1981–82 Houston Cougars men's basketball team

The 1981–82 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represented the University of Houston in NCAA Division I competition in the 1981–82 season. This was the first of Houston's famous Phi Slama Jama teams, led by Rob Williams, Michael Young, Larry Micheaux, and future Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler. Another future Hall of Famer, Akeem Olajuwon, played sparingly off the bench that season.

Houston, coached by Guy Lewis, played its home games in the Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston, Texas, and was then a member of the Southwest Conference.

Schedule and results
!colspan=9 style=| Regular season

!colspan=9 style=| SWC Tournament

!colspan=9 style=| NCAA Tournament

NCAA tournament

 * Midwest
 * Houston 94, Alcorn State 84
 * Houston 78, Tulsa 74
 * Houston 79, Missouri 78
 * Houston 99, Boston College 92
 * Final Four
 * North Carolina 68, Houston 63

Awards and honors

 * Rob Williams, 1st Team All-Southwest Conference
 * Rob Williams, Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player
 * Rob Williams, All-SWC Tournament team
 * Clyde Drexler, 2nd Team All-Southwest Conference
 * Larry Micheaux, All Midwest Regional