Houston vs Idaho: NCAA Tournament Showdown

0:00On March 18th, the second-seated Houston Cougars faced the 15th-seated Idaho Vandals in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Houston enters with a 28- and 6-record after coming so close to the national title last year. Idaho sits at 21-14, marking their first tournament appearance since 1990. The game tips off Thursday, March 19th, at 10-10pm, Eastern Time from the Pay Com Center in Oklahoma City on True TV. Houston has been a powerhouse under coach Kelvin Samson, winning 21 or more games for 11 straight seasons. Their defense ranks second nationally, holding opponents to under 63 points per game. A win here would mark their 5th straight 30-win season before facing Texas A&M or St. Marys. Idaho earned this spot as a surprise, Big Sky Champion after a 1-21 start back in 2021. They've steadily improved each year, finally posting a winning record this season. Fans are buzzing about this underdog story from a program not used to march spotlight.

1:03The Vandals rely on hot three-point shooting, averaging 10 makes per game, one of the best marks around. But Houston's stifling defense forces tough half-court sets where Idaho struggles to create easy looks. Experts see a lopsided match-up, predicting a comfortable Cougars win by around 25 points. If Houston advances as expected, it sets up another deep run for the favorites. Keep an eye on how the Vandals long-range game tests that elite defense early.