Sports
 

Door open for UH road win 

Coogs can get out of road funk, get back on track for C-USA stretch run vs. Bulldogs

By Jay Gandy
The Daily Cougar 

Saturday will be a first -- for someone.

When the UH men's basketball team faces South Florida on Saturday in Tampa, Fla., the Bulls will be looking for their first win in Conference USA, and the Cougars will be looking for their first win on the road. Something has to give. 

South Florida comes into the game with a 6-9 overall record and a 0-4 record in C-USA. The Bulls have only seven players on scholarship, after dismissing and losing (for academic reasons) five players this season. Freshman Sam Barber is their latest casualty, after losing his scholarship Monday for "conduct detrimental to the team." Barber's absence will weaken an already depleted bench.

This bodes well for the Cougars (7-10, 1-5), since they have been able to give several players increased playing time in the last few games. The extra minutes should provide some experience for players like freshman guard Parker Pinkalla and sophomore guard Kevin Barber and could give the Cougars the edge when both teams are forced to go to the bench.

Offensively the Bulldogs are led by juniors Bradley Mosley and Terrence Leather. A 6-8 forward, Leather likes to work inside while Mosley, a guard, scores from outside. 

UH junior guard Andre Owens is the highest scorer on the team and No. 3 in C-USA, averaging 17.1 points per game. Senior guard Marcus Oliver has stepped up his play lately, averaging 14 points in the Cougars' last five games.

For the Cougars to be successful, they must limit their turnovers. In Wednesday's 64-48 loss to Louisville, Houston turned over the ball a season-high 22 times on the way to its second consecutive loss by the same score. Owens, who led the team in points, rebounds and assists, also committed eight turnovers. In the Bulls' last home game, also against Louisville, they too turned over the ball 22 times on the way to an 85-40 drubbing at the hands of the Cardinals.

Last season, the Cougars split their two games against South Florida, with each team defending its home court. The Cougars will try to reverse that trend Saturday, as well as prove they can win on the road. After the USF game, the team has only four road games before the C-USA Tournament, which begins March 3.

The 12 teams with the best record in C-USA are eligible for the end of the year tournament. At this point the Cougars are in the 11th spot, only one game ahead of South Florida, Tulane and East Carolina, all of which have yet to win a conference game. That means the Cougars must finish strong in their 10 remaining regular season games to assure themselves a spot in the postseason. 

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