SPORTS
THE YEAR IN SPORTS: A 2020-2021 sports recap
By Andy Yanez
W
hat a year it was for the University as it navigated through the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic and pushed through it, and the same was the case for Houston athletics. A student-led demonstration from every sports program at UH on racial injustices, police brutality and systemic issues in September was followed by the football season that took weeks to get started and eventually basketball and the other sports followed. It was an eventful year for UH athletics amid the unique environment. Here is a look back at the 2020-21 season:
tested positive at some point from the summer to December. In early January, UH saw one of its standout guards, Caleb Mills, step away from the program and later announce he was transferring to Florida State. After the February freeze threw another wrinkle in the Cougars’ season, UH managed to to find its rhythm and wait Men’s basketball embark on a marvelous until The UH men’s basketball team had its journey. October best season since 1984, but it wasn’t without UH quarterback Clayton Tune | Photo A near half-court buzzer-beater to start. turbulence as just weeks into starting the by Trevor Nolley/The Cougar from freshman guard Tramon Mark After strong program went on a 15-day pause with in the final game of the regular season wins against COVID-19 issues that saw various players set the tone. Tulane and Navy, and a hard-fought loss to contract the virus. The run included winning the American AP-ranked BYU in the first three weeks, the Head coach Kelvin Sampson later revealed Athletic Conference Tournament, making an Cougars ran into a house of horrors against that each one of his epic comeback against Rutgers, and beating UCF on Halloween, and then got pummeled players and most Syracuse and Oregon State to get to the by No. 6 Cincinnati on ABC. of the team’s Final Four. A dominant win against USF led to almost a coaches While the team ultimately lost month-long pause for the team, which defined had to Baylor, who went on to win the challenge it was to play in a COVID-19 the national championship, the world. Cougars’ season culminated A heartbreaking loss to Memphis and a with a celebration at Fertitta lackluster performance against Hawaii in the Center where Mayor Sylvester New Mexico Bowl wrapped up the difficult Turner proclaimed April, season. “University of Houston Women’s basketball basketball month.” Similar to the men’s team, the UH women’s Football basketball team had one of its best seasons in The UH football team years. A strong win against Oklahoma on the struggled to just get on the field road set the tone for the year. in 2020. The campaign started The team dealt with coronavirus issues with five different games getting of its own before playing against other AAC Junior guard Quentin Grimes canceled or postponed throughout teams. After a mid-season slump, UH was | Photo by Andy Yanez/The September, which made the Cougars have able to recover and went undefeated during Cougar 10
HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
