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florida basketball:Houston’s finish ‘incomprehensible’ to Kelvin SampsonAlmost a full hour after Houston coach Kelvin Sampson left the court amidst showers of Florida-hued orange and blue confetti, he stood in front of a black backdrop in a corridor at the Alamodome.
Sampson, 69, stood before a phalanx of TV lights that bathed him at his lowest professional ebb. The lights reflected off his close-cropped hair, more salt than pepper, as midnight drew near.
With his arms crossed over his chest and an NCAA National Final pin beside the UH logo on his gray polo shirt, Sampson encapsulated the Houston disappointment of letting a 12-point second-half lead slip away and concluding the national championship game with four straight turnovers in a 65-63 defeat against Florida.
“There’s a lot of teams that aren’t constructed to win six in a row,” Sampson said, referencing the amount required to capture the NCAA tournament. “This team was, this team was constructed, this team possessed the character and the resilience and the leadership. This team was constructed to win this tournament, and that’s why it’s so frustrating. We arrived and had an opportunity and just didn’t do it.”
The scene played out as the reverse of Houston’s dramatic comeback victory over Duke in the national semifinal. On Monday,florida basketbal the Cougars wilted at the end of the minute, somehow not allowing a ball to touch the rim on the last three possessions.
Almost 48 hours after pouring in the game’s final nine points in 33 seconds to shock the Blue Devils on Saturday, Houston was able to blow a game it dominated all day and was behind for only 63 seconds.
Florida’s initial lead of the second half came with 46 seconds to play. Sampson described it as “incomprehensible” that the Cougars were not able to get a shot up on the last two possessions, as Houston finished the game with consecutive turnovers by star guard Emanuel Sharp.
Florida pulled off the third-largest comeback in NCAA championship game history, and that left the Houston locker room a mirror image of the devastation it had inflicted two nights before.
On Monday evening, as journalists walked into that locker room, Cougars guard Milos Uzan led Sharp away from the media. Sharp had a towel over his head as he was led away, and he could be heard crying as Uzan tried to comfort him.
“That’s me, bro,” Sharp was heard muttering. He then yelled out an obscenity, emphasizing the consonants.
An intermittently flushing toilet occasionally broke the stilted interviews in the quiet locker room. Houston’s Joseph Tugler encapsulated the destruction concisely: “That broke everybody’s heart.”
Sharp’s agony came from the back-to-back possessions to seal the game, his only two turnovers, which Sampson called “a couple tough possessions decisionwise.”
In the final minute, Houston was down for the first time in the half, and Sharp drove to the basket with nearly 30 seconds left when he was stripped by Florida’s Will Richard, who was a help defender. Richard essentially forced Sharp to kick the ball out of bounds with 26 seconds left.
Following Denzel Aberdeen’s one of two all-important free throws for Florida, Houston possessed the ball down by two with 19 seconds remaining. Florida’s defense frustrated the defenseless early Houston offense and then Sharp was caught with the ball almost 6 feet in arrears of the 3-point line with five seconds to go.
Sharp took an immediate long 3-pointer but what would have been a 28-footer never left his hands. Walter Clayton Jr. sensed his desperation and went at him in midair with an extended left hand, and it left Sharp in the uncomfortable position of having his shot blocked or watching the ball fall.
Sharp shielded Clayton as the ball came to the floor, and Florida’s Alex Condon sealed the game with the hustle play to grab his fourth steal of the evening. Sharp slumped over a few feet from his last turnover, his elbows resting atop his knees and fists over his face as he gazed down at the floor.
“I said I love him,” Sampson replied when asked what he said to Sharp. “I said I love him, and I really placed a lot of emphasis on the work he did on Clayton. He worked an awesome game on him. He made a couple of reads that I’m sure he wished he had over, but we don’t get where we get without that kid.”
Sharp played tough defense on Clayton as Houston’s top defender against the Florida guard. Clayton had 11 points on 3-for-10 shooting, spending more than 32 minutes without scoring a field goal.
Sampson had wished that Sharp would have shot-faked and entered the paint. But Clayton instead charged at Sharp with his left arm out, and the battle froze Sharp. It was an odd key play to win the game, as over 20 years since Syracuse’s Hakim Warrick provided the largest blocked shot in NCAA tournament history to defeat Kansas, Clayton will have the most replayed battle.
The other two Houston gaffes to seal the game involved one turnover off an offensive rebound by Tugler and a second on a baseline drive nowhere by L.J. Cryer that ended with Cryer practically flipping the ball into Condon’s chest in the paint.
Cryer encapsulated the general tone of missed opportunity with these words: “It was definitely there for the taking.”
A victory would have given Sampson his 800th career win and his first national championship and surely would have sent him to the Basketball Hall of Fame on his first ballot. Instead, he trotted off the court in shock after the handshake line. Sampson’s daughter, Lauren, sprinted down the tunnel and hugged him. “I’m OK,” he said to her.
As Houston’s assistant coaches sat in their locker room and gazed into space, assistant Kellen Sampson, the coach’s son, summarized the whimsical bounces of the tournament’s fate this way.
“It’s a harsh, unforgiving guillotine,”florida basketbal he said, “and when you arrive, every team is so talented and you don’t arrive without a team that’s bonded, strong, gritty. The margins are so thin. We definitely did enough tonight to win. Florida did, too, and they won.”
FAQ:
1. What was Kelvin Sampson referring to when he called Houston’s ending “incomprehensible”?
Kelvin Sampson, the head coach of the University of Houston men’s basketball team, was likely reacting to a surprising or disappointing conclusion to a game, season, or key play. The exact context (e.g., a loss, controversial call, or unexpected outcome) would determine his frustration.
2. When did Sampson make this statement?
The timing depends on the specific event. Check the date of the article or press conference for details—this could relate to a tournament elimination, regular-season finale, or a pivotal game.
3. Why would Sampson describe the ending as “incomprehensible”?
Possible reasons include:
- A controversial referee decision.
- An unlikely opponent comeback.
- A critical mistake by Houston players in clutch moments.
- Unusual circumstances (injuries, foul trouble, etc.) affecting the outcome.
4. How has Houston’s team performed under Sampson recently?
Under Sampson, Houston has been a powerhouse in college basketball, often competing for conference titles and deep NCAA Tournament runs. An “incomprehensible” ending may contrast with their usual high standards.
5. Has Sampson made similar comments in the past?
Sampson is known for his passionate coaching style and candid postgame remarks, especially after tough losses. This phrasing aligns with his tendency to speak bluntly about unexpected outcomes.
6. Where can I find the full statement or video of Sampson’s remarks?
Check:
- Official Houston Athletics press conferences (YouTube, team website).
- Sports news outlets (ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic).
- Social media clips (Twitter/X, Instagram) from reporters covering the team.
7. How are fans and analysts reacting?
Responses may vary:
- Some may agree with Sampson’s assessment.
- Others might critique the team’s execution or coaching decisions.
- Debate could arise over officiating or luck factors.
8. What’s next for Houston basketball after this ending?
Depending on the situation, the team may:
- Regroup for offseason improvements.
- Focus on recruiting or transfers.
- Analyze game film to address flaws.
For further updates, follow Houston Cougars basketball news or Sampson’s official statements.
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