UH Ranked as High as #24

[PhiSlammaJamma]

PhiSlammaJamma Time. Penders must be buying players off. I love it. We are back on the map. This is pretty exciting. Houston opens with Florida Tech in 2 weeks. I'm countin the W.

Cougars Ranked 24th By ESPN Expert In Preseason Top 25 Men's Basketball Poll ESPN's Peter Newmann lists Houston 24th in his national poll.

Oct. 14, 2005

Houston - It has not taken second-year head coach Tom Penders long to gain national attention for his University of Houston men's basketball team as the Cougars are ranked among the nation's top 24 teams according to ESPN's Peter Newmann.

Newmann has the Cougars ranked 24th, one of two Conference USA teams in his poll. He selected Duke as his preseason top-ranked team, with Texas, Villanova, Gonzaga and Oklahoma rounding out his Top Five teams. Newmann ranked Michigan State No. 6, with his other Top 10 teams being Connecticut, Boston College, Memphis and Louisville. They are followed by Kentucky, West Virginia, Stanford, UCLA, Iowa, Alabama, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Kansas, George Washington, Iowa State, Miami, Arizona, Houston and Nevada.

Houston is ranked 36th overall out of 40 teams by a pool of ESPN experts that includes Andy Katz, Pat Forde, Doug Gottlieb, Jay Bilas, Fran Franchilla, Joe Lunardi, Ed Greney, Jeff Shelman, Dave Revsine, Rece Davis, Newman, Nick Loucks, Howie Schwab, Dan Steir and Andy Glockner.

Houston began its preseason practice officially Friday night in Hofheinz Pavilion with Penders welcoming back four starters and three lettermen from last season's 18-14 team. Seven highly talented newcomers that make up one of the nation's Top 13 recruiting classes join them.

The returning starters include junior point guard Lanny Smith, a preseason All-Conference USA selection, along with seniors Brian Latham, Ramon Dyer and Sergio de Randamie. Other returning players include senior guard Chris Lawson, a part-time starter from last season, redshirt sophomore Andrew Francis and senior forward Darrius Brannon.


http://www.teammascot.com/aaa/images/products/160/11214_160.jpg


The new Cougars include junior college transfers Oliver Lafayette, Tristan Martin, Jahmar Thorpe and Richard Young, combined with freshmen Emmanuel Adeife, Corey Bloom and Lamar Roberson.

Houston opens the 2005-06 season on November 22, when the Cougars play host to Florida Tech. The Cougars will battle against two other preseason nationally-ranked teams. Houston plays host to No. 8 Arizona on December 3 at 6:00 p.m., and ends the regular season at No. 13 Memphis on March 4. The Cougars also play home games against Sam Houston State on December 10, North Texas on December 23, Rhode Island on December 27, McNeese State on December 31 and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on January 7 before opening their Conference USA schedule with a game at Rice on Jan. 11.

http://uhcougars.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/101405aaa.html

[PhiSlammaJamma]

Houston
Top three: PG Lanny Smith, SF Ramon Dyer, SG Brian Latham.

NIT or bust: The Cougars are getting much love nationally as a breakthrough team, but it's hard to envision them returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1992. Not one year after losing scoring leader Andre Owens. Tom Penders brought in another monster recruiting class, but it's loaded with junior college transfers, and there's just no telling how good any of them will be. Penders says it's the best class he has ever signed, anywhere. And he might be right. But he's quite a salesman, that Tom Penders. We'll believe it when we see it. Meantime, Lanny Smith is good enough to lead this team -- whoever's on it -- into the C-USA top third.
http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9029751

[OldManBernie]

So... how does UH relate to the Texans, Astros or the Comets? :D

I am glad to see that Tom Penders doing well for UH though.

[Hakeem06]

as much as i would love to see UH basketball prosper again, it isn't going to be long term with tom penders. he's bad news everywhere he goes as far as rules violations. he did it at texas and at GW, it's going to happen at houston. he'll have to resign or get fired.

[Hippieloser]

Hey, short-term is better than no-term.

[rikesh316]

UH should win 20 plus games this year and make in the the tourneys. They got 7 new players who all are very good and they have a future pro in Lanny Smith.

