Sure, the win at Kansas is really the only marquee victory Houston has so far this season, but a 13-game winning streak with 11 double-digit wins over that stretch earns Kelvin Sampson's team a place in the top tier of the sport.

After a slow start to Big 12 play, dropping 4 of 6 games, the Cougars have won three straight games and are in the NCAA Tournament picture.

After beating Iowa State 86-75 in overtime on national television, the Arizona Wildcats (14-6, 8-1) are officially in the conversation as one of the country's b