We’re a few days removed, and I am still in awe of the UH victory over Kansas. I’ve now watched the game multiple times, and each time, I wonder how in the world it happened. I see it unfold in front of me. I know the timeline of events. I know the plays that were made.
But I still have trouble piecing it all together. Writing it out, it makes even less sense:
Mylik Wilson had a career night and carried UH in the first half before nailing the game-tying 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. Sunday night on Talkin’, he called it the shot of his life.
Emanuel Sharp struggled, especially on defense, after tweaking the same ankle that caused him to miss the Utah game. Against the Jayhawks, he didn’t hit a shot in regulation. In overtime, he found it: Sharp hit a fallaway three with 7 seconds in the first OT to cut the lead to 3, then hit one from the Kansas City airport in the second OT to push the lead to 4.
Houston made four three-pointers in regulation (4/17), then made four of eight in overtime.
J’Wan Roberts struggled early (2/7 from the floor in the first half), then missed four straight free throws in the first nine minutes of the second half. But in the last eight minutes of the game and overtime, J’Wan carried the offensive load: 16 points on 6/9 FGs, four rebounds, and three assists. And when the Cougars absolutely needed it, he made two crucial free throws to send the game to overtime.
UH pulled within a point with 2:36 in the first half, then fell apart, allowing Kansas to grow the lead to seven, 38-31. The Cougars came out hot in the second half, going on a 17-2 run. Everything was clicking except from the line: they missed all five free throws in the run (and eight straight to start the second half).
Joseph Tugler made three shots combined in the three previous games, then went 4/4 at Allen Fieldhouse. He played within himself and was called for just two fouls (He’d been called for 12 in the previous three games).
Many wild things had to come together to make this victory possible, but the Cougar defense locked this win down. Defense travels, and it is what made all these big moments happen.
Let’s take a look at the end of regulation at what I think is the best defensive sequence you could hope for:
I cannot remember when a team forced a 5-second violation in this situation, especially on the road and especially at a place like Phog Allen. This play was dead from the moment Milos and Mylik switched on the screen. Every angle was covered at that point, and the Jayhawks’ only hope was over the top on the wing. That was eliminated by LJ’s quick reaction and JoJo’s 7’6″ wingspan.
You can’t see from that camera angle how much JoJo distracts the guy throwing the ball in. His arm length and movement are a threat to tip the ball, and he blocks so much of the inbounder’s vision that it is 1000 times more difficult than it looks.
Fran Fraschilla set up the next defensive play perfectly.
“I’m anxious to see what the Hall of Famer (Self) is going to draw up because 7 or 8 times out of 10 somebody is getting a wide-open shot……….but it’s the best defense in the country they are going against.”
Hunter Dickinson is deadly on the pick-and-roll because he can hit tough shots and distributes extremely well. This is Kansas’ strength, going against UH’s strength.
UH won this battle because as the screen was being set, L.J. attacked the ball, allowing him to go above the screen. At the same time, JoJo jumped Harris to stop the ball. With LJ shutting down the middle of the floor, Harris could not get a pass back to Dickinson, so his only option was to go to the wing.
Even if Griffin holds on to the ball, he is off-balance going away from the goal, and Emmanuel Sharp is in his hip pocket with only 3 seconds. The battle was won no matter what.
That is UH basketball. No matter what happens on the offensive end or the obstacles they must overcome, the defense is always there. It keeps these UH teams in games until the end and gives them a shot to steal a victory on the toughest nights.
Of course, I couldn’t leave this one out. This one needs no explanation:
JoJo’s part in that play could get overlooked until you see the view from UH videographer Luke Butler:
