Before joining the Big 12, Houston ran the American Athletic Conference for years in basketball. Houston has shown they are a powerhouse to be beat, especially on defense. The Cougars are currently the highest-ranked team in the Big 12 sitting at No. 4, but they are still tied for second in the Big 12.
Houston has not just the No. 1 ranked defense in the Big 12, but the No. 1 ranked defense in the country. They allow an average of 51.9 points per game to opponents with a 22.1 scoring margin. The Cougars have defended their home court nicely by going undefeated at Fertitta Center, but their two losses come from the road. They hit a short skid losing to Iowa State and TCU in back-to-back games.
The Cougars should feel very safe going into March knowing they are a lock for the NCAA Tournament whether they win the Big 12 or not. They may not get the automatic bid, but should be a high seed in the tournament either way.