UH Cougars secure No.1 seed, Rice returns

For the second straight season, the University of Houston Cougars men’s basketball team has earned a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It’s the third time in school history that UH has been picked as a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Coogs, led by Jamal Shead and L.J. Cryer, are the top seed in the South Region and they ran past No.16 seed Longwood during Friday night’s opening round, 86-46. UH (31-4) will now meet Texas A&M during the second round of the tournament in Memphis on Sunday for the chance to move on to the Sweet 16 in Dallas. Last season, the Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to Miami. The Cougars made it to the national championship game in 1983 when they were a No.1 seed.

Rice Owls earned trip to NCAA Tournament as AAC champs

The Rice women’s basketball team made it back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. Unfortunately, their run didn’t last long. The 14th-seeded Owls fell to No. 3 seed LSU, 70-60, during their opening-round game on Friday. The Owls (19-15) punched their ticket after winning the American Athletic Conference Tournament championship as a No.10 seed, becoming the lowest seed to win the conference tournament in history.

Texans send first-round pick to Vikings

In a move that is sure to be scrutinized, Texans general manager Nick Caserio traded out of the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. The Texans sent their No.23 pick overall and a seventh-round selection to Minnesota in exchange for the Vikings’ second-round pick (No.42), sixth-round pick (No.188) and second-round pick in 2025.

Destiny Jackson gives Owls spark in AAC Tourney

Rice senior guard Destiny Jackson had 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocked shots during the AAC semifinal win over Temple.