(SportsRadio 610) - The No. 2 Houston Cougars (23-2, 11-1 AAC) are currently in the midst of the longest break of the season, a much needed seven day stretch without a game.
They’ll get back on the court Thursday night in Dallas when they take on Southern Methodist University (9-17, 4-9 AAC).
Since Cougars' most recent 80-42 drubbing of Tulsa last Saturday, the newest polls kept them idle in the ranking for the second straight week.
Purdue (23-3) fell to No. 3 in the nation after losing to Northwestern on Sunday while Alabama (22-3) took care of business against Auburn on Saturday to takeover the top spot in the nation for the programs first No. 1 ranking in 20 years.
“As coaches and players, we don’t analyze wins or losses,” Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson said. “We just figure out how we’re going to get better.”
That’s the message. It always has been.
Sampson routinely has to ask a member of the media what their record is or what the score of a game was.
What’s always fresh on his mind, are the things his team learns or needs to improve upon within specific sequences or situations of games.
One of the areas that Sampson and his players have focused on improving all season is rebounding the basketball.
The Cougars are the 23rd ranked rebounding team in the country, averaging 39 boards per game and are currently the 13th best offensive rebounding team in the nation averaging just under 14 extra chances per contest.
“I feel like we’re a little inconsistent when it comes to the offensive glass and defensive as well,” Cougars forward Jarace Walker said. “We just gotta stay consistent on that end and defense.”
Walker meanwhile, has emerged as a star. He’s one of their most consistent scorers and a guy that they want to get the ball to when a game is on the line.
The 6’8 240 pound freshman has become a force to be reckoned with.
He’s scored in double figures in 6 of the last 9 games, averaging 16 points and 7 rebounds while knocking down 44% of his three-point attempts during that stretch.
The fact that his coaches and teammates have the confidence in him to step up and take the lead as a young player, has helped his growth significantly.
“It definitely means a lot, knowing that, you know, they love me taken those shots from three and mid-range,” Walker said. “I mean, whenever I’m open they just want me to let it go. So the fact that they appreciate the work that I put in, definitely means a lot.”
With only six games remaining in the regular season before tournament season begins, there is still plenty of work to be done.
It’s clear that the Cougars aren’t comfortable with where they’re currently at. They’d like to finish the regular season as the No. 1 team in the nation, but that’s not what drives them.
Ending the NCAA tournament as the best team in the country is.
But, they’re not there yet.
“We don’t really talk about March much or really think about it,” Walker said. “We’re just worried about the next game.”
Shaun Bijani has spent the last 16 years covering the Houston sports scene for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @ShaunBijani.
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