HOUSTON COUGARS NEWS

Joseph Tugler - Produces off bench Tugler registered 10 points (2-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 6-8 FT), six rebounds, two blocks and two steals across 31 minutes during Saturday's 74-69 loss to Auburn.

Impact Tugler moved to the bench thanks to the return of Ja'Vier Francis but still managed 31 minutes on the floor. The sophomore forward doubled his scoring output from the first game of the season and added two steals and two blocks on the defensive end. Tugler is the first man off the bench for the Cougars and should see an uptick in minutes and production this season following averaging 3.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 0.9 steals in just over 16 minutes per contest last season.

NOVEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Auburn-Houston free livestream: How to watch college basketball game, TV, schedule The Auburn Tigers play against the Houston Cougars in a college basketball game tonight. Fans can watch this game for free online.

NOVEMBER 9 • AL.COM

Ja'Vier Francis - Available Saturday Francis (groin) will make his return during Saturday's game against the Tigers, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.

Impact Francis is active for Saturday's game against Auburn after sitting out against Jackson State in Houston's season opener. The 6-foot-8 senior averaged six points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks across 37 starts last season.

NOVEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Ja'Vier Francis - Returns to practice Wednesday Head coach Kelvin Sampson revealed that Francis (groin) returned to practice Wednesday, per GoCoogs.com.

Impact Francis was previously held out of Houston's season opener against Jackson State with a groin injury, but the senior was apparently able to return to practice on Wednesday. Francis' return bodes well for the Cougars heading into a tough matchup against Auburn this coming Saturday, and though he is still listed as a game-time decision, The 6-foot-8 forward appears to be closing in on a return.

NOVEMBER 7 • ROTOWIRE

L.J. Cryer scores 16, No. 4 Houston beats Jackson State 97-40 to extend home win streak

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NOVEMBER 5 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Milos Uzan - Stuffs stat sheet Uzan amassed eight points (3-6 FG, 2-4 3Pt), seven rebounds, 10 assists, one block and four steals over 26 minutes during Monday's 97-40 win over Jackson State.

Impact Uzan, the transfer from Oklahoma, was Kelvin Sampson's hand-picked replacement for All-American point guard Jamal Shead and if his first game is any indication, he'll fit in just fine in Houston. Uzan will not be called upon to produce much by way of scoring but he's an elite ball distributor and perimeter defender, as evidenced by his 10 assists and four steals. Uzan averaged 9.0 points, 3.4 boards, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals last year with the Sooners and while he may not contribute double-figures in scoring average this season, he's a perfect fit for the rugged Cougars and is set up to be one of the biggest breakout stars in college basketball this season.

NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

2024-25 college basketball preview: Ranking the top 50 players and coaches

FOX Sports college basketball reporter John Fanta reveals his list of the top 50 names — players and coaches – to watch throughout the road...

NOVEMBER 4

Ja'Vier Francis - Held out with groin injury Francis (groin) will not play in Monday's season opener against Jackson State, Chris Baldwin of Paper City Magazine reports.

Impact Francis was considered questionable for the contest, but with Houston entering as massive favorites, the team will take a conservative approach with his usage to begin the season.

NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Ja'Vier Francis - Questionable for season opener Francis (groin) remains questionable to suit up in Monday's season opener against Jackson State, Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Head coach Kelvin Sampson is reportedly still not sure whether Francis will suit up against Robert Morris despite the fact that it was reported that he'd be available earlier this week. The 6-foot-8 senior is a big piece in the Cougars' frontcourt, averaging six points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks across 37 starts last season. If Francis is ultimately unable to suit up in Houston's opener, Cedric Lath and Joseph Tugler should see a larger role against a lower-tier opponent.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

J'Wan Roberts, LJ Cryer, No. 4 Houston face Jackson State There will be unfinished business to address for No.4 Houston as it begins its march toward another NCAA Tournament when the Cougars open th...

OCTOBER 31 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Jacob McFarland - Suffers leg injury McFarland suffered a leg injury Tuesday, according to Joseph Duarte of The Houston Chronicle.

Impact McFarland is a center trying to begin playing college basketball during the NCAA's 2023-24 season. But because of his broken leg, he underwent surgery and will be out indefinitely.

OCTOBER 31 • ROTOWIRE

Ja'Vier Francis - Available for first game of season Francis (groin) is available for the Cougars' game against Jackson State on Nov. 4, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Impact A groin injury prevented Francis from participating in the 2024-25 Cougars' preseason. However, he will be available when they begin their regular season on Nov. 4. Francis averaged 6.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks across his 37 games started for the 2023-24 Cougars.

OCTOBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Terrance Arceneaux - Finally back Arceneaux (Achilles) logged 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 0-1 FT), three rebounds, two assists and two steals across 16 minutes during Houston's exhibition game Sunday against Texas...

