Tag: Kelvin Sampson

Jeremy Roach and Kyle Filipowski lead Duke to the Elite Eight after beating Houston 54-51

Duke hangs on in a rock fight of a game to advance to Elite Eight.

Friday night in Dallas felt like a fight night.

Kelvin Sampson and his No. 1-seeded Houston Cougars made the three-hour trip up I-45 South to Dallas to take on the Duke Blue Devils.

Much of the build-up to the game centered around Houston’s defense and Duke’s methodical yet explosive offense, and when the ball went up for tipoff, that was precisely what surfaced immediately. Houston hit Duke in the mouth early, going up 6-0 after forcing two Jeremy Roach turnovers.

Jon Scheyer called a timeout immediately to settle his team down, and from then on, it was game on. Duke worked back into the game, trading blows with the Cougars for the remainder of the half.

Just past the midway point of the first half, Houston’s fearless leader and Naismith Player of The Year candidate Jamal Shead drove to the rim but rolled his right ankle hard as he planted to rise for the layup. Shead fell to the floor and wouldn’t get up until after the game was stopped. He eventually tried to walk off the court under his power, but trainers helped him the rest of the way to the locker room. He would be diagnosed with a severe ankle sprain and would never return.

With Shead out, Duke eventually fought back to take a 23-22 lead into the break.

Houston, indicative of the toughness they have become known for, would not go away in the second half. Ramon Walker drilled a huge contested 3-pointer to cut the game back to a single possession with nine minutes to play. J’Wan Roberts, another senior leader for Houston, got a tough left-handed layup in the paint to cut it to just one point one minute later.

But that was as close as the Cougars got.

Jeremy Roach, Duke’s senior captain, has a highlight reel of big plays from his March exploits over the last four years. Tonight, he added to it with a masterful second-half performance. He locked in and poured in all 14 of his points after the break, including a dagger mid-range jumper to put Duke up 6 with just over a minute left.

Duke held on to secure its first win over a higher seed since the Blue Devils knocked off No. 1 seeded Purdue in the 1994 NCAA Tournament, then led by 19 points from former Duke assistant Jeff Capel.

Sophomore Kyle Filipowski played one of his best all-around games, contributing 16 points, nine rebounds, and two assists. Ryan Young was a massive X-factor off the bench, and the 6-foot-10 senior gave Duke four points and four rebounds while playing tough defense, helping Duke stay in the game when Houston punched first.

With the win, Duke ensures that at least one ACC team will make the Final Four. The Blue Devils will take on the NC State Wolfpack in the final game of the Elite Eight on Sunday at 5:05 PM EST.

Three keys to a Duke win versus Houston in the Sweet 16

Duke’s methodical offense and ability to handle Houston’s air-tight ball-trapping defense defense is a major key to winning this game.

The time continues to dwindle as we get closer and closer to Duke tipping off in Dallas to take on the Houston Cougars for the right to move on to the Elite Eight.

Duke’s journey this year has been up and down, but after an unfortunate blip of back-to-back losses right before the NCAA Tournament started, the momentum did not seem to favor the Blue Devils.

Yet, here we are after Duke dominated the tournament’s first two games and cruised to Dallas. Things won’t be nearly as easy on Friday night against Houston. The Cougars are tough, physical, and tested. Two-way guard Jamal Shead, Houston’s star player, will be playing in his 15th NCAA Tournament game on Friday evening. Kelvin Sampson has had a terrific tenure coaching this program, and he brings years of NCAA Tournament experience.

Duke will have its hands full. However, Houston can be beat. With that said, here are three keys to a Duke win.

Quick decisions are essential.

Houston runs a highly effective defense predicated on trapping the ball in the pick-and-roll. It blitzes ball-handlers and forces them to make lightning-quick decisions and passes that many teams at the college level can’t make or are too slow to make, thus leading to turnovers and rushed offensive sets.

When you look at the Cougars’ defense, they are No. 2 in effective field goal percentage (44%), block rate (16.1%), and steal rate (15.5%). They are also within the top five in turnover percentage (24.7%) and 2-point defense (43.4 %) and they hold teams under 30 percent from three.

