Houston’s Look Backcourt Faces First Real Test Against La Salle in Season Opener

A New Starting Group

Houston starts the season with four new starters, two of them transfers. Preseason media polls placed the Cougars second in the Big 12, and they are ranked in the national top 10.

The backcourt pairs returning junior scoring guard Mercy Miller with senior transfer point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. Thomas is on the Bob Cousy Award Watchlist and was named preseason first-team All-Big 12.

Frontcourt Changes And Depth

Transfer Delrecco Gillespie joins the starting frontcourt after averaging 17.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game at Kent State. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound fifth-year forward is expected to be a key addition, while redshirt sophomore Chase McCarty completes the projected starting five and is likely Houston’s leading 3-point shooter.

A First Test Against La Salle

The non-conference opener is at Fertitta Center, where Houston will meet La Salle for the first time since 1975. The Explorers struggled in the Atlantic 10 last season, but the matchup is a regular-season game, not an exhibition.

Houston’s schedule includes 16 home games, among them Big 12 matchups with Arizona, Kansas, Iowa State, Texas Tech and BYU. The Cougars are also set to play in the Player’s Era Tournament in Las Vegas.

Other listed games include No. 20 Alabama at Madison Square Garden in New York, Florida State in Jacksonville, Fla., and California in Lake Tahoe at Stateline, Nevada.