Houston Cougars vs Idaho Vandals: March Madness Showdown

0:00On March 20th, the Houston Cougars, the number two seed in the South region, face off against the number 15 seed Idaho Vandals in the first round, of the NCAA tournament tonight in Oklahoma City. Houston enters with a strong 28 and 6 record after finishing second in the Big 12 conference at 14 and 4. This marks their eighth straight trip to March madness, and they're aiming to reach the sweet 16 for the seventh year in a row. Meanwhile, Idaho comes in at 21 and 14, fresh off winning their Big Sky Conference tournament by taking 4 out of 5 games. The Vandals have won seven of their last eight, boasting a solid 5 and 1 mark on neutral courts this season. Houston holds a historical edge, having beaten Idaho 76 to 61 back in 1963, also in Oklahoma City. Fans are buzzing about Houston's tournament pedigree. They're a number two seed for the third time ever and have gone to the final four in both prior. Instances as that seed, the Cougars are eight and two lifetime against number 15 seeds and 45 and 31 overall in the Big Dance.

1:08For Idaho, this is a big underdog shot under Coach Alex Pribble in his third year there. Key players to watch include Houston Freshman Kingston Flemmings, averaging 16.4 points and 5.3 assists alongside senior. Emanuel Sharp at 15.3 points. Idaho counters with freshman Jackson Rasmussen and sophomore Colton Mitchell, both at 13.9 points per game. Houston's starting line up features Flemmings, Milose Uzan, Emanuel Sharp, Joseph Tuggler, and Chris Senag Jr. As tip off approaches at the Pay Com Center, expect a lopsided battle on paper, but March Man has always delivered surprises, keep an eye on how Lee's. Teams match up from the jump.