Houston has quickly established itself as the kings of the Big 12 with back-to-back outright regular season titles in its two seasons since joining the conference from the AAC. But there is still one bit of league supremacy the Cougars have yet to claim. A year ago, they lost to Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament Championship Game.

Houston will have the luxury of resting an extra two days with the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship basketball tournament starting Tuesday. The Big 12 regular-season champion Cougars (27-4) won’t be playing until Thursday’s quarterfinal round at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center,