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The brilliant defensive play that defines UH's Joseph Tugler

SALT LAKE CITY — Greetings from 4,300 feet, where I can see the snow-capped Wasatch Mountains from my hotel room on the University of Utah campus.

It's time for another edition of the Cougar Confidential, our weekly newsletter featuring all things University of Houston athletics.

Let's talk Joseph Tugler. We've seen the Cougars' Frontcourt Freak do just about everything.

Just when you thought you'd seen everything, Tugler made the type of defensive play that offers a reminder why he was a finalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Few, if any, can pull off the defensive gem Tugler delivered with the game tied at 52-all and about 11 minutes left in Saturday's 77-66 win against No. 16 BYU.

Tugler, UH's 6-foot-8 junior forward, was guarding BYU's Abdullah Ahmed along the 3-point line. Ahmed flipped the ball to AJ Dybantsa and set a screen as he cut to the basket. Dybantsa dribbled to his right, just in front of the halfcourt logo, as Tugler remained in pursuit. As Dybantsa made a pass to Ahmed — all alone near the basket when point guard Kingston Flemings didn't cover him off the pick-and-roll — Tugler quickly noticed the breakdown. Tugler took about four wide strides and with his massive 7-foot-4 wingspan used his right arm to block Ahmed's dunk attempt.

"He thought he had a free dunk," Tugler said. "Caught him by surprise. He didn't expect it."

It was a play that coaches and teammates were still talking about when the Cougars arrived at their Salt Lake City hotel on Sunday afternoon.

"JoJo is one of one," Flemings said.

Added assistant coach K.C. Beard: "If there's another player that can do that in college basketball, I don't know who it is. He might be the only player that can do it."

Joseph Duarte, University of Houston beat reporter

joseph.duarte@houstonchronicle.com

Looking Ahead

Houston Cougars forward Joseph Tugler (25) fights with Kansas State Wildcats forward Will McNair Jr. (13) for a rebound during the first half of a NCAA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, at the Fertitta Center at the University of Houston in Houston.

Photo by: Jon Shapley, Staff Photographer

No. 3 Houston hosts Kansas State at 3 p.m. Saturday (Peacock) at Fertitta Center. Since joining the Big 12, the Cougars have won both meetings against the Wildcats by an average of 26 points.

UH baseball opens the season Friday through Monday at the Puerto Rico Challenge. The Cougars play Wake Forest, Boston College, Manhattan and Washington during the four-day tournament, to be held in Caguas and Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Big 12 Stock Report

Image of two arrows, one points up, the other points down. Text reads: Who's up, who's down.

Photo by: Susan Barber

Trending Up

Flory Bidunga: In Kansas' 82-78 win over top-ranked Arizona, the 6-foot-10 sophomore forward had 23 points and a key block of Brayden Burries with 17 seconds left to preserve a three-point lead. He should be the favorite for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

UH softball: The Cougars are off to a 4-0 start under first-year coach Chrissy Schoonmaker after beating Houston Christian and Fairfield by a combined 27-4 at the Houston Tournament. UH recorded the program's 800th win.

Trending Down

BYU: Before Tuesday's win at Baylor, the Cougars had lost four in a row and five of the past six games.

Oklahoma State: The Big 12 issued the school a $50,000 fine for "inappropriate chants" that referenced the Mormon religion during a Feb. 4 game against BYU in Stillwater. In a statement, the Big 12 said it "will not tolerate any behavior that targets or demeans others."

Quote of the Day

“

It feels like March Madness every night of the week that we're playing.

– Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark on a Peacock broadcast about the league's six teams — three in the top five — in the Associated Press Top 25

”

The List

Former Cougars to win a Super Bowl ring:

Curley Johnson, Jets: Super Bowl III (1968 season)
Warren McVea, Chiefs: IV (1969)
Guy Brown, Cowboys: XII (1977)
Robert Newhouse, Cowboys: XII (1977)
Johnnie Jackson, 49ers: XXIV (1989)
Allen Aldridge, Broncos: XXXII (1997)
Glenn Cadrez, Broncos: XXXII (1997), XXXIII (1998)
Antowain Smith, Patriots: XXXVI (2001), XXXVIII (2003)
Wilbert Brown, Patriots: XXXVIII (2003)
Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots: XLIX (2014), LI (2016)
Chad O'Shea, Patriots: XLIX (2014), LI (2016), LIII (2018)
Wade Phillips, Broncos: 50 (2015)
Elandon Roberts, Patriots: LI (2016), LIII (2018)
Greg Ward Jr., Eagles: LII (2017)
Josh Jones, Seahawks: LX (2025)

🏀 Cougar Mailbag

Send me your questions: Follow me on X, formerly Twitter, hit reply to this email or share your questions here to be a part of this week's mailbag. Ask me anything!

