HOUSTON — Welcome back to March Madness, as it has been missed.

Even in the darkest, most uncertain moments when there was no real sense of when sports would return, there was always hope. So nearly 700 days later, the NCAA Tournament returns in all of its glory, which means celebrations, heartbreaks, and — naturally — Texas teams in the mix.

What You Need To Know

  • Houston is heading to the Sweet 16 with wins over Cleveland State and Rutgers in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament
  • The Cougars are the No. 2 seed in the Midwest region and widely considered the best team in Texas
  • The team has reached the national championship game twice but has never won
Speaking of, Houston has been one of the most dominant teams in the country. After a successful first and second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Cougars are heading back to the Sweet 16 just like they did in 2019.

"There’s only 68 teams that get to do it," said Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson. "I do this for a living and I know how hard it is to make this tournament. It is difficult."

But it’s easier for teams that have great players, especially those as good as Houston’s. 

“That’s what we have. We have a good team. We have good players. But just because you have good players, doesn’t mean you’ll have a good team,” Sampson said. “Look at the top recruiting classes in the country. They were Duke and Kentucky. I didn’t see any of their names called."

For the first time since 1976, March Madness will be without two of the most celebrated blue bloods in college hoops. Although Houston landed as a No. 2 seed, they don’t see themselves as the favorites.

"I like being the underdog," said Houston forward Justin Gorham. "Coach Sampson talks about being blue collar, not blue blood."

That Houston blue collar mentality is rooted in the Cougars' head coach. Before Kelvin Sampson took over the program in 2014, Houston recorded 21 consecutive double-digit loss seasons, which dates back to 1992. 

“I knew how bad it was,” Sampson said. “There was no guarantee it would be turned around. It was so bad.”

Not without the towering chip on his shoulder. 

“You’re either with us or against us. And if you’re against us, we’re going to get it done anyway. We’ll figure it out,” Sampson proclaimed. 

The Cougars, like the other remaining 16 teams, will have to navigate the uncharted waters of playing inside the Indianapolis bubble for the second week in a row. It’s a feat they hope to come out on top. 

“We're going out to take care of business, make this run, and bring a championship back to Houston,” said Houston guard Dejon Jarreau. 

“We're going to try and see how long we can stay on that dance floor,” said Sampson. “Let’s keep the needle on the vinyl and let’s keep dancing, man.”