Do you ever wonder how Ron Hunter likes his Waffle House hashbrowns? I’m not sure but I bet I know all the ways he doesn’t like ’em.
Scattered – Hunter ran through the emotions like so many others before him. Dejected, beside himself, angry, hands on hips, aloof, floor-staring head-shaking, worn down, and finally, ready to get the hell out of Dodge. Kelvin Sampson has proven to be the worst houseguest, ruining programs’ big marketing nights when UH comes to town, but he’s also the most unwelcoming host, beating teams down one possession at a time.
Against Tulane, UH had 16 steals, the most of the Kelvin Sampson era. Sixteen times, the man of the house looked the other way as the kids stole your keys, your wallet, your girl, and your distant hope of sharing a conference title.
The game plan is simple and there for all to hear. Anyone that listens to his weekly calls or postgame availability will know. He talks about the opponent’s top threat, maybe two, and then all you have to do is just watch as Sasser and Shead shut them down.
Covered – Before the first game against Tulane, Kelvin raved that 6’8″ center Kevin Cross is the best passing big man in the country. So what did Kelvin’s team do? Held him to three that night in New Orleans. And Wednesday night? Cross had just two assists.
So the center that has averaged 5.2 assists in AAC games against everyone other than Houston, averaged just 2.5 against the gameplans drawn up by Kelvin.
Smothered – Kelvin has also gone on and on about Greenie guard Jalen Cook. He said Cook had the hottest hand in the conference shooting it. And it wasn’t a lie: in AAC games, Jalen Cook was 3rd in scoring at 20 ppg, while his teammate Jaylen Forbes was #2 at 20.5 ppg. You knew Sampson planned to shut them both down.
Diced – In the first half, when it really mattered, Cook was 1/10 from the floor for two points and two turnovers. Eventually, he got his 23 points in garbage time but needed 18 of Tulane’s 50 shots to do it. Meanwhile, Forbes was held to 3/10 shooting and 14 points, well below his average.
Chopped – Shead and Sasser ate them up all night. Combined, Cook and Forbes hit 11 shots but turned it over 12 times. Forget the assist/turnover ratio (3/12, by the way, or .25, ouch!), but their buckets-to-turnover ratio was .92.
On the other side? Sasser and Shead’s buckets-to-turnover ratio was 3.33, while their assist/turnover ratio was inverse of Tulane’s 12/3 or 4.0).
By the end of that 40 minutes, Cross, Forbes, and Cook couldn’t wait for the check. That was the worst meal of their lives.
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