympian Michael Young 1984 Second Team All-American Don Chaney 1968 Second Team All- American Gary Phillips Houston s first All-American Two National Players of the Year Seven All-America First-Team players 50 All-District First-Team Players Two Conference Players of the Decade Six Conference Players of the Year Two Conference Defensive Players of the Year Eight Conference Newcomers of the Year 31 All-Conference First-Team Players Six Postseason All-Tournament Team Players 14 NCAA All-Regional Tournament Team Players Seven Olympians 11 First-Round Selections in the NBA Draft Two First Overall Picks in the NBA Draft Ken Spain (right) 1968 Second Team All-American 1968 Olympian Hakeem Olajuwon 1984 National Player of the Year 1983 Third Team All-American 1996 Olympian 1983-84-NCAA FinaLIST 1967-68-NCAA Final Four Team Otis Birdsong 1977 Consensus All-American 2008-09 HOUSTON BASKETBALL 13 13
COUGARS IN THE NBA HAKEEM OLAJUWON 1984-01 Houston Rockets 2001-02 Toronto Raptors 2008 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee 1994-95 NBA Champions NBA s All-Time Top 50 Greatest Players 1993-94 NBA Most Valuable Player Two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year 12-Time NBA All-Star Six-Time All-NBA First Team Five-Time NBA All-Defensive Team 1984 NBA Draft No. 1 Overall Pick otis birdsong 1977-81 Kansas City Kings 1981-88 New Jersey Nets 1988-89 Boston Celtics Four-time NBA All-Star Alton Ford 2001-03 Phoenix Suns 2003-04 Houston Rockets HOUSTON S NBA TRADITION 42 NBA Draft Selections 11 NBA Draft First Round Selections Seven NBA Champions Three of the NBA s Greatest Players Two NBA Defensive Players of the Year Two NBA Finals Most Valuable Player One NBA Most Valuable Player SAM MACK 1992-93 San Antonio Spurs 1995-97 Houston Rockets 1997-98 Vancouver Grizzlies 1998-99 Houston Rockets 1999-00 Golden State Warriors 2001-02 Miami Heat ROB WILLIAMS 1982-84 Denver Nuggets ANdre Owens 2005-06 Utah Jazz 2007-08 Indiana Pacers 14 uhcougars.com
Cougars in the nba CLYDE DREXLER 1983-95 Portland Trail Blazers 1995-98 Houston Rockets 2004 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee NBA s All-Time Top 50 Greatest Players 10-Time NBA All-Star 1991-92 All-NBA First Team 1996 NBA Champions Bo Outlaw 1993-97 Los Angeles Clippers 1997-01 Orlando Magic 2001-03 Phoenix Suns 2003-04 Memphis Grizzlies 2004-05 Phoenix Suns 2005-08 Orlando Magic Damon Jones 1999 New Jersey Nets & Boston Celtics 1999-00 Golden State Warriors & Dallas Mavericks 2000-01 Vancouver Grizzlies 2001-02 Detroit Pistons 2002-03 Sacramento Kings 2003-04 Milwaukee Bucks 2004-05 Miami Heat 2005-08 Cleveland Cavaliers ROLANDO FERREIRA 1988-89 Portland Trail Blazers Dwight Jones 1973-76 Atlanta Hawks 1976-79 Houston Rockets 1979-83 Chicago Bulls 1982-83 Los Angeles Lakers ted luckenbill 1961-62 Philadelphia Warriors 1962-63 San Francisco Warriors LARRY MICHEAUX 1983-84 Kansas City Kings 1984-85 Milwaukee Bucks & Houston Rockets DWIGHT DAVIS 1972-75 Cleveland Cavaliers 1975-77 Golden State Warriors 1972-73 NBA All-Rookie First Team 2008-09 HOUSTON BASKETBALL 15 15
COUGARS IN THE NBA ELVIN HAYES 1968-71 San Diego Rockets 1971-72 Houston Rockets 1972-81 Washington Bullets 1981-84 Houston Rockets 1990 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee 1978 NBA Champions NBA s All-Time Top 50 Greatest Players 12-Time NBA All-Star Three-time All-NBA First Team 1968 NBA Draft No. 1 Overall Pick DON CHANEY 1968-75 Boston Celtics 1976-78 Los Angeles Lakers 1978-80 Boston Celtics 1969, 74 NBA Champions 1984-87 Los Angeles Clippers Head Coach 1988-92 Houston Rockets Head Coach 1993-95 Detroit Pistons Head Coach 2001-04 New York Knicks Head Coach GREG ANDERSON 1987-89 San Antonio Spurs 1989-91 Milwaukee Bucks 1990-91 New Jersey Nets 1990-92 Denver Nuggets 1993-94 Detroit Pistons 1994-95 Atlanta Hawks 1995-97 San Antonio Spurs 1997-98 Atlanta Hawks 1987-88 NBA All-Rookie First Team CARL HERRERA 1991-95 Houston Rockets 1995-98 San Antonio Spurs 1998-99 Vancouver Grizzlies & Denver Nuggets 16 gary phillips 1961-62 Boston Celtics 1962-66 San Francisco Warriors 1962 NBA Champions GEORGE REYNOLDS 1969-70 Detroit Pistons michael young 1984-85 Phoenix Suns 1985-86 Philadelphia 76ers 1993-94 Los Angeles Clippers ANTHONY GOLDWIRE 1995-97 Charlotte Hornets 1996-98 Denver Nuggets 2002-03 San Antonio Spurs & Washington Bullets 2003-04 New Jersey Nets & Minnesota Timberwolves 2004-05 Milwaukee Bucks & Detroit Pistons 2005-06 Los Angeles Clippers uhcougars.com
Cougars on national teams OTIS BIRDSONG United States Gold Medal 1975 Pan American Games DAVID DIAZ Venezuela 1992 Olympics 2002 World Championships CLYDE DREXLER United States Gold Medal 1992 Olympics ROLANDO FERREIRA Brazil 1992 Olympics CARL HERRERA Venezuela 1992 Olympics 2002 World Championships DWIGHT JONES United States Silver Medal 1972 Olympics United States 1971 Pan American Games 2008-09 HOUSTON BASKETBALL HAKEEM OLAJUWON United States Gold Medal 1996 Olympics KEN SPAIN United States Gold Medal 1968 Olympics 17 17
Postseason history Houston has pl ayed in 28 Postseason Tournaments (18 NC AA 9 NIT 1 CBI) Houston s tradition-rich program began its postseason tournament history in 1946 when the Cougars advanced to the NAIB Tournament in its first two years of existence. Since then, Houston has played in 18 NCAA Tournaments, advancing to ten Sweet 16s and five Final Fours. The Cougars appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 1956 and played in their first Sweet 16 in 1961. HOUSTON IN THE NIT 1962 Quarterfinals 1977 Finalist 1985 First Round 1988 First Round 1991 First Round 1993 First Round 2002 First Round 2005 Opening Round 2006 Second Round HOUSTON IN THE CBI 2008 Semifinals Houston also advanced to the NCAA s Sweet 16 in 1965 and 1966 before the Cougars played in their first two NCAA Final Fours in 1967 and 1968. Houston returned to the NCAA Final Four in 1982 and Phi Slama Jama played in the NCAA Championship game twice in 1983 and 1984. Hakeem Olajuwon was named the MVP of the 1983 Final Four after he tallied 41 points and 40 rebounds in the two games. The following year, Olajuwon and All-American guard Michael Young led the Cougars to the 1984 Championship game. The Cougars returned to the NCAA Tournament in 1987, 1990 and 1992. Houston also has played in the NIT Postseason Tournament nine times. The Cougars played in the tournament for the first time in 1962 when they played a quarterfinal game against Dayton. Houston returned to the NIT in 1977 when All-America guard Otis Birdsong led the Cougars to the NIT Championship game. The Cougars returned to the NIT in 1985 and also played in the 1988, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2005 and 2006 tournaments. The last two NIT appearances came in head coach Tom Penders first three seasons as head coach. Houston advanced to the second round for the first time since 1977 when Oliver Lafayette scored 23 points and tied a NIT record with eight steals in Houston s 77-67 victory over BYU in 2006. In 2007-08, the Cougars advanced to the semifinals of the inaugural College Basketball Invitational with wins at Nevada and a dominating victory against Valparaiso at Hofheinz Pavilion. Scoring at least 22 points in three straight games, guard Robert McKiver was named to the CBI All-Tournament Team, making him the first and only player in school history to receive that award. HOUSTON IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT 1956 First Round 1961 Sweet 16 1965 Sweet 16 1966 Sweet 16 1967 Final Four 1968 Final Four 1970 Sweet 16 1971 Sweet 16 1972 First Round 1973 First Round 1978 First Round 1981 First Round 1982 Final Four 1983 Final Four 1984 Final Four 1987 First Round 1990 First Round 1992 First Round 18 uhcougars.com
Memorable postseason performances 1946 NAIB Tournament Houston s first team won the first postseason tournament game in school history when the Cougars beat High Point 63-34 at the NAIB Tournament in Kansas City. 1961 NCAA Tournament All-American Gary Phillips teamed with Ted Luckenbill to lead the Cougars to a 77-61 victory over Marquette in the First Round of the 1961 Midwest Regional at Houston. Phillips was named to the All-Region team after leading the Cougars with 27 points, while Luckenbill added 23 points and 16 rebounds. 1966-68 NCAA Tournaments Consensus All-American Elvin Hayes was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 1967 and 1968 NCAA Midwest Regional Tournaments. He scored 30 points in six games during those two Regionals after recording his first 30- point game theyear before. Hayes saved his best games for his senior year when he tallied 49 points against Loyola-Chicago, 35 points against Louisville and 39 points against TCU while leading Houston to its second straight Final Four appearance. Hayes ended his collegiate career with 34 points and 16 rebounds against Ohio State at the Final Four. 1971 NCAA Tournament Dwight Davis registered 30 points to lead Houston to a 72-69 victory over New Mexico State in the First Round of the 1971 NCAA Tournament. 1977 NIT Otis Birdsong scored 30 points in three games to lead Houston to the finals of the 1977 NIT. Birdsong scored 30 points to lead Houston to an 83-82 victory over Indiana State. Then, he netted 30 points to lead the Cougars to a 91-90 overtime victory over Illinois State and tallied 38 points in the Championship game against St. Bonaventure. 1982 NCAA Tournament Rob Williams registered three 25-point games en route to being named the NCAA Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player. Williams led Houston with 25 points against Alcorn State and scored 26 points versus Tulsa in the second round. Then, he netted 25 points against Boston College in the Midwest Regional Championship game to lead the Cougars to their third NCAA Final Four appearance. 1946 Cougar Team Dwight Davis Larry Micheaux 1983 NCAA Tournament The 1983 NCAA Tournament was the coming out party for Hakeem Olajuwon, who was named the NCAA Final Four s Most Outstanding Player. Olajuwon registered 41 points and 40 rebounds in Houston s two games at the Final Four after he scored 41 points in the last two games of the Midwest Regional. Larry Micheaux scored 30 points to lead Houston to the Midwest Regional Championship game against Villanova. 1984 NCAA Tournament The following year, Olajuwon, Michael Young and Alvin Franklin were named to the All-Tournament Team at the NCAA Final Four. Young scored 35 points in the two Final Four games after leading the Cougars with 17 points against Virginia and 18 points in the Championship game against Georgetown. 2006 NIT Oliver Lafayette tied a NIT record with eight steals and scored 23 points to lead Houston to a 77-67 victory over BYU. Michael Young NCAA All-Decade Teams 1960s Elvin Hayes 1980s Hakeem Olajuwon NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team 1967 Elvin Hayes 1983 Hakeem Olajuwon 1984 Hakeem Olajuwon, Alvin Franklin, Michael Young NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Players 1967 Midwest Elvin Hayes 1968 Midwest Elvin Hayes 1982 Midwest Rob Williams 1983 Midwest Hakeem Olajuwon 1984 Midwest Hakeem Olajuwon NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team 1961 MW Gary Phillips 1967 West Elvin Hayes 1968 MW Elvin Hayes, Don Chaney 1971 MW Poo Welch 1982 MW Rob Williams, Larry Micheaux 1983 MW Hakeem Olajuwon, Larry Micheaux, Michael Young 1984 MW Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Young 2008-09 HOUSTON BASKETBALL 19 19
HOFHEINZ Pavilion - Home of the Cougars HOUSTON Has enjoyed 25 10-win seasons inside Hofheinz Pavilion since 1969-70. Since its doors opened Dec. 1, 1969, Hofheinz Pavilion has been an exciting basketball venue for University of Houston fans. Great views are available from every seat in the building with theatre-style cushioned seats surrounding Guy V. Lewis Court. In 1998, luxury boxes were added around the concourse, making a new seating capacity of 8,479. Recent improvements included a new scoreboard with a full-color replay screen that have modernized the facility without sacrificing any of its original charm. In 2004-05, a wall-to-wall, state-of-the-art wooden court was installed and the building was rewired to meet the technological demands of the 21st century. Hofheinz Pavilion was named in honor of Judge Roy Hofheinz, the entrepreneur who gained worldwide fame for conceiving the idea of and spearheading the city of Houston s construction of the Astrodome. Hofheinz and his wife, Irene, met as students at the University in 1929. They later created the Judge Roy Hofheinz Foundation, which contributed $1.5 million towards the construction of the Pavilion. In addition to being used for men s and women s basketball games, the multi-purpose facility has been utilized for graduation exercises, concerts, convocations, student-sponsored activities, seminars and other special events. 10-Win Seasons On Guy V. Lewis Court Year W-L Year W-L 1976-77 16-1 1983-84 15-0 1969-70 16-0 1984-85 12-3 1970-71 13-0 1986-87 10-3 1971-72 13-1 1988-89 11-4 1972-73 18-0 1989-90 13-1 1973-74 12-1 1990-91 11-2 1974-75 13-5 1991-92 11-2 1975-76 13-2 1995-96 10-3 1977-78 15-1 2004-05 12-2 1980-81 15-1 2005-06 13-2 1981-82 13-2 2006-07 11-3 1982-83 14-0 2007-08 17-2 1990-91 12-1 20 uhcougars.com