In other words, they are stout defensively. However, opponents have a shot if they can swing the ball and break the trap down off the dribble. Jeremy Roach has dominated the ball in the tournament thus far, sliding into a more conventional PG role like he did in the last few NCAA Tournaments. He must be decisive, make the right reads, and get the ball out so Duke can swing it, attack open gaps, or use numbers to their advantage when applicable.

If the ball sticks, Duke will be in trouble, generating offense. Luckily, Duke has found its rhythm in sharing the ball in the tournament. 22 assists on 33 made field goals against James Madison in the second round certainly helps. They may not make nearly as many baskets, but a similar ratio would likely mean they’ve been able to break down Houston’s defense.

Shoot, shoot, shoot

There are going to be plenty of 3-point opportunities available come Friday night. Duke needs to be ready to hit them. They shot the cover off the ball against JMU in their last game. Jared McCain had eight threes. It’s unlikely Houston will allow the number of open looks that JMU did, but for the ones they do, Duke has to cash in on them.

Per Synergy Sports, Houston is in the 98th percentile in spot-up points allowed per possession at an incredibly high rate (27% of defensive possessions.) In other words, McCain and Tyrese Proctor have to have good days like they did Sunday shooting the ball. The issue is that Houston plays such a hellacious defense that they will contest everything. Duke needs an inspired shooting performance like they had in the second round, or at least 40% in comparison to the 50% they were at against the Dukes.

Toughness wins

You would be hard-pressed to find a tougher team than the Houston Cougars. They play hard physically; if you are mentally and physically unprepared, things can spiral quickly. Duke’s knock this year is that they are soft. That has been the narrative all season long. Both games against UNC showcased that, as did their early loss to Arkansas.

Duke will be run out of the gym if it is not mentally and physically ready to battle this Houston team. In the aftermath of the JMU game, players and coaches talked about how the message preached was to throw the first punch. Come out and attack them. Set the tone on both court ends and let them know you’re here. That same message applies here.

Houston may not be nearly as dynamic offensively as the Tar Heels, but they are even better defensively, and both games against North Carolina did no favors for Duke. Duke is 18th in effective field-goal percentage. They can score with the best of them, but this is different. Duke hasn’t beaten a higher-ranked seed in 30 years. To win this game, they must showcase what they have been missing all year.

Houston HC Kelvin Sampson praises the Aggies ahead of Texas A&M vs. Houston in the round of 32

Ahead of Texas A&M’s round of 32 matchup vs. No. 1-seed Houston, the Cougars head coach knows Aggies will be a tough out

9-seed Texas A&M’s 98-83 win over the 8-seed Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night wasn’t a fluke by any means. Just hours after the Aggies’ resounding victory, No. 1-seed Houston destroyed 16-seed Longwood, setting up a round-of-32 rematch between both programs.

A&M’s ascendance from losing five consecutive conference games to reeling off five straight wins to finish off the regular season is built around the guard play of the team’s elite trio, led by Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford. In comparison, junior guard Manny Obaseki’s 128 points in the Aggies’ last seven games have singlehandedly changed the program’s identity for the better.

Knowing what’s in front of them ahead of Sunday night’s matchup, Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson wasn’t shy in expressing just how much of a challenge Texas A&M presents.

“If you look at the SEC right now, probably the best team in the SEC right now is Texas A&M. They’re a team that can get to the Final Four. They’re that good.”

Look, I know that this may sound like, as former Alabama head coach Nick Saban used to say, “rat poison,” but remember that the Aggies, without Tyrece Radford coupled with Obaseki’s lack of playing time, nearly beat the Cougars on the road behind Wade Taylor IV’s 34 points, losing 70-66 back in December.

While the SEC has performed poorly in the NCAA Tournament this year, Texas A&M, Tennesee, and Alabama are the last three programs remaining after two days of play.

