How do you quantify tonight’s game vs. Florida? What’s the major storyline? Is it the chance for Houston to finally win a national championship in basketball? Is it Kelvin Sampson winning a title? Getting to 800 wins? Or 300 wins at Houston? Is it J’Wan Roberts getting a natty in his sixth season? Is it J’Wan getting to 150 wins, half of Sampson’s UH total? Is it LJ Cryer becoming the first player in history to win national titles at two different schools?
But the primary storyline is celebration. A celebration of Houston Cougar Basketball. A celebration of:
The University of Houston.
These 2024-25 Houston Cougars.
Kelvin Sampson.
The program Kelvin Sampson built.
The reclamation project that Sampson, his family, and staff took on 11 years ago.
19 NCAA wins in Kelvin’s seven Tournament seasons.
Tilman Fertitta.
Renu Khator.
7 Final Fours.
3 national championship game appearances.
Playing for a national title in Texas.
Six straight Sweet 16s.
Playing until April 7th.
J’Wan Roberts and his late-game free-throw magic.
LJ Cryer and putting this team on his back so many times.
Ja’Vier Francis and becoming a monster off the bench.
Mylik Wilson and the way he creates havoc.
Milos Uzan and his determination to be a champion.
Emanuel Sharp and coming through in the clutch.
JoJo Tugler and his relentlessness.
Terrance Arceneaux and his competitiveness.
The guys on the bench, who contribute more than we know.
Kellen Sampson for helping to build this program every step of the way.
Quannas White who has built the guard group to an elite level.
K.C. Beard and the work he’s done with JoJo and Ja’Vier.
Lauren Sampson for not taking any guff and getting things done.
The staff who spend every day making this program run at the highest level.
Second-half comebacks.
J’Wan off the glass at UCF.
18 seconds at Allen Fieldhouse.
Quick turnarounds and Big Mondays for helping shape this team.
10-0 on the road.
18-0 away from home since December 1.
Running away with the Big 12.
A Big 12 Tournament title.
The Big 12, for making this a Tournament-tough team.
Three Big 12 titles in two seasons.
Milos to JoJo to Milos vs. Purdue.
Cutting the nets after Tennessee.
The Midwest Region, where all seven UH Final Four runs began.
Erasing a 14-point lead against Duke.
Getting to Monday night.
Guy V. Lewis, for putting Houston Basketball on the map.
Elvin Hayes and Don Chaney, for tearing down walls and building a legacy.
Phi Slama Jama.
Galen Robinson for being the first guy to make that leap of faith.
Jamal Shead, for four years of toughness.
Everyone who sat in Hofheinz, hoping for better days.
Everyone who traces their fandom back to Jeppesen and Delmar.
Pat Foster, Alvin Brooks, Clyde Drexler, Ray McCallum, Tom Penders, and James Dickey, who were never given a real chance to succeed.
Every former Houston player, from Sammy Adams to Nura Zanna.
Every student manager who ever did laundry, got yelled at, or ran lines.
Jim Nantz, for being a national megaphone for Houston for 40+ years.
Making a list and leaving off someone I shouldn’t have.
Ollie Taylor.
Alvin Franklin.
Gary Phillips.
Reggie Chaney.
One last chance to see this team play.
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