Q: When was the last time the Cougars lost to a team that didn't make the NCAA Tournament or finished below .500 for the year? — Randy S.

JD: After Tuesday's win at Utah, UH had won 40 consecutive games against unranked opponents, a span that dates to the 2024 Players Era Festival against San Diego State. You have to go back to 2023 when the Cougars last lost a regular-season game to a team that didn't make the NCAA Tournament — Temple's 56-55 upset over the top-ranked Cougars at Fertitta Center. Since the 2020-21 season, UH has lost only four games to teams that either finished below .500 or did not make the postseason.

Q: Can you please tell me how to contribute directly to the University of Houston's NIL fund? I am already contributing to the general fund but would like to make an additional contribution to the NIL fund. — Rakesh S.

JD: UH sent over this link for fans interested in contributing to NIL.

Q: Did the team fly back to Houston after the BYU game or stay in Utah for the Tuesday game?

JD: It was a five-day trip to Utah as the Cougars opted to remain in the state after the BYU game. Due to the distance and quick turnaround with Saturday-Tuesday games, coach Kelvin Sampson made the decision to remain in Utah rather than fly home and make a second trip. Last season, UH played at Arizona, returned home, and then flew back a few days later for a game against Arizona State.

Houston fans cheer during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Tech at Fertitta Center in Houston, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Cougar Trivia

When was the last time UH men's basketball played three straight ranked opponents in the regular season?

A. 1960
B. 1968
C. 1983
D. 1984

Emanuel Sharp became the Cougars' all-time leader in 3-pointers as UH rolled past Utah, adding to his decorated career that started on an inauspicious note.

Photo by: Bryan Byerly, ISI Photos Via Getty Images

Historic night

Emanuel Sharp became the Cougars' all-time leader in 3-pointers as UH rolled past Utah, adding to his decorated career that started on an inauspicious note.

Houston forward Kalifa Sakho (14) and Lehigh forward Hank Alvey (35) fight for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Fertitta Center in Houston, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Getting up to speed

Kalifa Sakho, a transfer from Sam Houston, has toughened up since arriving at UH and emerged as an important reserve for the third-ranked Cougars.

Houston center Chris Cenac Jr. (5) and guard Emanuel Sharp (21) react as the Cougars took a late lead against Texas Tech in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at Fertitta Center in Houston, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Movin' on up

The Cougars made the biggest jump in the AP poll after a week in which the teams ranked third through sixth all lost.

Houston guard Kingston Flemings brings the ball up the court against BYU during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Photo by: Rob Gray, Associated Press

Party crasher

Kingston Flemings opens up on joining the BYU huddle late in UH's win at Provo.

Houston guard Kingston Flemings (4) drives to the basket as BYU forward Khadim Mboup (7) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Photo by: Rob Gray, Associated Press

Youth takeover

In a game featuring three of the nation's top freshmen, UH's Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac helped the Cougars take a gritty road win over BYU.

Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson yells out instructions to his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Tech at Fertitta Center in Houston, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Correcting the record

Kelvin Sampson says he used a poor word choice when he said UH was a poor school when it came to finances and funding basketball recruiting.

Makhi Hughes rushed for 2,779 yards in two seasons at Tulane.

Photo by: Greg Fiume, Getty Images

Class of 2026 appraisal

Willie Fritz hit on players in last year's transfer portal and is bullish on this year's 17-player group, acknowleding "We can't make mistakes."

Trivia Answer

A. The Cougars played No. 1 Cincinnati, No. 2 Bradley and No. 16 Bradley in three straight games late in the 1959-60 season. With No. 5 Iowa State, No. 1 Arizona and No. 9 Kansas coming up, it would mark just the fourth time in program history that the Cougars have played three ranked opponents in a row.