Now that the college basketball season is officially over, GoCoogs.com looks back at the 6 most consequential moments from this record-setting year for Cougar basketball.
December 1: The Opening Of Fertitta Center
After nearly 50 years in Hofheinz Pavilion, the Cougars finally debut a new arena. Opening night at Fertitta Center was everything we all hoped: a strong team, a sellout crowd, and a memorable win over a talented program. Most importantly, the new facility was met with overwhelming praise.
We asked a few longtime fans and GoCoogs.com subscribers to put the night in perspective.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#c62b29″ class=”” size=”20″]”Everything about the Fertitta Center and our opening-night was incredible. We really paid attention to the details when building our new home.” – Stephen Cheng
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UH Fans Share Their Thoughts On Opening Night at The Fertitta Center
January 6: 15-0 Start
The Cougars trucked through December, beating three-straight NCAA Tournament teams (LSU, SLU, Utah State). UH opened 2019 and AAC play with an 18-point win over Tulsa to set up the first real test of the conference schedule: a Sunday afternoon showdown with Penny Hardaway’s Memphis squad.
UH controlled the tempo throughout the game while 5 players got into double figures. The Cougars bombed Memphis, 90-77, scoring 45 in each half and suffocated Memphis. UH had a season-high 28 points off of turnovers and finished with 11 steals.
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway discussing his team while giving the ultimate compliment to the Coogs: pic.twitter.com/0Xw6ue2bDz
— GoCoogs.com (@gocoogs1) January 8, 2019
The 15-0 streak is the 3rd-longest in school history, behind extended runs from the 1968 and 1983 teams.
February 11: The AP Top 10
On Sunday February 10th, the national spotlight was shining on the Fertitta Center. UH/Cincinnati was the only college basketball game on any ESPN network for the entire day. Another rowdy, sellout crowd watched UH’s first ranked vs. ranked home game in 35 years.
After a back and forth first period, the Cougars clamped down in the 2nd half and limited Cinci to just 9/34 shooting (26%). The 65-58 Cougar win pushed the Coogs into first place in the conference and, the next day, back into the AP Top 10 for the first time since 1984.
BREAKING: Your Houston Cougars are #9 in the new AP Poll! #GoCoogs #ForTheCity pic.twitter.com/3wMOIbbbm0
— GoCoogs.com (@gocoogs1) February 11, 2019
March 7 / March 10: Conference Champions
On Senior Night, the Coogs jumped out to a 9-point halftime lead over SMU. After the break, the Ponies hit a three-pointer to cut the Cougar lead to six. But like they did all season, the Coogs responded: UH went on an 11-0 run in the next 101 seconds to ruin the Pony hopes.
Houston won the game by 11 and clinched a share of the AAC title – their first regular-season championship since 1992.
Three days later, the Cougars had a chance to win the championship outright if they could beat Cincinnati in the Queen City. The final game of the season was on CBS in the 11 a.m. time slot – hours after the time change and in the eastern time zone. There was every excuse to mail it in but the Coogs clawed their way to a halftime lead.
The Bearcats came out ready to play and scored the first 4 points of the half to take the lead. The two teams battled back and forth before Cincinnati grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back to go up 47-41 with 13:33 left. Kelvin Sampson called a 30-second timeout and regrouped his team.
They responded. Over the next 9 minutes, the Coogs out-rebounded, out-hustled, and out-scored Cinci 35-12. Houston had more offensive rebounds in the 2nd half (11) than Cincinnati had in the entire game (9).
Following the 85-69 blowout, the Coogs were 29-2 and outright AAC champs.
March 24: Making The Sweet 16
The Cougars entered the NCAA Tournament as a three-seed in the Midwest Region. UH easily dispatched Georgia State, 84-55, in the first round setting up a tricky match-up with Ohio State.
The Buckeyes came out and seemingly hit everything early. In the first 15.5 minutes of the game, Ohio State was 7/12 from beyond the arc. As they had time and time again, the Cougars stood tall and led by 8 at the break.
In the second half, Ohio State stuck around but the Coogs eventually wore them down. OSU finished just 3/17 (18%) from three-point range after their hot start. UH did not play their best game but managed to win the game by 15, 74-59.
The victory set a new school record for wins and pushed the Houston Cougars into the Sweet 16 for the first time since Phi Slama Jama.
Super soaker season! ?#MarchMadness | @UHCougarMBK pic.twitter.com/sndJcNvfv5
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 25, 2019
April 4: Sampson Signs Extension
On March 26, Arkansas fired Mike Anderson and speculation immediately turned to Kelvin Sampson. Local reporters that don’t regularly follow the program (*cough Matt Musil*) made certain that the talk leading into the Sweet 16 would be all about Kelvin Sampson leaving for Arkansas.
#KHOU11 As we arrive in Kansas City the rumors about #UH coach Kelvin Sampson going to #Arkansas after this season are hot & heavy. Multiple sources have told me that they believe Kelvin intends to leave after the season. A.D. Chris Pezman has no comment on the matter.
— Matt Musil (@KHOUSportsMatt) March 28, 2019
Lots of twitter chatter that @UHCougarMBK Kelvin Sampson is in Fayetteville talking contract. @UHCougars have made their offer 3mil for 6 years. Hogs offer can't be much more but Coaching in a bigger conference (SEC) is a strong draw. Coach keep your smile in HTown. pic.twitter.com/R5QfGgYL1w
— Bob Slovak (@BobSlovak13) March 31, 2019
Musil wasn’t happy when UH fans questioned his dubious reporting:
After a couple days mulling his options, Kelvin Sampson decided to stay in Houston and sign a new 6-year, $18 million contract extension.
Share the news, @UHouston fans, and join @CoachSampsonUH in 2019-20 in the Fertitta Center#ForTheCity #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/Oo3EaXNdJj
— Houston Men's Hoops ? ? (@UHCougarMBK) April 4, 2019
For most fans, Kelvin’s desire to continue to build the Houston program was the biggest win of the season.
This Cougar basketball team took us on a ride that I'll remember for a long time.
– 15-0 start
– Memorable home wins over Oregon, LSU, Cincinnati
– An American Athletic championship
– Advancing to the Sweet 16
– 33-4 season
– Most wins in school history.Thanks, guys! #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/pvbs6vWEdG
— GoCoogs.com (@gocoogs1) March 30, 2019
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