Zamal Nixon News

The give-the-Houston-Cougars-Liberty crusade is gaining some focus. Sort of. If the Cougars win this Saturday at Robertson Stadium against Rice , then win the West and earn a spot in the league title game.

At 64, Tom Penders has the charge of getting the Cougars into the NCAA Tournament or catching nothing but grief from a restless fan base.

In a little over two months the Houston Cougars men's basketball will begin the sixth season of the Tom Penders era.

Why they'll make it: Senior's Aubrey Coleman and Kelvin Lewis lead one of the best backcourts in college basketball.

DALLAS, Feb. 11 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: Using solid pressure defense the game, the University of Houston men's basketball claimed a 69-56 win at Conference USA-rival SMU on Wednesday inside Moody Coliseum.

CORVALLIS, Ore., March 19 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: Junior guard Kelvin Lewis recorded game highs with 18 points and four 3-pointers, but it would not be enough as Oregon State claimed a 49-45 win against the University of Houston men's basketball team Wednesday night at Gill Coliseum during the first round of ...

Houston , Feb. 28 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: Trailing by eight with just more than five minutes remaining, the University of Houston men's basketball team closed out the game with a 15-2 run to take a 56-51 win against crosstown- and Conference USA-rival Rice on Saturday afternoon inside Tudor Fieldhouse.

Houston , Feb. 14 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: Sophomore guard Zamal Nixon scored a season-high 23 points and added four rebounds and three assists to lead the University of Houston men's basketball team to an 83-64 win against Conference USA-rival Tulane on Saturday inside Hofheinz Pavilion.

CORVALLIS, Ore., March 17 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: The University of Houston men's basketball team opens its postseason at 9 p.m. /7 p.m. , Wednesday, against Oregon State inside Gill Coliseum.

Houston coach Tom Penders wasn't sure what to expect from his team in 2008-09, considering he was plugging so many new players into a lineup that had lost five seniors from the previous year.