Impact For the first time in the 2024 calendar year, Arceneaux logged some in-game action and showed no rust of a player returning from a long-term Achilles injury. At the very least, he will look to continue his regular role from Houston's 2023-24 season. Before it ended prematurely, he was a highly active role player bordering on sixth-man duties.

OCTOBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

J'Wan Roberts - Promising preseason Roberts (knee) logged 10 points (5-7 FG), eight rebounds, four blocks, three assists and one steal across 27 minutes during Houston's exhibition game Sunday against Texas A&M.

Impact Even though the 2024-25 Cougars will have logged only one preseason game, it was an excellent exhibition nonetheless. Ideally for Roberts, he can get back to double-digit scoring, just like during his 2022-23 season. The redshirt senior also stood out defensively with his rebounds and blocks Sunday, something he will look to do more often this coming campaign.

OCTOBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Ja'Vier Francis - Injury publicly revealed Francis is out for Houston's exhibition game Sunday against Texas A&M due to a groin injury, per Joseph Duarte of The Houston Chronicle.

Impact Previously undisclosed, Francis' injury is a groin problem that Duarte has publicly revealed a few hours before the exhibition game. However, Francis' absence is a precautionary measure, and all signs are that he will be available for Houston's 2024-25 season opener on Nov. 4.

OCTOBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Ja'Vier Francis - Out for exhibition game Francis (undisclosed) is out for Houston's exhibition game Sunday against Texas A&M, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Impact Sunday will include Houston's only exhibition before the team begins its 2024-25 regular season. It is scheduled to begin Nov. 4 w ith a home game against Jackson State.

OCTOBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Milos Uzan - Available for exhibition game Uzan (nose) is available for Houston's exhibition game Sunday against Texas A&M, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Impact Sunday will include Uzan's first and only game as a Houston player before the team begins its 2024-25 season. He transferred from Oklahoma with an intent to replace Jamal Shead, who had been UH's primary point guard for most of the 2020s. Ideally, the exhibition game indicates what kind of a role Uzan will have with his new and updated team.

OCTOBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Milos Uzan - Available for exhibition game Uzan (nose) is available for Houston's exhibition game Sunday against Texas A&M, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Impact Sunday will include Uzan's first and only game as a Houston player before the team begins its 2024-25 season. He transferred from Oklahoma with an intent to replace Jamal Shead, who had been UH's primary point guard for most of the 2020s.

OCTOBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Ja'Vier Francis - DNP for latest scrimmage Francis did not play during Houston's secret scrimmage last week, according to Joseph Duarte of The Houston Chronicle.

Impact Duarte's update on Francis suggests the senior is unavailable, unhealthy or both going into Houston's upcoming scrimmage Sunday against Texas A&M. A litany of injuries have plagued the Cougars this preseason, and their starting center being included is especially not something they want to deal with going into regular-season action in under two weeks.

OCTOBER 25 • ROTOWIRE

Houston guard named one of college basketball's best players Houston has never won a men's basketball national championship. But LJ Cryer has. A fifth-year senior for the Cougars, Cryer was a freshman...

OCTOBER 25 • SI.COM

No. 4 Houston returns four starters from last year's team that reached Sweet 16

Houston is ranked No. 4 in the preseason poll for its third straight top-10 preseason ranking under coach Kelvin Sampson

OCTOBER 23 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Milos Uzan - Undergoes nose surgery Uzan recently underwent surgery for a broken nose, according to Joseph Duarte of The Houston Chronicle.

Impact Uzan suffered the nose injury during a rebound drill. He will begin Houston's games with a mask, them including a preseason exhibition the Cougars have scheduled for Oct. 27 against Texas A&M. While he is not expected to sit out against Texas A&M, Uzan being used then ensures he will be fine with extra equipment on for the regular season.

OCTOBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

AP Top 25: Kansas gets No. 1 nod ahead of Alabama, UConn in preseason poll

Kansas was picked first in the AP Top 25 preseason college basketball poll, getting the No. 1 nod ahead of Alabama and UConn.

OCTOBER 14

Terrance Arceneaux - Still not fully back Arceneaux is not fully back from the Achilles injury he suffered in December, according to Joseph Duarte of The Houston Chronicle.

Impact Back in July, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported that Arceneaux was fully cleared from his Achilles injury. But fast forward to more than three months later, and it appears the sophomore either suffered a setback or had his clearance announcement publicized a little too prematurely. For now, Arceneaux's injury status is questionable as the Houston team prepares for its exhibition game Oct. 27 against Texas A&M.

OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

2024 College Football odds Week 5: Lines, spreads for best games of the week

College football Week 5 is here. Check out the lines for some of the biggest games on this weekend's slate.

SEPTEMBER 26