[gunn]

I'm blown away that they are still able to get talent to come play in that dump they call home court.

[Hakeem06]

short term is okay, but would you really rather have a quick fix that will fall apart and leave you with a lot of problems that could set your program back 3-4 years or the find the right guy right now and get it done for the long term? short term fixes rarely give you what you want anyway, you don't win championships overnight, might as well find the right guy to begin with.

[insane man]

but if you can make it to the dance it'll fix a lot of problems.

[Saint Louis]

I'm blown away that they are still able to get talent to come play in that dump they call home court.

What's wrong with Hofheinz? When that place is full, it is loud.

Unless you feel like throwing $400 milllion towards a new arena, then I say stopping hating the Cougars home court. Better yet, if you decide to throw $400 million at UH, there are better places to spend the money then on a basketball arena.

[bigtexxx]

Better yet, if you decide to throw $400 million at UH, there are better places to spend the money then on a basketball arena.

Yeah like a fence with razor wire surrounding the campus for protection. I really hate going over there to watch Rice whoop up on the Coogs, especially after dark.

[gucci888]

^ Bigtexx, isn't there a Owls fan board you can go and hangout? You obviously hate every school in TX except the Owls, which I don't blame you, everyone loves their alma mater.

BTW, Rice has a basketball team? What for? :confused:

[Saint Louis]

Yeah like a fence with razor wire surrounding the campus for protection. I really hate going over there to watch Rice whoop up on the Coogs, especially after dark.

I didn't know you left your guarded, walled compounded. You know it is dangerous on the outside. Criminals, evacuees and liberals roaming the streets.

See what happens when you spend too much time "between the hedges". You forget how rough life is in the outside world.

The UH area looks pretty good today. I remember what it looked like in the 1970's.

[JeeberD]

Team Postseason
1. Memphis NCAA
2. UTEP NCAA
3. UAB NIT
4. Houston NIT
5. Central Florida None
6. Rice None
7. SMU None
8. Southern Miss None
9. Tulane None
10. Tulsa None
11. East Carolina None
12. Marshall None

http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9029751

Booyah! :D

[Hippieloser]

The surrounding neighborhoods are UH's greatest resource. When I lived there, there were off-the-grid liquor stores and bodegas all over the place. A seven-year-old wouldn't get carded. We would often stop and chat with the locals and they were usually quite friendly. Just regular folks after the same weekend stuff we were: Weed, booze and poon. I guess some people may prefer to head over to Rice Village and "get wild" at Little Woodrows or something, but the hood always treated me good.

[rrj_gamz]

I can't wait...I think we all agree this is s-t, but damn, this is exciting again...Tourney, here we come...

[Hakeem06]

i visited U of H back in 2002 after i graduated from HS and it was okay. that was my second choice after Tx. State. the neighborhood isn't the greatest...okay, it's awful but it's not too much different from the ones where i spent a lot of my childhood summers at in san jacinto and pasadena, so i wan't too uncomfortable. the campus is nice, not pretty like UT or like Tx. State but still attractive. they should be able to recruit much better than what they have been doing. if they could just get the 2nd tier players from houston, they would be in the ncaa's every year. i don't know if they will ever get the 1st tier guys like TJ Ford, Daniel Gibson, etc. away from the Texas's and North Carolina's of the world, but they should still get impact players from that city full of talent.

[SuperS32]

What Hakeem06 said.

The Cougs should be able to get the Dion Dowells and Lanny Smiths of the world. Lanny was a great pickup for the Cougs. Of course, Penders is probably violating a few rules, but if he can get away with it now and get the program going, it should be exciting.

[DonnyMost]

Yeah like a fence with razor wire surrounding the campus for protection. I really hate going over there to watch Rice whoop up on the Coogs, especially after dark.

And why would that be?

UH is a safer campus, in terms of crime-per-capita, than A&M, UT, and Tech.

Maybe you're just shakin' in your Banana Republic khakis because of all the hair braiding salons, fried chicken stands, and rim shops in the area.

Third Ward; it's a way of life.

[SamFisher]

Yeah like a fence with razor wire surrounding the campus for protection. I really hate going over there to watch Rice whoop up on the Coogs, especially after dark.