Houston has won at least 11 Home Games games in each of the last four seasons. Hohfeinz Pavilion has proved to be quite a home court advantage for University of Houston teams since since playing their first home game there in 1969-70. During the past 39 seasons, the Cougars have compiled a 442-126 record in Hofheinz Pavilion. Houston s best season came in 1972-73 when it posted an 18-0 record. UH had four other undefeated seasons in Hofheinz Pavilion, going 16-0 in 1969-70, 13-0 in 1970-71, 14-0 in 1982-83 and 15-0 in 1983-84. During the past four seasons, the Cougars have compiled a 53-9 record under head coach Tom Penders. In addition, Houston has won two home games against nationally ranked teams and posted at least 11 wins each year. In 2007-08, the Cougars finished with a 17-2 mark for the second-most home wins in a season in school history. UH opened their home season with nine straight home wins with losses only to No. 1 Memphis and No. 24 Arizona. With their impressive record, the Cougars posted double-digit home wins for the fourth consecutive year, a feat that had not been accompllished since 1989-93. The Cougars will play 15 home games in 2008-09, beginning Nov. 15 against Western Kentucky. Year by Year in Hofheinz Pavilion Year W L 1969-70 16 0 1970-71 13 0 1971-72 13 1 1972-73 18 0 1973-74 12 1 1974-75 13 5 1975-76 13 2 1976-77 16 1 1977-78 15 1 1978-79 8 5 1979-80 9 4 1980-81 15 1 1981-82 15 2 1982-83 14 0 1983-84 15 0 1984-85 12 3 1985-86 9 5 1986-87 10 3 1987-88 9 3 1988-89 11 4 Year W L 1989-90 13 1 1990-91 12 1 1991-92 11 2 1992-93 12 1 1993-94 6 7 1994-95 6 7 1995-96 10 3 1996-97 9 5 1997-98 6 7 1998-99 6 6 1999-00 3 9 2000-01 6 7 2001-02 9 4 2002-03 6 7 2003-04 8 9 2004-05 12 2 2005-06 13 2 2006-07 11 3 2007-08 17 2 Totals 442 126 2008-09 HOUSTON BASKETBALL 21 21
TOP Competition T o m P e n d e r s head coach Tom Penders AND HIS TEAMS always play tough schedules. that Trend has continued at Houston. Andre Owens ROBERT McKIVER Oliver Lafayette Throughout his career, Tom Penders has been known for playing some of the nation s toughest non-conference schedules, and that has not changed since he was named Houston s head coach in 2004. From 2004-07, Houston had the second-highest average RPI ranking among Conference USA teams and its non-conference strength of schedule ranked among the top 50 schools nationally during each of the last two years. In their first four seasons under Penders, the Cougars earned victories against nationally ranked Louisville, Arizona and LSU. Houston also played against UNLV, BYU and Washington. In 2007-08, the Cougars played host to perennial powers Kentucky and Arizona, and will face Arizona on the road in 2008-09. Entering the 2008-09 season, the Cougars have played at least one nationally ranked opponent each of the last 27 years. During the last 58 years, the Cougars have earned 60 wins over nationally ranked opponents, including back-to-back victories in 2005-06. In addition, Houston has played in such tournaments as the 2004 Guardians Classic, in which it met teams from the Big 10 and Big 12. The Cougars also played at the 2005 GMAC Bowl Classic, and in the 2006 Rainbow Classic in Honolulu against schools from the Atlantic 10, Missouri Valley and Big 12 Conferences. In 2007-08, the Cougars competed in the inaugural O Reilly/ESPNU Puerto Rico Tip Off, posting a 2-1 record with wins against Marist and College of Charleston. In 2008-09, the Cougars will open the season at the 2K Sports College Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer at Duke s Cameron Indoor Stadium. UH will face Georgia Southern in the first round with a potential showdown against host Duke in the next round. With back-to-back wins at the 2K Sports College Classic, the Cougars will advance to New York s Madison Square Garden for the tournament s championship rounds Nov. 20-21. 22 uhcougars.com
On Game day Houston has a 53-10 record in home games during the l ast four seasons 2008-09 HOUSTON BASKETBALL 23
Just Do It.