Underrated aspect of this game, but we have a massive advantage on the coaching side of things. Duke has NBA horses no doubt. But you don't have to be the better team all year, just on one night. I have no doubt Kelvin will get their best effort.
You dance with the girl that brung you. We're going to do what we've done all year. If Duke hits their shots, so be it. That pick and roll that tore Bama apart won't work on us. We're too long and fast in the frontcourt. You saw Purdue AND Tennessee try it on us and get summarily destroyed. My concern is where our points are coming from. LJ has been in a bit of a funk, that was a very quiet 17 points he had against Tennessee and was damn near invisible Friday. Milos was bottled up by a faster guard yesterday after being the catalyst against Purdue. Sharp was off until he went ape to close out Tennessee. Jwan had a fairly inauspicious weekend in terms of buckets as well. Someone, if not a few of us, has to pop off on Friday to win. Period. Who can do it?
The Sampson program is just incredibly well ran - from the culture to the scouting, to the player development and attention to detail. It sounds like hyperbole but Sampson is the best college basketball coach in the world, what he has accomplished consistently without getting a Flagg or other top 5 talent is amazing. He also has taken guys that were not NBA prospects, and turned them into NBA players if they stick around long enough. I don't know if they will beat Duke - UH will be the under-dog, but regardless what an amazing run by Sampson and redemption for him and for the UH basketball program.
If the Coogs win it all, how impressive will their run be compared to other Championships? They've had to face the highest possible seed every round so far. I think I saw that was the first time that has been done.
This is what makes the tournament so wonderful - and why historically a team coached by Sampson of Izzo or Boeheim or Knight (amongst others) can really surprise people. Tennessee had never played UH in 2024-2025, so they really did not know what to expect. They thought they could handle the physicality and the relentlessness, and it turned out that they couldn't. It is also why everyone will in the back of their head think that UH has at least an outside chance against Duke..... because this group of kids at Duke has not faced a team that is as good defensively or as physical as UH. Likewise, UH has not faced a team as physically talented or good at this Duke team. Something has to give - and on paper it should be the physical talent of Duke with Flagg and others should win, but won't know until it happens. It is a lot like boxing when you have to guys both considered great getting in the ring together - when there is a lack of familiarity, and there is one time shot - strange things happen.
Right. This is the classic talent vs. culture/ethic contest. Duke has walked all over inferior competition. To their credit, that's what elite teams should do. They are the real deal, but they have not faced a team with even a hint of the defensive instincts and rebounding tenacity of Houston. UH has had to fight for every inch against the most underseeded tier 1 programs every single weekend. They are battle tested. They are tough as nails. They are wise. Anything could happen Saturday night. Duke blows out UH. UH blows out Duke. That's what makes this matchup awesome.
Should be an extremely competitive game and the build up to the game is pretty exciting. My hope is that the big 3, Roberts, Francis and Tugler don’t get into foul trouble. It is nice that Francis has played very well to compensate for Roberts and Tugler when they have had to sit on the bench. Hopefully the refs won’t be one sided.
Almost all of Sampson's UH teams have been really good, but this team just seems different. Unlike in years past, this team has more than one guy who can get hot and drop 20 plus on any given night. That's what all the previous teams have been missing. Also, all of his teams have played good defense obviously....but man...this years defense can make a really good offense look completely impotent. This team would have easily beaten any team that eliminated them in years past (Michigan, Duke, Miami, etc.) This defense is like the 85 Bears defense of college basketball. Every player - to a man - has totally bought into Sampson's system. It's a beautiful thing to watch.
In a way, it's good that we get Duke in the semis because it gives Sampson a whole week to prepare a plan for them. Can't wait to see what he comes up with. We're going to squeeze those spoiled rich kids like a grape.