LOL, bigtexxx, shaking in his F150, cowering in fear of the scary inner city people. You're right though. Since Houston is near the geographic center longitude of the country, it is definitely right in middle of the East Coast/West coast Rap War battleground and likely bullets are flying as we speak. YOu may want to keep your head down, way down.

[Groogrux]

I risk my life all the time for that wonderful chicken at Frenchy's. It's well worth it.

[Saint Louis]

And why would that be?

UH is a safer campus, in terms of crime-per-capita, than A&M, UT, and Tech.

Maybe you're just shakin' in your Banana Republic khakis because of all the hair braiding salons, fried chicken stands, and rim shops in the area.

Third Ward; it's a way of life.

In the five years I attended school at the UH main campus, those most dangerous thing I ran into was the weather.

[MykTek]

the worst thing is ROADRAGE STUDENTS LOOKING FOR PARKING! ! !

[DUCK2324]

http://uhcougars.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110905aaa.html
Cougars Land Three Basketball Players To Open 2005-06 Early Signing Period

Marcus Malone, Rob McKiver and Nic Mosley sign with Cougars for 2006-07 season.

Nov. 9, 2005

Houston, Texas - The first day of the early signing period left University of Houston head basketball coach Tom Penders with a sense of relief and excitement when he announced the signings of Marcus Malone, Rob McKiver and Nic Mosley for the 2006-07 season.

"We feel great because all three guys to whom we sent national letters of intent signed with us today," Penders said. "Signing periods is filled with a lot of anticipation and can be filled with a lot of sleepless nights if you don't sign the players you anticipated. Having gotten all three players to sign is quite a relief for us."

Malone, a 6-5 guard who Penders originally recruited out of high school, will play at Lee Junior College in Baytown, Texas, this season after averaging four minutes and one point in 20 games during his freshman season at DePaul in 2004-05. As a high school senior, he averaged 14 points, six assists and three steals per game while playing with current Cougar freshman forward Lamar Roberson at Domingez High School in Long Beach, Calif.

"We wanted Marcus badly out of high school, and if he had come here right away, I think he would have played 25 minutes per game last year," Penders said. "We are thrilled that Marcus will be here next year, and he is a left-handed player who is like a coach on the floor. He is a very smart and mature player who has great leadership abilities. He has played Division I basketball already and has the versatility to play all three spots on the perimeter. He is a great fit for our program."

McKiver is a 6-3 guard at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas, after he played in 24 games at Providence College in 2004-05. He went to Providence after attending Winchendon School in 2004 and averaged 21 points, seven assists and 4.2 rebounds as a senior at Hill House High School in New Haven, Conn.

"Robert is an outstanding talent who also has Division I talent," Penders said. "He is a great shooter, who is a scorer first and comes from an area I am very familiar with. He went to a system that was not quite right for him at Providence. He is perfectly suited for our style of play. When he has the ball he is a good decision-maker but is more of a scorer than a true point guard. Like a lot of players who have excelled in my system, he has a lot of confidence. I do not think that I have met many kids with any more confidence than he has. He is a typical Connecticut basketball player, and when you say that as a coach, it is like someone in Connecticut saying a player is like a typical Texas high school football player. You know what you are getting. He is a legend in the state of Connecticut."

Mosley is a 6-8 center from Bellville High School, and is ranked among the Top 26 players overall in Texas after averaging 19.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 5.4 blocked shots as a junior. He averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds during his sophomore season. Mosely also posted a third-place finish at the 2005 Texas UIL Class 3A State Track and Field Championships after clearing 6-6 in the high jump.

"Nic is a phenomenal athlete who is long armed and an excellent high jumper on the track team," Penders said. "I doubt that there are many high school forwards who have the shot blocking and scoring ability that he has. He is a scorer and knows how to score. When I watched the top post players in the state play this past summer, he was the best in terms of his overall ability to score and rebound. Nic is an extremely versatile and active player who can play two positions on the floor right now, and he is still growing."

The Cougars have four seniors on this year's roster, and Penders anticipates adding another player.

"All three of these players will be able to come in and play right away," Penders added. "We have four seniors who will play a lot of minutes this season, so there is plenty of time to fill. This is a good mix as a class between experience and youth at the same time. Nic gives us the youth and four-year projection, while Marcus and Robert give us some experienced players who have played at this level. It is a real bonus to get a junior college player who has Division I experience."

