Courtney Taylor and the Cougars hope to cross another goal off the list by achieving an undefeated record in Conference USA on Saturday against the Tulane Green Wave. The Cougars are the likely favorites after besting Tulane earlier in the season. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar
The Cougars are approaching the finish line of what could be the second perfect season in Conference USA history, as they prepare to close the regular season against Tulane.
“Being that type of champion, to me, takes you to a completely different level of being a champion,” said head coach Todd Buchanan. “There’s very few things in life, certainly in athletics, that you can do to perfection and 16-0 would be perfect. It would mean everything to me.”
With a perfect season within reach, the Cougars are treating Tulane as a threat, despite an 85-70 win in February.
“Tulane is as talented and well-coached as anyone in our conference,” Buchanan said. “I know their kids are going to come in hungry and try to prove a point and knock us off our path.
“We’ll have our hands full with it being the last home game, 16-0 and Senior Day. Emotions and a lot of things will be there for us to overcome.”
In its last game, UH fought back from a 19-point deficit at halftime to rally in the second half and beat Rice 74-70.
Buchanan said the Cougars need a sharper start.
“We can’t come out stiff against Tulane,” he said. “ We shouldn’t get another chance like that to come back. We’ve shown we can come back from games like that — but we have to take the second half of that game and build on that.”
But regardless of the nerves going into the game, Buchanan is confident.
“In my heart I believe when the dust settles around 4 or 4:30 p.m., we’ll be 16-0 and conference champs,” Buchanan said.
The game tips off at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion.
