I’ll be keeping a daily Final Four diary for the duration of the UH Basketball season. It will include thoughts, tidbits, nuggets of information, behind-the-scenes info, and more. The GoCoogs team will be in San Antonio covering all the angles: Galen Robinson, Jayme Hollingsworth, Mario Puente, and me.
INDIANAPOLIS – We had a solid CATS! after the Elite Eight. I made some technology mistakes, but otherwise, it was elite. I left Lucas Oil Stadium last night thinking (once again) that Galen is so good at conveying his thoughts, at ease in front of a camera, and knowledgeable that some broadcaster will make him a serious offer as soon as he’s done playing. Maybe he wants to coach, but he certainly has options in media.
I’ve said for 2+ years that he should slide into Elvin Hayes’ job when Elvin is ready to retire. UH could make it a full-time gig—fan relations, working sponsors, broadcasting, brand builder. With a forward-thinking AD, this could happen. Just don’t forget your friends, G!
And Brad Towns is seriously good. His ball-knowing skills have made our broadcasts great (maybe not the 1990 Mesquite Poteet high school basketball stories). He’s been with GoCoogs since it was just an idea, but he does quality work, keeps me focused on our goals, and excels in Star Pizza quality control.
I thought UH’s celebration was muted after advancing to the Final Four. It wasn’t like the 2021 team or even how the other No. 1 seeds reacted. Their expectations were never about getting to San Antonio – they’re about getting to Monday night.
And a chance at Duke in Texas for a second-straight year? Yeah, they’ll lock in on that.
Hope J’Wan has a solid system to keep track of his nine rings, two Final Fours, and 11 pieces of nets. Now that I think about it, Emanuel, too. He has six rings, a Final Four, and three MVP awards, including a Big 12 title belt and the title-belt-on-a-gold-chain from the A&M game in November of 2023.
Emanuel was the most shocked person in the arena when he was named the most outstanding player of the Midwest Region. He was taking it all in, heard his name, and whipped his head to the side when he was announced.
1967 | 1968 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 2021 | 2025
The Cougars are 169-23 in the five seasons since COVID. 23 losses! To compare, in the 1999-2000 season, UH lost 22 games.
Kellen Sampson had the scout for the Tennessee game. You could say he nailed it. Have to figure that Duke is his as well.
Have you ever seen a defensive performance like that first half? In that environment and with that much riding on it? Tennessee’s 15 field goals are among the 10 worst performances in their school history. Houston holding them to 1/15 from three is ridiculous. The Vols shot 6.7% outside the three-point line and 38% inside of it.
UH played the three best PGs in the country in three consecutive games.
Ryan Nembhard: 3/5 FG, 11 assists, 5 turnovers
Braden Smith: 3/7 FG, 15 assists, 3 turnovers
Zakai Zeigler: 1/9 FG, 5 assists, 4 turnovers
The three combined to play 118 minutes (Nembhard and Smith went 40 full), go 7/21 from the floor, and dish 31 assists on 63 made field goals. More importantly, UH dictated what they could do on offense. Combined, they averaged about six FGA inside the arc per game this season. Against UH in the Dance, they had five. Total. In three games.
UH played the most challenging road possible for a one-seed (#16, #8, #4, #2), yet opponents are averaging 56.5 ppg against UH in the Tournament.
Total points:
40 – SIUE
76 – Gonzaga
60 – Purdue
50 – Tennessee
Still, the Cougars are almost an afterthought for most people nationally heading to San Antonio.
Oh, and Gonzaga was the best team UH has played. That eight seed might be the worst seeding mistake in Tournament history.
27 teams have scored more on Houston than vaunted SEC power (and two-seed) Tennessee. The Vols beat two No. 1 seeds this year, a No. 2 seed, and a No. 4. Since February 1, they’ve had 11 wins over NCAA Tournament teams.
Top five memories from Indianapolis:
1. The best in-bounds play I’ve ever seen.
2. JoJo making the smartest and most patient read of his career.
3. UH winning two road games – one on just 36 hours rest.
4. The fewest renditions of Rocky Top I’ve ever heard.
5. The porta-potty side of the curtain:
