UH needed a night like that. All 12 healthy players got at least four minutes, while 11 had 10 or more. Five guys were in double figures, with two others at nine and eight, respectively. The Cougars experimented with numerous lineups and gave guys time to grow and have fun.
Kelvin Sampson admitted earlier this week that he should have gotten Mercy Miller into the Auburn game. The offensive spark he provides is evident, and after the Louisiana game, Kelvin commented on his improved defense. During last night’s CATS!, Galen Robinson talked about a teaching moment between Kelvin and Mercy:
Mercy could play a special role on this team, but he’s still a freshman, having played just 35 minutes in college.
Milos Uzan has been a revelation. He’s proven to have bought into the culture and fit into the Kelvin Sampson point guard mold. Before the season, I asked J’Wan Roberts what he remembered of Uzan in the OU game on March 2nd. J’Wan said he didn’t even recall Uzan playing. Milos had six points and four assists in that game, but he’s become a different player since entering the UH program on June 1.
Louisiana committed 23 turnovers, 17 of which were steals. Sharp and Miller had four each. UH had more steals than the Cajuns had field goals.
Just having fun, folks! Galen talked about this on CATS!, but I had to verify. These are the season stats for Louisiana’s freshman Jeremiah Evans:
You have to be impressed with foul-outs in all three games and doing it in just 39 total minutes. But look at the progression: he’s becoming more efficient, from 16 to 13 to 10 minutes. He committed three of the fouls in an impressive 50-second stretch.
Jayme’s personnel scout said of Evans plays like “a raw freshman on both ends of the court.”
Before the under-16 timeout in the first half, the Cougars were 1/7 from the floor and looked awful doing it. But for the next 20 minutes, until the under-16 in the second half, UH was 19/29 from the floor (65.5%). Houston made more shots in those 20 minutes than Louisiana made the entire night.
Unless something goes haywire, you should expect a commitment from Kingston Flemings at 4 p.m. on Thursday. UH coaches have built a relationship with him that goes back years. He’s the #1 player in Texas, the top 2-3 best point guards in this class, and a top-20 player nationally. He’s in the mold of what UH fans have come to expect from their point guards – a defensive warrior with superb athleticism and great hands.
Special shoutout to The Cougar photo editor Raphael Fernandez for stepping up for GoCoogs Wednesday night as our Mario Puente was out sick.