On Thursday, fans of the University of Houston men’s basketball team will get their first taste of March Madness, as the top-seeded Cougars will make their debut in the 2025 tournament with a matchup against 16-seeded SIU Edwardsville.
Ranking among the top teams for most of the season, many basketball fans expect the Cougars to make a deep run into this year’s tournament, with some experts going as far as to predict them to win their first men’s basketball title in program history.
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The Coogs are deserving of such high expectations, but they’ve got to make it through the opening weekend first.
Even though 1-seeds typically don’t have too much trouble with 16-seeds (they have a 154-2 all-time record), the 2018 Virginia Cavaliers and the 2023 Purdue Boilermakers will be the first to tell you those matchups are far from guaranteed. And even if we assume that Houston takes care of SIU Edwardsville, the road only gets tougher from there, as they’ll be awaiting the winner of 8-seed Gonzaga and 9-seed Georgia—two formidable teams in their own right.
READ MORE: 5 Texas teams make 2025 March Madness tournament
With such a stressful weekend ahead, the Houston faithful traveling to Wichita, Kansas, to watch their Cougars in the first round (and hopefully, second round) this weekend will need something to do to pass the time and get their minds off the stressful games ahead.
With that said, here are some spots to check out in Wichita this weekend:
Where to eat
Cafe Bel Ami
- Address: 229 E. William Street
- Hours: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Monday-Friday), 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (Saturday), Closed (Sunday)
Holding the self-proclaimed title of “Wichita’s best in fine dining,” Cafe Bel Ami offers French and Mediterranean food for an upscale and elegant experience after the game. You’ll feel so fancy that you might forget you were wearing red face paint just hours before!
Redrock Canyon Grill
- Address: 1844 N. Rock Road
- Hours: 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Monday-Friday), 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Saturday), 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Sunday)
With locations in Kansas and Oklahoma, this restaurant is especially popular with Wichita locals. This is a great spot for drinks, bar food, and barbecue, and they take special pride in their cocktails and grilled meats!
Doo-Dah Diner
- Address: 206 E. Kellogg Street
- Hours: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Tuesday-Friday), 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Saturday/Sunday), Closed (Monday)
This diner is the perfect spot for your pregame carbs, so you have the energy to cheer on the Coogs! With delicious and unique breakfast options, you’ll surely be satisfied heading into the arena on Thursday.
Wichita Brewing Company and Pizzaria
- Address: 535 N. Woodlawn Street (East Wichita), 901 W. Douglass (Delano), 8815 W. 13th Street (West Wichita)
- Hours: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Monday-Thursday), 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. (Friday/Saturday), 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Sunday)
Who doesn’t love local beer and pizza? With great bar foods, pastas, and of course, pizzas, this is the perfect spot for a local beer and a pie while you’re in town.
Sights to see
Sedgwick County Zoo
- Address: 5555 W Zoo Boulevard
- Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Tickets: Adults ($24.99 online, $29.99 at gate), Children/Seniors ($19.99 online, $24.99 at gate), Children 0-2 get in FREE
Wichita Art Museum
- Address: 1400 W Museum Boulevard
- Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday), 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Friday), Closed (Monday/Tuesday)
Keeper of the Plains Statue
- Address: 339 Veterans Parkway
- Hours: 5 a.m. - Midnight
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
- Address: 515 S. Wichita Street
- Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Monday-Friday), Closed on weekends