[bigtexxx]

LOL, bigtexxx, shaking in his F150, cowering in fear of the scary inner city people. You're right though. Since Houston is near the geographic center longitude of the country, it is definitely right in middle of the East Coast/West coast Rap War battleground and likely bullets are flying as we speak. YOu may want to keep your head down, way down.

Sam, the reason I hate going over there after dark is my concern for the well-being of others. For that reason I am for the erection of the fence. I am quite safe (and well armed) in my F150.

Step to texxx fool, you steppin' to death row.

[gucci888]

LOL, bigtexxx, shaking in his F150, cowering in fear of the scary inner city people. You're right though. Since Houston is near the geographic center longitude of the country, it is definitely right in middle of the East Coast/West coast Rap War battleground and likely bullets are flying as we speak. YOu may want to keep your head down, way down.

Also don't forget that the 3rd coast is starting to battle as well.

[surrender]

Also don't forget that the 3rd coast is starting to battle as well.

In my 6 hours on campus today, I was shot at, mugged twice, and raped in the library bathroom. True story. Damn 3rd ward

[DonnyMost]

I was assaulted with a graphing calculator while jogging at Rice today.

[gucci888]

I was assaulted with a graphing calculator while jogging at Rice today.

Damn those TI-82s, they're nothing but trouble.

[bigtexxx]

I was assaulted with a graphing calculator while jogging at Rice today.

I will destroy you with my lethal sinusoidal curves, you mere mortal

[PhiSlammaJamma]

Penders assured the alumni that crime during games will be minimal, and that he will personally make sure that all the juco's will be on the court at that time. Paid in full. But afterwards, everyone has to watch their own back.

[Kam]

USC is a pretty good school right?

And USC is right in the middle of South Central, Watts area, correct?

[surrender]

I was assaulted with a graphing calculator while jogging at Rice today.

My eyes were assaulted by all of the ugly girls I saw while jogging at Rice last week.

[Saint Louis]

My eyes were assaulted by all of the ugly girls I saw while jogging at Rice last week.


Maybe it was all part of a undercover Rice experiment.

How does it feel to be a girl (http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~anguyen/misc/whatitfeels.html)

[surrender]

Maybe it was all part of a undercover Rice experiment.

How does it feel to be a girl (http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~anguyen/misc/whatitfeels.html)

Heh, I've been to the cafeteria in those photos. My best friend lives in the dorm right next to it (Hanszen, IIRC)

[bottlerocket]

I love it that people of the likes of Gunn & Little Tex are scarred and intimidated of our inner city campus. You are supposed to be! That’s part of charm of home field & court advantage.
Stick to your overrated, overprice, no good looking girls (that are straight), Birkenstock wearing, thick glasses, Volkswagen driving, yard dart throwing, calculator jacking, & no winning campus.

Go Coogs! Go!

[Hakeem06]

what in the hell is going on at rice???? OMG!!! i did not need to see that website......must burn corneas....

[Jturbofuel]

Any Rice fan has no room to call any other schools arena or stadium a dump.That high school gym you play in is the only place I have ever attented a game where its 30 degrees outside and 140 inside.Their football stadium it took me 3 days to pull all of the splinters out of my rear end after watching a game there.

[bigshea]

19 more days till zona

[Groogrux]

Anyone have the schedule? Specifically the games played here?

[surrender]

http://uhcougars.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/hou-m-baskbl-sched.html

[Hakeem06]

arizona agreed to play at hoffeinz?????

[bigshea]

One of their assistant coaches fathers runs an AAU team or something in Houston and they got quite a few recruits there looking at in Houston along with a couple on their roster. Basically just a recruiting tactic in my eyes.

[Jturbofuel]

Yeah Josh Pastner is his name his dad runs the Houston Hoops AAU team.

[Saint Louis]

19 more days till zona

Oh it would be sweet if the Coogs could be the Wildcats. Tucson takes their Wildcat basketball so seriously. I would love to be able to hold scoreboard on all my co-workers.

[DonnyMost]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/updawg2/Photoshop/arizona.jpg