Houston Women’s Basketball 2023-24 Basketball Schedule Analysis
The 2023-24 Houston Cougars women’s basketball schedule is complete and here is an analysis of the entire schedule as basketball season nears.
Season Opener
The Houston Cougars will top off the season at home when they host Air Force on Nov. 10. They’re one of the few teams in the league that won’t play early in the first week of action.
No Tournament?
Yep, no tournament. The Cougars are not playing an official non-conference tournament or multi-team event this season. But they are getting a bushel of home games in their place, as they only leave the state of Texas once during non-conference.
Best Non-Con Game
Washington State in Pullman, Wash., on Dec. 17 represents the Cougars’ one chance to test themselves against a high-major team before the start of Big 12 play. The Cougars (from Washington) won 23 games last season and are coached by a University of Texas legend, Kamie Ethridge, who led their run to the 1986 national championship.
Mid-Major Danger Game
Get yourself to the Fertitta Center on Nov. 29 for what should be one of the Cougars’ biggest tests of non-conference, regardless of whether the school is a high-major or not. Middle Tennessee won Conference USA’s regular-season title last season and won 28 games. The Blue Raiders were 10-3 away from home, so being away from Murfreesboro doesn’t faze them in the slightest.
Big 12 Opener
The Houston women will get to open their first Big 12 slate at home on Dec. 30 when they host Texas Tech, which went to the Women’s Postseason NIT last season.
Big 12 Road Opener
The Cougars head to Kansas State on Jan. 3. The Wildcats could be one of the best teams in the league with the 1-2 punch of Ayoka Lee and Gabby Gregory.
Brutal Big 12 Stretch
Houston played Baylor, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma State in a 13-day stretch from Feb. 4-17. All four have reasons to believe they’re a Big 12 contender.
What Should Happen?
Houston went 15-16 last season, but the Cougars went 10-5 in American Athletic Conference play. The Cougars underwent a lot of turnover, thanks to the transfer portal, but they put together a solid recruiting class and should have a competitive group as they get into conference play. The big question, as it is for all four new members of the league, is how they will handle the week-to-week grind that is the Big 12, where at least a half-dozen teams have a legitimate case to be considered the best team in the conference.
2023-24 Houston Women’s Basketball Schedule
Nov. 10 vs. Air Force, 7 p.m.
Nov. 14 vs. Sam Houston, 7 p.m.
Nov. 19 vs. Grambling State, 2 p.m.
Nov. 26 vs. New Orleans, 2 p.m.
Nov. 29 vs. Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m.
Dec. 3 vs. Florida A&M, 2 p.m.
Dec. 8 at Texas A&M-Commerce, 7 p.m.
Dec. 12 vs. Texas Southern, noon
Dec. 14 at UTSA, 6 p.m.
Dec. 17 at Washington State, 4 p.m.
Dec. 20 vs. Rice, 1 p.m.
Dec. 30 vs. Texas Tech*, 1 p.m.
Jan. 3 at Kansas State*, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 6 at Baylor*, 2 p.m.
Jan. 10 vs. BYU*, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 vs. TCU*, 2 p.m.
Jan. 17 at West Virginia*, 6 p.m.
Jan. 20 vs. Oklahoma *, 6 p.m.
Jan. 24 at Texas Tech*, 6 p.m.
Jan. 27 at UCF*, TBA
Jan. 30 vs. Cincinnati*, 7 p.m.
Feb. 4 vs. Baylor*, 2 p.m.
Feb. 8 at Kansas*, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 14 vs. Texas*, 7 p.m.
Feb. 17 at Oklahoma State*, 4 p.m.
Feb. 21 vs. Iowa State*, 7 p.m.
Feb. 24 at TCU*, 6 p.m.
Feb. 28 at BYU*, 8 p.m.
March 2 vs. UCF*, 7 p.m.
Bold denotes home games; *-Big 12 games; Game times local to Houston (central); Home games played at Fertitta Center, Houston, Texas. Big 12 Tournament, March 7-12, Kansas City, Mo.
