Houston does its best Pitt Panther imitation. 1 of 16 from three point land and only down 4 with about a minute left. They are an incredible defensive team, but if they shot anywhere near their normal 3 pt. Percentage, Nova would be dead.
Houston
- Thread starter Pittisit4me
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They built a mansion with all those bricks being put up.
One of the most beautiful ugly games I've watched. Loved the defense - for both teams, but mostly Houston. Villanova just outlasted the Houston missed three as well as several missed lane shots. Wonder how much the Moore injury will hurt them going to the FF? Looked like an Achilles after the replay ...
I have a tough time seeing Nova winning 2 more without Moore as depth was already one of their weaknesses. What a team, though. Both teams in that game are outstanding and perhaps the two best examples of how important culture is.
I heard that this was what, Houston's 8th appearance in the Elite 8? I am not sure why they aren't more respected as one of college basketball's elites. Because they have done all of this over many different time periods.
I believe the Rockets owner is a big booster down there and has helped elevate the program and make the money available to hold onto Sampson through the AAC years. They absolutely deserve to be more of a national brand, which I imagine they will once the B12 move happens.
Again, it’s why you hear coaches preach culture so much. Houston doesn’t recruit at the top of the food chain and this year lost their best player and another top scorer to injury, but kept rolling. Culture beats talent more often than not, which is why I keep talking about our need to hire a proven program builder who will strip this thing to the frame and build something sustainable.
He recruits a nice bunch of athletes. They are super physical and play great defense and rebound. Quite similar to the Jamie Dixon philosophy that worked so well for us for a while. It is a recipe proven to work in college hoops but, it almost always comes up short against better talent. If they had one guy on the team who could really shoot from deep they would have beat on Nova. They were 1 for 21 from 3 in the game and were hanging in there the entire time and even cut the lead to 2 at one point.
Other than St. Pete's, who has been so fun to watch, the other teams that are left in this tournament can really score the basketball. It is essential to have at least one dynamic scorer to win it. Houston fell short in this area. The program is in great shape though with Sampson at the helm.
They are 27th in the country in two point shooting percentage, 171 in three point percentage and 327 in one point shooting percentage. They have the 10th most efficient offense in the country built largely on two point shooting and being 3rd in the country in offensive rebounding percentage. And they are 338 in tempo.
If you didn't know we were talking about Houston, you would have sworn we were talking about one of the good Jamie Dixon teams.
And just remember that Houston did this after their top player went out for the year. He was the conference player of the year. Sasser. Sampson is one hell of a coach.
The problem with that shot make up is the efficiency of each. The 3 pt shoot is the 2nd most efficient shot in basketball only behind free throws. You need to be able to get open looks from 3 and make them....And make your FTs.
All of that said, Houston is a lot of fun to watch.
Watching them play in person, they reminded me so much of Jamie teams.
