#houston

NCAA Tournament Takeaways: Big Ten Dominates, Texas Shocks Gonzaga, Houston Leans Into Home Advantage The NCAA tournament’s first round has concluded, with eight teams securing spots in the Sweet 16, including four from the Big Ten. Top-seeded Duke advanced after a decisive second-round win over No. 9 TCU, joining No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 Houston, No. 3 Michigan State, No. 3 Illinois, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 4 Arkansas, and No. 11 Texas. The Big Ten’s dominance continued as all seven remaining teams advanced to the second round, with four securing Sweet 16 berths on Saturday. The Big Ten’s performance was a stark contrast to its early struggles. While Ohio State and Wisconsin suffered opening-round losses on Thursday, the conference’s other entrants dominated. No. 1 Michigan cruised past No. 9 St. Louis, while No. 3 Michigan State defeated No. 6 Louisville. In the evening games, No. 4 Nebraska edged No. 5 Vanderbilt in a thrilling matchup, and No. 3 Illinois swept No. 11 VCU. The Big Ten now holds a perfect 4-0 record in Sweet 16 chances for Saturday’s games, with three more matchups on Sunday involving Purdue, Iowa, and UCLA. Texas, seeded 11th, became the first double-digit seed to reach the Sweet 16 after a stunning upset over No. 3 Gonzaga. The Longhorns’ victory, which included a late-game 3-pointer from previously scoreless Camden Heide, has sparked debates about whether a power conference program like Texas can truly be called a “Cinderella” story. Despite its reputation as a well-funded powerhouse, Texas’s journey from the First Four to the Sweet 16 has been marked by resilience, including wins over NC State, BYU, and Gonzaga. The team now faces the winner of Purdue and Miami in the next round. Houston, guided by coach Kelvin Sampson, has reached the Sweet 16 for the seventh consecutive year.#texas #nebraska #big_ten #houston #gonzaga

Houston’s Cold Front Brings Thunderstorms, Wind Gusts and Temperature Drop Houston is bracing for a significant weather event as a strong cold front moves through the region, bringing thunderstorms, powerful wind gusts, and a sharp drop in temperatures. The National Weather Service has issued multiple advisories, with 23 active warnings covering 23 different areas. The front is expected to push temperatures well below average, with “feels-like” temperatures dropping into the 30s and 40s by Monday morning. The cold front is set to arrive late Wednesday night, with wind conditions intensifying throughout the day. A Wind Advisory is in effect from early Wednesday morning until 6 p.m. on Monday, warning of sustained south-southwesterly winds reaching 15-25 mph, with gusts up to 40-45 mph. These winds will shift to northerly after the front passes, remaining gusty through Sunday night into Monday. Residents are urged to secure loose items outdoors as wind speeds are expected to spike during the storm. The transition from southerly to northerly winds will replace moist Gulf air with drier air from the north, leading to a rapid decline in humidity. This shift will significantly increase fire danger, particularly along and west of Interstate 45 and near the coast. A Fire Weather Watch is active from Monday morning through evening, with winds gusting 25-35 mph in some areas. Combined with relative humidity dropping to 18%, these conditions create a high risk for rapid wildfire spread. The National Weather Service has also outlined a 5-level risk system to assess severe weather threats. Currently, the situation is classified as a Marginal Risk (1 out of 5) for most areas, indicating isolated severe storms with limited organization and intensity.#national_weather_service #houston #national_oceanic_and_atmospheric_administration #interstate_45

Houston Weather: Strong Evening Storms Bring Cooler Temperatures A strong cold front is expected to move through southeast Texas on Sunday evening, bringing a line of severe storms with gusty winds. The storm activity is predicted to occur between 5 and 9 p.m., with the highest risk of severe weather in parts of Walker, Polk, and San Jacinto counties. While Houston itself faces a low 1/5 chance of severe storms, the region will experience damaging wind gusts and hail as the front passes. Following the storm system, colder air will rapidly move into the area, leading to a significant temperature drop. Highs on Monday are expected to fall near 60°F, a 25-degree decline from Sunday’s temperatures. Overnight lows will range from the 30s to the 40s, though a freeze is not anticipated. Despite the chill, the cold snap is expected to be short-lived, with temperatures returning to the 80s by Thursday and potentially reaching the 90s by the weekend. The National Weather Service has issued multiple alerts for the region. A wind advisory will remain in effect from Sunday morning through Monday evening, affecting all of southeast Texas. A red flag warning has been issued for all counties on Monday, indicating an elevated risk of wildfires due to dry conditions and strong winds. Additionally, a small craft advisory is in place for bays and Gulf waters from Sunday morning through Sunday evening, transitioning to a gale watch by Monday afternoon. The return to work and school on Monday will be marked by a notably cooler climate, with residents advised to prepare for brisk winds and colder temperatures. While the immediate weather threats focus on the storm system and wind, the long-term forecast suggests a gradual warming trend as the week progresses.#national_weather_service #houston #southeast_texas #wind_advisory #red_flag_warning

