No. 19 Southern Methodist has joined Cincinnati at the top of the American Athletic Conference thanks to its stingy defense. Houston is making a late-season run at an at-large NCAA Tournament berth thanks to an explosive offense.
When SMU and Houston meet in a late-afternoon tip Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston, the Cougars will have a golden opportunity to register the signature win their light resume desperately needs. But can playing at home be worth 21 points?
The Mustangs (23-4, 13-1) thumped Houston 85-64 in the team's first matchup on Jan. 21 in Dallas. Since then, the Cougars (18-7, 9-4) have won five in a row, although none of those wins are likely to resonate with the selection committee.