Welcome to Episode #65 of the No Conference for Old Men Podcast.

2 convincing wins over FSU & Jackson St, but are the Houston Cougars a Final 4 / National Championship contender this season?  Our Coogs are now 9-1 and ranked #7 in the AP & #10 in the KenPom rankings.  But lots of Twitter/X postings this week around how every National Champion since 2004 has been in the Top 12 of the Week 6 AP Poll.  Does this Cougar Team fit the bill as bona fide contenders compared with the last 2 seasons?

Please have a listen as the 3 Old Men break down the games from the past week, as well as provide some thoughts on next week's UNO game.  We then go deep with our perspectives on whether this year's iteration of the Cougars are national title contenders (and if not, can they can bridge the gap to get there)?

- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering

- Intro / Exit music: Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io

- Please follow us on gocoogs.com/old-men/

Is this Houston Cougars Team a Final 4 / National Champ Contender?

Welcome to Episode #64 of the No Conference for Old Men Podcast.

Like last season, it was a mixed bag for our Houston Cougars at the Players Era Festival.  With lots of "wisdom & learnings", as Coach Sampson described, for this year's Cougars team.  The team won 2 games over Syracuse & Notre Dame, but suffered a close loss in between to a tough Tennessee team looking for payback for last season's Elite 8 loss.  Our Cougars are now 7-1  for the season and now ranked #8 in both the AP & KenPom rankings.  But lots for the team to work on in this 10-day break before facing FSU at the Toyota Center.

Please have a listen as the 3 Old Men break the games down from Vegas, as well as provide some thoughts on what to expect from a team adjustment perspective heading into this final stretch of non-conference games.  We also provide our perspectives on the 2 elite HS kids to sign with the Cougars during the early signing period.  Needless to say, another elite class w/ Diane & Alozie coming on board next season.

- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering

- Intro / Exit music: Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io

- Please follow us on gocoogs.com/old-men/

"Wisdom & Learnings" from Vegas, Diane & Alozie Sign, + FSU Up Next

Welcome to Episode #63 of the No Conference for Old Men Podcast.

Our Houston Cougars win a big one over Auburn in Birmingham to go 4-0 for the season, in a game where all 3 freshmen balled out on the big stage!  But ultimately it was the Kingston Flemings Showcase, where he's staked an early claim as the alpha on this season's Cougars team.  "Feast Week" games await after playing Rider on Thu, as the team prepares to travel to Las Vegas to take on Syracuse, Tennessee, & a third team TBD.

Please have a listen as the 3 Old Men weigh in and discuss what to look out for with this Houston Cougar team early in the season, as well as provide some quick-hit game summaries and previews.

- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering

- Intro / Exit music: Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io

- Please follow us on gocoogs.com/old-men/

Auburn Win, Is Kingston "Him"?, + Feast Week Games

Welcome to Episode #62 of the No Conference for Old Men Podcast.

Our Houston Cougars start the '25-'26 season 2-0 after beating Lehigh 75-57 to open the season, and then pull away from a pesky Towson late 65-48.  An Oakland team that stayed within 10 with Purdue is up next, and then the 1st big challenge of the season awaits in Auburn.

Please have a listen as the 3 Old Men weigh in and discuss what to look out for with this Houston Cougar team early in the season, as well as provide some quick-hit game summaries and previews.

- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering

- Intro / Exit music: Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io

- Please follow us on gocoogs.com/old-men/

The Cougars Go 2-0 to Open the Season & Return to #1 in the AP Poll

Welcome to Episode #61 of the No Conference for Old Men Podcast.

The 3 Old Men are back with our preseason previews of the Big 12 & what we call our "National Top 8+1 List" of national championship contenders for the season.  Have a listen as we talk through the teams fans need to be aware of as our Houston Cougars Men's Basketball team marches through their schedule during the '25-'26 season.   We highlight who we believe are the elite teams in the Big 12, as well as on the national scene, during this episode.

- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering

- Intro / Exit music:  Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io

- Please follow us on https://gocoogs.com/old-men/

'25-'26 Big 12 & National Top 8+1 Mens Basketball Preview

Welcome to a bonus installment in our "Coaches Series" (episode #60) on the No Conference for Old Men Podcast - our very 1st WBB-focused episode!

All 3 Old Men had the privilege to sit down and chat with new WBB Head Coach Matthew Mitchell.  Coach Mitchell was high energy, articulate, & super generous with his time for almost a full hour to describe what he envisions for our WBB program.  We dive into coach's background, his journey into college coaching at Tennessee under the legendary Pat Summitt, & how he transformed Kentucky WBB into a juggernaut while he was head coach.  We bring a depth and insight into Coach's background / perspective that you won't find anywhere else!

- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering

- Intro / Exit music:  Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io

- Please follow us on https://gocoogs.com/old-men/

Bonus "Coaches Series" Ep - Matthew Mitchell (UH WBB Head Coach) Interview

Welcome to our Season 3 kick-off & Episode #59 of the No Conference for Old Men Podcast.

The 3 Old Men bring back fellow GoCoogs.com contributor, Jayme Hollingsworth, to preview the Houston Cougars Men's Basketball team heading into the '25-'26 season.  Our Cougars are "running it back part 2", with 3 returning starters to go along with their 3 5-star freshmen incoming class.  The result being, what the three old men + Jayme expect be, a historic run for the program's 1st National Championship in Indy!

Please have a listen as we provide detailed breakdowns of the team in advance of the season opener just around the corner.  The team is young, but LOADED like we've never seen before during this Sampson-era.  So fans should be prepared for another fun & exciting journey towards March Madness!

- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering

- Intro / Exit music:  Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io

- Please follow us on https://gocoogs.com/old-men/

Houston Cougars '25-'26 MBB Season Preview

Welcome to the final installment in our offseason "Coaches Series" (episode #58) on the No Conference for Old Men Podcast.

2 of the 3 Old Men had the privilege to sit down and chat with top Assistant Coach Kellen Sampson (UH MBB Head Coach-in-Waiting).  Coach Sampson was extremely generous with his time, sitting down with us for almost a full hour in covering topics far & wide as we dive into coach's background, his journey as a player at OU playing for his dad & then transitioning into coaching as a Graduate Assistant at both IU & OU.  Then getting his first break as a fulltime Assistant Coach at Stephen F Austin, moving on to App St, & then finally rejoining his dad's staff at UH where they've transformed the program side-by-side.  We bring a depth and insight into Coach's background / perspective that you won't find anywhere else!

- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering

- Intro / Exit music:  Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io

- Please follow us on https://gocoogs.com/old-men/

"Coaches Series" - Kellen Sampson (Head Coach-in-Waiting) Interview

Welcome to the 4th in our offseason "Coaches Series" (episode #57) on the No Conference for Old Men Podcast.

2 of the 3 Old Men had the privilege to sit down and chat with Coach Hollis Price (UH MBB Assistant Coach / Special Assistant to the Head Coach).  We cover things far & wide as we dive into coach's background, his journey as a player at OU & then playing professionally across multiple European leagues, how he transitioned into coaching w/ the NBA Developmental League, and then finally joining UH on Coach Sampson's staff.  We bring a depth and insight into Coach's background / perspective that you won't find anywhere else!

- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering

- Intro / Exit music:  Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io

- Please follow us on https://gocoogs.com/old-men/

"Coaches Series" - Hollis Price (UH Asst Coach / Special Asst to the Head Coach) Interview

Welcome to the 3rd in our offseason "Coaches Series" (episode #56) on the No Conference for Old Men Podcast.

The 3 Old Men had the privilege to sit down and chat with Coach Mike Ekanem (UH MBB Assistant Coach).  We cover things far & wide as we dive into coach's background, his journey as a player at Texas Lutheran & then playing professionally in Europe, how he transitioned into coaching w/ the San Antonio Spurs organization, and then finally joining UH on Coach Sampson's staff.  We bring a depth and insight into Coach's background / perspective that you won't find anywhere else!

- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering

- Intro / Exit music:  Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io

- Please follow us on https://gocoogs.com/old-men/

"Coaches Series" - Mike Ekanem (UH Assistant Coach) Interview

Just 3 old guys talking college hoops.  No Conference for Old Men focuses on the Houston Cougars 1st, but with a bit of  Big 12 Conference coverage mixed in as well during the course of the season.  This podcast pays homage to the University of Houston hoops program as they enter the #1 college basketball conference in the Big 12.  We're targeting the hardcore college basketball fan as we try to provide a more in-depth view from a coaching strategy / style of play perspective, a player assessment angle, & an advanced analytics breakdown of teams & games each week.

We're also now a proud member of the GoCoogs.com Network!

- No Conference for Old Men is available for free on Spotify / Apple Podcast via our direct or Dave Campbell's Republic of Football feed, SoundCloud, YouTube,  or on our website at  https://gocoogs.com/old-men/

Intro & Exit music:  Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io.

@NoConfForOldMen

Shows