Houston basketball season preview 2024-25: Biggest games, key players to watch, predictions and more

Reigning Big 12 regular season champions, the Houston Cougars step into the 2024–25 college basketball season determined to erase the stigma of the heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Duke in the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Coach Kelvin Sampson and his men are once again the team to beat in the conference with an almost intact lineup led by last season's leading scorer LJ Cryer and junior guard Emanuel Sharp.

The biggest question surrounding the team's roster is who will replace all-around guard Jamal Shead, who signed with the Toronto Raptors after getting picked by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of last month's NBA draft.

---

Houston men's basketball 2024–25 season preview

Houston's biggest games in the 2024–25 season

Alabama will be one of Houston's non-conference opponents this coming season (Image Source: IMAGN)

Houston has unveiled its four non-conference games this season, one against Final Four entrant Alabama. The Cougars-Crimson Tide clash is part of the Players Era Festival on November 26 at the MGM Grand Las Vegas.

Eleven days later, the Kelvin Sampson-coached squad hosts Butler in the Big East-Big 12 Battle at the Fertitta Center. They will also have non-conference games against Hofstra (Nov. 22) and Toledo (Dec. 18).

The Cougars are slated to play 20 games in the regular season, where they'll have home-and-away games against Big 12 foes Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and West Virginia.

Houston will host BYU, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU and Utah, as well as visit the arenas of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Kansas State and UCF.

HOUSTON COUGARS' 2024-25	BIG 12 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
HOME AND AWAY	Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, West Virginia
HOME	BYU, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, Utah
AWAY	Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Kansas State, UCF

---

Key Houston players to watch out for in the 2024–25 season

LJ Cryer looks to lead the Houston Cougars' offense once again. He averaged 15.5 points per game in the 2023–24 season (Image Source: IMAGN)

Houston will remain a formidable lineup in the 2024–25 NCAA men's basketball season, despite the departure of Jamal Shead. The Cougars will bank on the scoring of LJ Cryer, who led the team's offense with an average of 15.5 points per game.

Cryer will have support from Emanuel Sharp, J'Wan Roberts, and Milos Uzan. Sharp averaged 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game, while Roberts contributed 9.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and shot 59.6% from the field. Uzan, who transferred from Oklahoma, posted averages of 9.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 32 games with Oklahoma.

Houston took a splash from the high school ranks, getting four-star recruits Mercy Miller and Chase McCarty. Miller, the son of hip-artist Master P, is a combo guard out of Notre Dame High School, while McCarty is a small forward from IMG Academy.

---

Houston's predictions for the 2024–25 season

Houston remains a solid squad without Jamal Shead, as LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp are expected to carry the load for the Cougars. The acquisition of Milos Uzan from the transfer portal should compensate for the production left by Shead.

The Cougars are bound for at least 25 wins this season and would easily make the 2025 NCAA Tournament as one of the teams securing an at-large bid. Houston can go beyond the Elite Eight depending on how Cryer, Sharp and the rest of the team respond to formidable competition down the stretch.