HOUSTON — It's just a number. But this particular number — No. 1 — casts a formidable shadow over the other men's basketball teams in the American Athletic Conference.
The USF Bulls (7-9, 0-3) will step into a Texas-sized challenge on Wednesday night when they face the top-ranked Houston Cougars (16-1, 4-0) at the Fertitta Center.
Coach Kelvin Sampson's Cougars have lost only against Alabama (71-65), while registering a 69-61 road victory at then-No. 2 Virginia on Dec. 17. The Cougars have roared to a solid start in the AAC, defeating Tulsa (89-50), UCF (71-65), SMU (87-53) and Cincinnati (72-59).