KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The top-seeded Houston Cougars emerged victorious against the No. 16 seeded Colorado Buffaloes, winning 77-68 in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal match held on March 13, 2025, at the T-Mobile Center. The Cougars, who were under pressure to maintain their impressive season, displayed resilience but struggled to establish their dominance throughout the game.
Houston entered the tournament as favorites, finishing the regular season with remarkable stats: 28 wins, 4 losses, and 19-1 within the Big 12. This matchup referred to many as David versus Goliath, especially after Colorado's surprising run included victories against the ninth-seeded TCU and eighth-seeded West Virginia.
Throughout the game, Coach Kelvin Sampson's squad faced challenges, particularly with junior forward J’Wan Roberts suffering from an ankle injury, limiting his contribution. He played only 18 minutes, scoring just two points. Sampson, visibly frustrated post-match, acknowledged his team’s performance, indicating their capacity to play significantly above their current level. “We can certainly play [better],” he stated.
Houston’s strong defense has been the backbone of their success, allowing only 58.4 points per game, ranking first nationally. Yet, against Colorado, who averaged 70.0 points per game during the regular season and had shown improvement, their efforts to suppress the Buffalo offense lacked the expected intensity. The Cougars found themselves leading by just five points at halftime, 38-33.
Although Houston was expected to dominate, the Buffaloes kept battles close, showcasing their intent to secure their third consecutive surprise win. Their star player, Andrej Jakimovski, led the game with 25 points, showing remarkable skill with four three-pointers. Colorado exhibited their ability to shift momentum, particularly after trailing by seven points late against West Virginia and scoring 30 points within ten minutes to secure the prior victory.
Despite Houston’s lapses, they managed to rally as the game progressed. Houston's junior guard Emanuel Sharp led the Cougars with 19 points, including four three-pointers, contributing significantly to the team’s success, especially during key moments. His performance, albeit threatened by foul trouble, kept Houston afloat during less intense stretches of the game.
Milos Uzan, another influential player, recorded 14 points, all scored after halftime, emphasizing Houston's strategic adjustments. Joseph Tugler contributed 10 points, almost clinching a double-double with nine rebounds, freshening up the Cougars’ usual play style. Houston's overall shooting effectiveness remained over 49%, slightly above Colorado's 40.4%; this factor proved pivotal.
The Buffaloes entered the tournament with much to prove but could not capitalize fully on their chances against Houston's improving defense. Colorado, allowing 71.3 points per game during the season, faced concerns about keeping up with Houston’s velocity, especially since they managed only sporadic bursts of exceptional offense.
Coach Tad Boyle's squad seemed energized by their prior victories and appeared more cohesive than earlier this season, focusing on minimizing turnovers and maintaining intensity on the court. Even so, Houston’s stronger overall roster offered challenges Colorado could not consistently surmount.
Houston found themselves pushing through turnovers, even forcing seven compared to their own six, demonstrating the resilience often absent from lower-seeded teams. The final shift came late as Houston dug deep, overcoming brief struggles to lead at the end and make necessary shot selections under pressure.
Still, the contest raised questions about Houston's playing style as they prepared to shift focus to their next round against the fourth-seeded BYU. Houston's previous matchup against BYU resulted in dominance, where they won by 31 points. But BYU had transformed significantly since, now holding nine consecutive wins, making the upcoming semifinal promising.
Following this match, Houston now holds the momentum, yet the scrutiny remains over their performance level and ability to execute against heavy competition like BYU. Sampson’s next challenge is restoring the sharp focus his team is known for, particularly to fend off potential underdog victories.
With greetings from Kansas City, fans await to see if Houston can re-establish their identity and embrace the competitive spirit necessary to clinch the Big 12 championship, satisfying expectations as the potential champion. The offensive dynamics and strategy adjustments they will launch is now on everyone’s radar, particularly with injury concerns and pacing as potential variables impacting their path to the title.