Hodge eyes Houston as model of success in Big 12, nationally…
As the Big 12 Conference undergoes a new era of expansion and realignment, Missouri assistant coach Charlton “C.Y.” Hodge sees a blueprint for success — and it’s coming straight out of Houston.
In recent comments ahead of the 2025 offseason, Hodge pointed to the University of Houston’s rapid ascent in the Big 12 and its growing national prominence as a model worth studying — and replicating.
“The way Houston’s built its program, the way they’ve competed in the Big 12 right out of the gate — that’s what excellence looks like,” Hodge said. “They’ve done it with toughness, defense, and culture. That travels. That wins.”
Houston’s basketball program, under head coach Kelvin Sampson, has consistently been one of the top teams in the country in recent years. Known for its gritty style and relentless rebounding, the Cougars have made deep NCAA tournament runs, including multiple Sweet 16 and Final Four appearances. Their transition into the Big 12 in 2023 didn’t slow them down — if anything, it elevated their profile.
Hodge, who has developed a reputation as a top recruiter and player developer, emphasized that success at the national level doesn’t require blueblood status. It requires vision, cohesion, and belief.
“What Coach Sampson has done at Houston is proof you don’t need 100 years of tradition or a bunch of five-stars to be great,” Hodge added. “You need guys who buy in, a staff that works, and a system that wins.”
His comments come as Missouri, along with other programs in and around the Big 12 footprint, look to elevate their own standing amid a shifting college basketball landscape. With NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) and the transfer portal changing roster-building strategies, the urgency to find stable, sustainable models of success has intensified.
“Programs that adapt, that know who they are and stay disciplined — those are the ones winning right now,” Hodge noted. “Houston figured that out. They play with a chip. They’ve got identity. That’s what we want to emulate.”
Houston’s style of play — defense-first, unselfish, and physical — has not only made them a force in the Big 12 but also a feared tournament team each March. Hodge believes that mindset is something teams across the league should be studying.
“They set a tone,” Hodge said. “If you don’t match their effort, you lose. Simple as that.”
As Missouri continues its climb in the SEC, Hodge’s admiration for Houston suggests that the Cougars’ impact is being felt well beyond their conference. In the ever-evolving world of college hoops, where programs are always looking for the next edge, the Cougars may have already cracked the code.
“Houston’s a standard now — not just in the Big 12, but nationally,” Hodge concluded. “And they did it their way. That’s what makes it powerful.”
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