Freshman forward Danuel House was the Cougars’ third-leading scorer in 2012 at 12.4 points per game. He was named C-USA Freshman of the Year. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar
Thirty minutes after the Cougars’ returned to Houston when their season ended in the College Basketball Invitational, sophomore forward Danuel House was back in the Athletics/Alumni Center shooting jumpers.
After a taste of postseason success and failure — UH defeated Texas in the first round but lost to George Mason in the second — the team has more vigor toward getting better in the offseason, said assistant coach Alvin Brooks.
“The guys’ enthusiasm and work ethic to improve is far superior than the last two seasons,” Brooks said. “Competing with guys in the Big 12, you realize how strong and athletic you have to be to compete. Look at House, freshman of the year in Conference USA, TaShawn (Thomas), first team all conference, neither one of those guys are content.”
The offseason has not been without adversity though.
The Cougars’ leading scorer, junior guard Joseph Young, decided to leave the program. He again followed his father, UH great Michael Young, who will no longer serve as director of basketball operations for the team.
The Cougars can replace Young’s 18 points per game if redshirt sophomore Jherrod Stiggers and sophomore LeRon Barnes emerge as consistent threats on the perimeter, Brooks said. The coaching staff also expects House and Thomas to take another step forward on the offensive end in order to make up the difference.
The team faced similar circumstances last season when leading scorer Jonathon Simmons decided to play professional basketball, leaving a year of eligibility on the table. UH also lost its second-best scorer in Alandise Harris and Darian Thibodeaux— its best defender after their senior season in 2011.
The Cougars went on to win five more games in 2012.
“Last year we lost our two leading scorers and rebounders. It’s not as hard to replace perimeter points as it is for leadership and experience,” Brooks said.
However, in 2014, the circumstances are different.
UH is entering the American Athletic Conference, where they’ll face programs with a rich basketball history and recent NCAA tournament experience like Connecticut, Cincinnati and Temple.
The Cougars begin play in a tougher conference after back-to-back 7-9 finishes in C-USA play. And there won’t be any easy wins against the C-USA cellar teams.
To legitimately compete in their new conference, the Cougars need several players to take another developmental step, including Thomas who is moving into his junior season.
The coaching staff wants Thomas, whose diverse skill set allows him to score with his back to the basket and use his ball handling skills to lead the fast break, to operate in the midpost area and spread the floor by taking more free throw line jumpers.
“The thing we want him to do is to step out on the floor,” said head coach James Dickey. “We don’t want him down low with his basket all the time. As good a rebounder as he is, we want him to be even better.”
Dickey said House needs to get better on the defensive end and become a better rebounder before the season begins.
The Cougars also think they’ve solved the point guard position, a problem that has plagued the team for a few years, with a combination of senior Tione Womack and freshman Jaaron Simmons.
Even with the increased competition of their new conference, loss of their leading scorer and higher expectations in this administration’s fourth season at UH, the coaching staff is still optimistic about what can be accomplished in 2014.
“This is the first time since we’ve been here that we don’t have to re-teach our system. We’ve had struggles at the point guard position and experience. I think both of those issues are resolved,” Brooks said.
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