Kansas to Face Houston in Big 12 Semifinals Friday KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The No. 3 seed Kansas Jayhawks (23-9, 12-6 Big 12) will take on No. 2 seed Houston (27-5, 14-4) in the 2026 Big 12 Tournament semifinals on Friday, March 13, at 8:30 p.m. CT at T-Mobile Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN. Kansas, which has won 15 postseason league tournament titles, including 11 in the Big 12 era, will face Houston, the defending Big 12 champion. Since the conference’s formation in 1996-97, Kansas holds a 51-15 record in league tournament play. The Jayhawks are 23-4 in quarterfinals, 15-6 in semifinals, and 11-4 in finals. Kansas advanced to the semifinals with a 78-73 victory over TCU in the quarterfinals on March 12. Houston joined them after defeating BYU 73-66 in its quarterfinal matchup. Through March 12, Kansas ranked second in NCAA Division I strength of schedule, trailing only Alabama. Under head coach Bill Self, Kansas has ranked in the top five of strength of schedule 10 times, including six No. 1 rankings (2005, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2025). Kansas is currently No. 18 in the NET, fourth in the Big 12. The Jayhawks’ nine Quad 1 wins are tied for second in the league with Houston and fourth nationally. Kansas leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage defense at 38.7% (fifth nationally), three-point field goal percentage defense at 30.2% (19th nationally), and blocked shots at 5.8 per game (sixth nationally). Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Flory Bidunga leads the conference with 87 blocked shots and ranks third nationally. His 2.72 blocks per game are first in the Big 12 and third nationally. Bidunga also leads the league in field goal percentage at 65.1% (seventh nationally). At 13.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.72 blocks per game, Bidunga is the only player in NCAA Division I to average more than 13.#t_mobile_center #houston #kansas_jayhawks #bill_self #flory_bidunga

College Basketball Picks: Odds, Best Bets for UNC-Clemson, BYU-Houston and Other Tournament Matchups Men’s college basketball’s Championship Week continues on Thursday, with key conference tournament games shaping up as critical opportunities for teams to secure NCAA Tournament berths. While no automatic bids are on the line, the matchups carry significant weight for teams vying for postseason inclusion. The ACC, Big 12, Big East, and several mid-major leagues have advanced to the quarterfinals, while the SEC and Big Ten are nearing Sunday’s conclusion. The day’s action kicks off early with games like Louisville vs. Miami at 2:30 p.m. ET and UCF vs. Arizona at 3 p.m. ET, with later contests including Clemson vs. North Carolina, BYU vs. Houston, and Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M. The SportsLine Projection Model, which has shown strong performance in recent college basketball betting, offers insights into Thursday’s top games. The model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, has a 14-2 record on its top-rated over/under picks and a 28-21 record on side bets since last season. Analysts recommend following its guidance for potential returns. In the BYU vs. Houston matchup, the Cougars enter with a three-game win streak after defeating West Virginia 68-48. Freshman AJ Dybantsa, who leads Division I in scoring at 25.2 points per game, has been a key contributor, tallying 88 points and 22 rebounds in their recent run. Houston, ranked No. 5, has also won three consecutive games following a losing streak against Iowa State, Arizona, and Kansas. The SportsLine model predicts BYU will cover the +10 spread in 59% of simulations, suggesting a close game. Clemson and North Carolina, both projected to make the NCAA Tournament, face off in a high-stakes contest.#oklahoma #north_carolina #clemson #houston #byu

