University of Houston men's basketball ranked No. 15 in preseason poll

The University of Houston’s men’s basketball team is opening the season ranked No. 15 in the Associated Press preseason poll.

“The Cougars return two starters from last year’s 28-4 team that advanced to the Final Four,” pollsters said.

For the third straight season, the Cougars’ are primed to open the season as the preseason favorite in the American Athletic Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll, with junior guard Marcus Sasser landing on the preseason all-conference team.

The Cougars’ leading returning scorer at 13.7 points per game and a two-time American Athletic Conference Player of the Week selection last season, Sasser swished 78 three-pointers a year ago, while posting five 20-point games, including a season-high 28 points against Tulane inside the Fertitta Center in January. In being named to the United States Basketball Writers Association District 24 Team, Sasser ranked among The American's Top-15 leaders in both three-point field goals per game and three-point field goal percentage.

The Cougars, who received eight first-place votes from the league's head coaches, open the season against Hofstra at the Fertitta Center on Nov. 9.

Sasser was joined on the Preseason First Team by Jalen Duren (Memphis), Landers Nolley II (Memphis), Kendric Davis (SMU) and Tyson Etienne (Wichita State).