Where does Texas A&M hold an advantage on paper? Rebounding. Averaging 42 rebounds per game, only second in the country to Arizona, A&M’s forward rotation of Solomon Washington, Andersson Garcia, Henry Coleman, and Wildens Leveque will need to make an impact early and often.

The match between 9-seed Texas A&M and 1-seed Houston is set for 7:40 p.m. CT and will air on TNT on Sunday, March 24.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Oklahoma falls to No. 1 Houston 87-85 on last second jump shot by Jamal Shead

Oklahoma comes up short 87-85 in upset bid of No.1 Houston.

Oklahoma emptied the tank on Saturday evening before a packed-out Lloyd Noble Center as they took on the nation’s number one team, the Houston Cougars.

Though the Sooners failed to knock off yet another highly-ranked Big 12 foe on Saturday evening, there’s certainly no shame in the effort they put on the court.

Jamal Shead, one of the nation’s best players, sent the Sooner faithful home in disappointed after hitting a mid-range jump shot as the seconds ticked down to give the Cougars and former Oklahoma head coach [autotag]Kelvin Sampson[/autotag] the 87-85 win.

In what many figured would be a defensive, grind-it-out affair, the Sooners and Cougars exploded offensively from the opening tip throughout the contest.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair with threes raining from each side in a free-flowing game. OU was 7 of 13 from beyond the arc and 10 of 10 from the free throw line in the game’s first 20 minutes. Overall in the first half, they shot 14 of 28 from the field, while Houston shot 67% percent in the first half.

Rivaldo Soares led the way with 10 points on 3 of 3 shooting and 3 of 3 from the charity stripe. Sam Godwin added eight of his team-leading 17 points.

Houston adjusted at the break before racing out to a 56-47 lead before pushing it out to 63-51with over 13 minutes left.

The Sooners responded to fight back into the game with clutch shooting and timely stops. With the Sooners down 85-82, Sam Godwin was fouled. He made the first of two free throws, but the rebound was saved by point guard Milos Uzan. After a timeout, the Sooners scored off the ensuing inbound pass on a nifty drive to the cup by [autotag]Javian McCollum[/autotag].

On the Cougars’ final possession, Oklahoma got the initial stop, but Shead collected his own rebound from the scrum and hit the buzzer beater to end the Sooners’ upset bit.

The Sooners had five players finish in double figures while shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from three.

Houston will head to Orlando to take on UCF Wednesday evening.

The Sooners will host Cincinnati on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for their final Big 12 home game before heading on the road to face Texas in Austin on the final day of the regular season.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

How to watch, key players for Oklahoma Sooners vs. No. 1 Houston Cougars

Here is how you can watch the Oklahoma Sooners’ upcoming game against the Houston Cougars.

The Oklahoma Sooners return home after a terrible trip to Ames, Iowa where they were smothered by the [autotag]Iowa State Cyclones[/autotag]’ defense. Now, they return to Norman to face the top team in the country.

There is a fun storyline to follow in this one. [autotag]Kelvin Sampson[/autotag] returns to Norman for the first time since leaving after the 2005-2006 season. Sampson finished with a 279-109 record in Norman and is probably the second-best coach in OU men’s basketball history. He won three consecutive conference tournament titles and made the Final Four and the Elite 8 during his time.

Now, he brings his [autotag]Houston Cougars[/autotag] team and smothering defense to Norman, looking to wrap up the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] regular season title in their first year in the conference soon.

So, let’s look at some key players and how you can watch the game.

Oklahoma Sooners skyrocket in latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Oklahoma rose 10 spots in the latest USA Today Sports Coaches Poll and now sits at No. 12.

Oklahoma is on a heck of a run to start the season. The Sooners are stacking wins and building a strong resume that has them on the path to breaking their NCAA Tournament drought.

Oklahoma sits 9-0 and will have two games this week to continue building an impressive resume as the nonconference slate starts to wind down. The rest of the nation notices what Porter Moser is doing with his basketball team in Norman.

On Monday, the newest edition of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll was released, and the Sooners had the most significant rise of any team in the top 25 moving from No. 22 to No. 12.

