The basketball rivalry between Texas A&M (A&M) and the University of Houston (UH) is one of the notable matchups in Texas college basketball. These two schools are located in the state of Texas, and while their athletic programs are competitive, they don’t face each other as frequently in basketball due to their different conference alignments.
– Texas A&M: The Aggies are part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which is a major conference in NCAA Division I basketball. Texas A&M has a strong basketball tradition and has made several appearances in the NCAA Tournament over the years.
– University of Houston: The Cougars are part of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). UH has a rich history in basketball, especially in recent years, with the Cougars being one of the top programs in the country, making several deep runs in the NCAA Tournament and even reaching the Final Four.
Key Factors in the Rivalry:
1. Location: Both universities are located in Texas, with Texas A&M based in College Station and Houston in the city of Houston. This geographical proximity fuels some local rivalry and fan interest, even if the teams don’t meet regularly in official games.
2. Recent Performance: In recent years, Houston’s basketball program has been more successful, consistently ranked in the top 25 nationally, while A&M has been rebuilding its program. However, A&M’s basketball team has had strong seasons in the past, and any meeting between these two schools is often competitive.
3. Tournament Implications: When these teams do face off, it can have implications for NCAA tournament positioning, particularly if both teams are competitive within their respective conferences.
While these two schools aren’t in the same conference, any matchup between them tends to be highly anticipated by fans of both schools due to the shared state pride and competitive nature of college basketball in Texas.
