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Milos Uzan continues run of form as #6 Houston handles Baylor at home for 16th win in last 17 games

After earning a one seed last season but falling short in the Sweet 16, Houston returned nearly everyone outside of senior point guard Jamal Shead, needing a big replacement at the point guard position. Guys last year who were out with long-term injuries were returning, but the hole at the point guard spot was noticeable.

Insert Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan, who had plenty of pressure on him to perform right away. In November, Uzan didn’t have the start to life he and many Houston fans would’ve hoped for, fouling out in all three of Houston’s non-conference losses (Auburn, Alabama, San Diego State).

Since then, Uzan has molded himself into Kelvin Sampson’s system and really looks capable of taking this team somewhere in March. He doesn’t always need to be a scorer – his playmaking and defensive abilities are the most important things he provides for this team – but the self-confidence in his shot has improved tremendously as of late, and Uzan has scored in double figures in each of the last seven games. On the season, Uzan now averages 10.0 ppg and 4.9 apg.

Since the start of December, Houston is 16-1, with Uzan playing a huge role in many of the wins, highlighted by his 17 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in a double overtime win over Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse where Uzan hit a handful of big shots. Last night in a 76-65 win over Baylor, Uzan finished with 12 points, six assists, and two steals. Not a stat line you would write home about, but watching Uzan now compared to games in November, you can see just how far he’s come in his comfortability under Sampson. This Houston team has plenty of options all over the floor and it’s up to Uzan to have the offense clicking every night, as we already know the defense will be top notch whenever Houston takes the floor.

Taking a look at Houston as a whole, this team truly has a chance to be Sampson’s best team when it’s all said and done. Tested early on in non-conference play, it really feels like each of those losses were good for Houston to suffer. When you meet the Cougars in March, you’ll meet a battle-tested team that plays as physical as anyone across the country, grinding out the game with a pace that ranks among the five slowest in the country.

The difference maker for this year’s team is Uzan, but the thing that makes this Houston team different from others is its ability to shoot the ball from beyond the arc. Houston ranks seventh nationally in three-point percentage at 39.4%, the best a Sampson team has ever shot the three, and the first time since 2017-18 that Houston has ranked inside the top 100 in three-point percentage.

Many people may tell you that Auburn and Duke are head and shoulders above the rest of the country, but Houston and its new point guard have come a long way since its string of early season losses that included a late collapse on a neutral floor against Auburn.

Other Things to Note:

• Viktor Lakhin scores 22 as #23 Clemson dominates North Carolina 85-65
• #5 Tennessee comes to Rupp Arena looking for revenge on #15 Kentucky (7:00 ET, ESPN)
• #7 Purdue, #20 Michigan meet for rematch in Ann Arbor (7:00 ET, Peacock)
• Red-hot Kansas State and #13 Arizona meet at Bramlage Coliseum (8:00 ET, ESPN+)
• #24 Creighton hosts UConn looking for tenth straight victory in Big East play (9:00 ET, CBSSN)