That 10-spot jump comes on the heels of Oklahoma dominating two Power Five opponents from two of the best basketball conferences in the country in Providence from the Big East and Arkansas from the SEC.

Oklahoma remains one of seven teams in Division 1 basketball that is unbeaten.

Arizona is the No. 1 team after they dismantled Wisconsin. The standard bearer of the Big 12, Kansas, is ranked second, while the newest Big 12 member, Houston, led by former Oklahoma head coach Kelvin Sampson, comes in at third.

Purdue and Connecticut round out the top five. Another undefeated Big 12 team, Baylor, ranks sixth, while Marquette and Creighton rank 7th and 8th.

Oklahoma will take on the now No. 9 UNC Tarheels in a massive matchup on Saturday. Tennessee and Clemson round out the schools right in front of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has a chance to make a significant splash this week with a win in Charlotte, North Carolina in the Jumpman Invitational against a talented UNC squad led by Hubert Davis. A win there, and the Sooners could be on the cusp of a top-five ranking by the time the calendar turns to 2024.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

Oklahoma men’s basketball all-time roster: Sooner Legends

With March Madness here, we look at Oklahoma’s all-time basketball team led by Coach Billy Tubbs and players like Wayman Tisdale.

We are on the cusp of an exhilarating time of the year for most sports fans nationwide, as March Madness is very near. The electricity generated by conference tournaments and the following NCAA Tournaments is an experience no collegiate sport can replicate. Selection Sunday is Mar.12.

Porter Moser’s team has had an incredibly perplexing season. They beat multiple ranked teams and played tough in some other games. However, the Sooners look like the odd team out when deciding which Big 12 teams make it into the field of 68.

Oklahoma was a mainstay in the tournament during the 2010s, as they made it six times. Their most recent berth was in 2021. The Sooners’ most recent Final Four appearance was in 2016, spearheaded by Oklahoma basketball legend Buddy Hield. With a reasonably steady program despite no national championships, what would an all-time Sooners basketball team look like? Sooners Wire chose one head coach, two assistants, and ten players to make up the all-time roster.

Texas Basketball: Early candidates to replace Chris Beard

Where does Texas go next?

Texas officially parted ways with men’s basketball coach Chris Beard on Thursday following his arrest on assault charges early in December. Continue reading “Texas Basketball: Early candidates to replace Chris Beard”

Oregon MBB recap: Lack of three-point shooting dooms Ducks

Oregon had No. 3 Houston on the ropes, but couldn’t complete the rally and fell 66-56 inside Matthew Knight Arena.

This game was right there for the taking and an upset over No. 3 Houston was a real possibility. But Oregon never could find its three-point shooting prowess and the Cougars made them pay.

Houston came out with a 66-56 victory inside Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon coach Dana Altman is going to look at the stat sheet and his eyes are going directly to the three-point shooting line where his team was a dismal 3-of-22 from beyond the arc.

Even though they couldn’t find its range and seemingly nothing was going right, the Ducks never gave up and played the entire 40 minutes. They could have rolled over and called it a night with just under seven minutes left with the Cougars up 56-44, but the Ducks were able to manufacture a 12-2 run and with just 2:35 remaining, Oregon was down 60-54 and had the ball.

But a missed three and a made three for Houston on the other end sealed Oregon’s fate and the Ducks suffered their second loss on the season.

Marcus Weathers felt beyond good …

Marcus Weathers felt beyond good leaving Phoenix after having his pre-draft workout Sunday with the Suns. “It went great,” Weathers said. “I thought the group was great. I really appreciated the Suns looking at a guy like me and bringing me in.” The 6-5, 215-pound forward out of SMU with a 37-inch vertical and 7-foot wingspan is viewed as a draft sleeper. He’s already had workouts with Charlotte, San Antonio, Phoenix and Dallas – and another one scheduled this week with Minnesota. ” I think the best thing about him that I appreciated was he’s a tough kid,” University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “He plays with no fear. Got a chip on his shoulder. Tough, tough kid.”