Fansided

5 mid-majors that could make a Final Four run

By Brandon Jefferson

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs holds up the tournament MVP trophy after the 2018 Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs holds up the tournament MVP trophy after the 2018 Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – MARCH 10: Corey Davis Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars reacts during the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on March 10, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – MARCH 10: Corey Davis Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars reacts during the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on March 10, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Houston Cougars (31-3, No. 3 Seed)

This March marks the 25-year anniversary of the last of Phi Slamma Jamma run of three straight Final Four trips for the University of Houston. Powered by Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Akeem Olajuwon, the Cougars went to three consecutive Final Fours and famously came up short in the 1983 National Championship game against Jim Valvano’s North Carolina State team. For a couple of decades, it seemed as if Houston would never again reach the highs of the Phi Slamma Jamma days, but under Kelvin Sampson’s tutelage, the Cougars have seen their win totals rise from 13 in 2014-15 all the way to 31 this year.

After claiming the regular-season American Athletic Conference, Houston came up short of doubling down, losing a tightly-contested conference tournament championship game against the Cincinnati Bearcats. A season ago, the Cougars were captained by scoring-guard Rob Gray, this year it is Corey Davis Jr. that is taking over that mantle. Houston isn’t a one-man band; Sampson regularly goes nine-deep in his rotation and eight players are averaging five points or more. If Davis Jr. and Armoni Brooks can get things rolling offensively, then this team has the confidence and wherewithal to make some noise.

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