There’s a technology of middle-aged American males that can at all times consider there’s no higher fraternity on the planet than Phi Slama Jama. They’re nonetheless ready for Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and the remainder of Houston’s dominant dunkers to be rewarded with their rightful NCAA title.
The technology earlier than that? They thrilled to the sight of Elvin Hayes and Houston difficult Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) and UCLA earlier than large crowds on the Astrodome and elsewhere.
Alas, Phi Slama Jama got here up brief in back-to-back NCAA title video games (1983–84), and “Massive E” got here up brief towards UCLA in back-to-back Ultimate Fours (1968–69).
On Monday in San Antonio, with Hayes sitting courtside as Houston’s radio analyst and Olajuwon sitting courtside as basketball royalty, the Houston Cougars will lastly carry house the college’s first NCAA championship after six missed Ultimate 4 alternatives.
Empirically, it doesn’t make sense. Oddsmakers say Florida is a 1.5-point favourite. In case you look again on the final 9 NCAA champions on KenPom.com, all 9 have been ranked higher on offense than protection.
Florida options the nation’s ninth-most environment friendly protection and second-most environment friendly offense (128.8 factors per 100 possessions), which additionally ranks because the third-most environment friendly offense throughout the KenPom period that stretches again to 1996–97.
Houston, in the meantime, boasts the nation’s No. 10 offense and the No. 1 protection (87.3 factors per 100 possessions). As we simply mentioned above, protection doesn’t normally win championships — however the Cougars simply solved essentially the most environment friendly offense in KenPom historical past.
If they’ll do sufficient to decelerate All-American Cooper Flagg and two different NBA lottery picks, they’ll do sufficient to decelerate All-American Walter Clayton Jr. and Florida’s different high-fliers.
Now, we all know what you’re pondering: Saturday night time deserves to be referred to as an all-time Duke collapse — not an all-time Houston comeback. However check out this:
Duke’s first half-hour: 58 factors, 20-of-44 from the sphere (45.5%), two turnovers.
Duke’s final 10 minutes: 9 factors, 1-of-9 from the sphere, 5 turnovers.
That’s Houston locking down defensively. Now check out this:
Duke’s first half-hour: 9 offensive rebounds on 25 misses.
Duke’s final 10 minutes: One offensive rebound on 9 misses.
That’s Houston locking down the boards — and that’s earlier than we point out the Cougars’ 5 offensive rebounds within the last 5:10 that changed into six factors. Now check out this:
@OptaSTATS tweeted this in a single day:
During the last 25 seasons, there have been 7,859 cases of a Division I group trailing by 5+ factors at halftime a minimum of 5 instances in a single season. Solely a kind of 7,859 has come again to win each single a kind of video games.
That one group is Houston — in 2024–25 (5–0).
See, that is simply what Houston does.
On Jan. 25 at Allen Fieldhouse, the Cougars trailed 79–73 with 18 seconds left within the first additional time — and Kansas was on the line for 2 free throws. The Jayhawks had a 99.6% probability to win. However Emanuel Sharp hit a 3-pointer (sound acquainted?), Houston compelled a steal on the press (sound acquainted?) for an additional 3-pointer and went on to win in double additional time.
So when the Cougars have been down six with 1:14 to go towards Duke — and the Blue Devils had the ball and a contemporary shot clock — it was virtually like Houston was already profitable. Everybody anticipated Houston coach Kelvin Sampson to order a foul and prolong the sport so long as potential. However he trusted his guys — and so they trusted him.
“This complete yr, I’ve been attempting to remain off social media and stuff like that,” mentioned fifth-year senior guard LJ Cryer, who led Houston with 26 factors Saturday. “I attempt simply to take heed to Coach Sampson, and he believed we have been one of the best group within the event, in order that’s the one particular person I listened to.”
“Coach at all times tells us simply maintain enjoying, struggle, by no means stop,” mentioned sixth-year senior ahead J’Wan Roberts, who hit two free throws with 19.6 seconds to provide Houston its first second-half lead. “In case you lose the sport, and also you didn’t stop, you didn’t actually lose. Going into video games like this, you by no means need to go down, however it occurs. However when you don’t stop and also you consider, something can occur.”
Florida will go on runs Monday night time. Like Flagg on Saturday night time, Clayton would possibly develop into one of the best participant on the ground. But when the Cougars management the tempo — and they’ll — they may minimize down the nets. Of their house state. With Hayes, Olajuwon and an entire fraternity of former Coogs exulting in a job lastly performed.