Cold front could bring more severe weather to Texas this week A new cold front is expected to bring another round of severe weather to Texas, with strong storms anticipated across the state on Tuesday and Wednesday. Following a weekend of intense thunderstorms, forecasters warn that Houston and surrounding areas may face additional rough weather as the cold front moves through. The National Weather Service (NWS) Houston-Galveston Office reported that a slow-moving cold front had already brought widespread rain, with some regions recording up to five inches of rainfall and large hail warnings. The front is predicted to retreat northward Sunday evening into Sunday night, returning increased humidity and southerly winds to Southeast Texas. However, as this cold front moves out, another is expected to push in, potentially bringing strong storms on Tuesday and Wednesday. While the exact timing of the new cold front remains uncertain, the NWS Houston-Galveston Office estimates it will likely arrive in Houston between Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon. Forecasters noted a 15-percent chance of severe storms, classified as a slight risk, ahead of and along the cold front. The daily forecast indicates wind gusts could reach 25 miles per hour Tuesday night, with a 50-percent chance of thunderstorms after 1 a.m. Precipitation chances rise to 70 percent on Wednesday, bringing showers and a possible thunderstorm before 1 p.m. Temperatures are expected to drop to a low of 54 degrees by Wednesday night. Patchy dense fog is also anticipated along the coast until the cold front passes on Thursday. Forecasters described the remainder of the week as "rather pleasant" with high pressure expected to dominate, leading to calmer conditions.#texas #houston #national_weather_service_houston_galveston #national_weather_service_dallas_fort_worth #national_weather_service_austin_san_antonio

Weather Impact Alert Issued for Houston Ahead of Weekend Storms A weather system moving into Southeast Texas this weekend could bring rain, thunderstorms, and the potential for isolated severe weather, prompting a Weather Impact Alert for the Houston area. The alert is in effect for Saturday evening, with storms expected to last into Sunday morning. Forecasters have outlined a detailed timeline of expected conditions, based on current data as of Thursday night. The weekend weather pattern begins with light streamer showers developing as moisture streams in from the Gulf, though these are expected to be brief and limited to sprinkles. Morning temperatures will start in the low 70s, with warm, humid, and breezy conditions throughout the day, peaking near 84 degrees. Rain chances are low, with only a 30% chance of isolated showers, though forecasters note even that may be overestimated. Most areas are expected to remain dry, with a few isolated streamer showers possible early in the morning. By late afternoon, scattered showers may develop north of Houston, but the metro area is likely to stay mostly dry. Conditions are still favorable for outdoor activities earlier in the day, with forecast models suggesting little to no significant rain during the day. However, a stalled front and upper-level disturbance could trigger thunderstorms late Saturday night, with some storms potentially reaching severe levels. These storms may bring damaging straight-line winds up to 60–70 mph, large hail, and brief heavy rainfall that could cause street ponding. There is also a low chance of an isolated tornado. A line of thunderstorms could move through around sunrise, with strong storms possible in parts of the region. The main batch of storms is expected to pass by around 9 a.m.#texas #houston #houston_livestock_show_and_rodeo #khou_11 #seattle

Lakers’ Health, Chemistry Far More Important Than Homecourt Advantage The Los Angeles Lakers are navigating one of the most challenging stretches of their season, facing nine of their next 11 games against playoff-bound teams, including six matchups against Western Conference rivals vying for playoff positioning. With 18 games remaining in the 82-game NBA season, the race for playoff seeding has intensified, turning the final stretch into a high-stakes sprint. Every win feels like a strategic advantage, while every loss risks derailing their postseason hopes. The next nine days could determine whether the Lakers secure homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, but the question remains: Is homecourt advantage truly the priority? While players and coaches publicly acknowledge the value of homecourt, the reality of the NBA playoffs—particularly in the Western Conference—reveals that matchups and team health often outweigh geographic advantages. The Lakers currently sit tied for fifth in the West, with Minnesota in third, Houston in fourth, and Denver in fifth. Over the next nine days, they will face all these teams, including a critical series against Minnesota, Denver, and a back-to-back road trip to Houston. Winning their next five games could secure a third-place finish and homecourt advantage, but the focus must extend beyond seeding. Last season’s playoff run offers a cautionary tale. Despite finishing third in the West and holding a strong home record, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves’ dominance at Crypto.com Arena, where the Lakers had a 31-10 home record, underscored how matchups can override home-court benefits.#minnesota #los_angeles_lakers #minnesota_timberwolves #denver #houston