2025 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight Discussion

[AnotherSoonerInTX]

Man.. Sampson is going to be more remembered as houston's coach than OU's. *Crying emoji*

That 5 year show cause penalty when he was forced into the NBA is the best thing that ever happened to him. He ended up with the Rockets where he met Tilman Fertitta. Fertitta got him hired with U of H, and the rest is history.

He was a very good coach for us, though our fan base spent 12 years wanting to "Fire Calvin Simpson". He is an even better coach now. Combine that with Fertitta's money, and he's in a great place.

 

[Hecubus]

That 5 year show cause penalty when he was forced into the NBA is the best thing that ever happened to him. He ended up with the Rockets where he met Tilman Fertitta. Fertitta got him hired with U of H, and the rest is history.

He was a very good coach for us, though our fan base spent 12 years wanting to "Fire Calvin Simpson". He is an even better coach now. Combine that with Fertitta's money, and he's in a great place.

It was great to see him and Hollis/Quannas back at the LNC last year .. but also “in the wrong timeline” kind of wierd.

 

[WaymanFan]

It's going to take a lot for Duke to lose. Florida probably is their best matchup.

You have to get Dukes bigs into foul trouble to have a chance. Flagg is going to get his and you have to hope just one of Kon or Proctor go off. If you can mitigate the others on Duke, you have a chance. If not, you're screwed.

If Houston wins today, I think they get boat raced by Duke.

I make very few predictions primarily because it's just something I'm not very good at. However, I'm going to make one here. Houston will win the National Championship this year. It's their 7th Final Four, and they're 0-6 in cutting down the nets. If any school has some positive karma coming their way, it's Houston. Now, if Houston does win it all, there are two schools which will reign supreme as having the most Final Four appearances (FIVE) without winning a Natty. One is Illinois, and the other is a school about 20 miles south of Oklahoma City. I guess it's better to be the "worst of the best" than the valedictorian of summer school .

 

[mict085]

Kelvin has owned Rick Barnes forever.

 

[TSSR]

I make very few predictions primarily because it's just something I'm not very good at. However, I'm going to make one here. Houston will win the National Championship this year. It's their 7th Final Four, and they're 0-6 in cutting down the nets. If any school has some positive karma coming their way, it's Houston. Now, if Houston does win it all, there are two schools which will reign supreme as having the most Final Four appearances (FIVE) without winning a Natty. One is Illinois, and the other is a school about 20 miles south of Oklahoma City. I guess it's better to be the "worst of the best" than the valedictorian of summer school .

I would tend to agree, even thought your logic is flawed. But you think their defense is going to stop 3 top 15 Lottery picks with their tallest players being 6'8? I just don't see it. It's going to take Uzan going astronomical to beat Duke. I don't think he has the offensive power to do it.

 

[NickZepp]

Honestly any of the 5 teams left could win it all

 

[NickZepp]

4* Auburn is good.

 

[WaymanFan]

I would tend to agree, even thought your logic is flawed. But you think their defense is going to stop 3 top 15 Lottery picks with their tallest players being 6'8? I just don't see it. It's going to take Uzan going astronomical to beat Duke. I don't think he has the offensive power to do it.

Rule of thumb is that when "karma" is part of one's logic, it is likely flawed . I can't help thinking back to 1991 when Duke played defending champion UNLV (who beat them by 30 in the title game the prior year). UNLV pretty much had the same roster as the prior year and was a heavy favorite to beat Duke...a school that had not yet won their first Natty despite being in 6 or 7 Final Fours prior. They found a way to pull off the upset and subsequently cut down the nets.

I just can't help thinking Houston is on that same path this year...flawed logic aside. Both 1991 Duke and 2025 Houston had an Oklahoma connection. In '91, Duke was determined to prepare for March by playing an incredibly challenging non-conference schedule. The highlight was travelling to Norman, OK to play a school that hadn't lost a home game since the 1986-87 season...and they ended the nation's longest home winning streak at the time. We all know the OU connections to this year's Houston team. Go Cougars!

 

[ouboomer]

solid 20 minutes by Auburn..they have played better in the 2nd half the past couple of games.

 

[TSSR]

Rule of thumb is that when "karma" is part of one's logic, it is likely flawed . I can't help thinking back to 1991 when Duke played defending champion UNLV (who beat them by 30 in the title game the prior year). UNLV pretty much had the same roster as the prior year and was a heavy favorite to beat Duke...a school that had not yet won their first Natty despite being in 6 or 7 Final Fours prior. They found a way to pull off the upset and subsequently cut down the nets.

I just can't help thinking Houston is on that same path this year...flawed logic aside. Both 1991 Duke and 2025 Houston had an Oklahoma connection. In '91, Duke was determined to prepare for March by playing an incredibly challenging non-conference schedule. The highlight was travelling to Norman, OK to play a school that hadn't lost a home game since the 1986-87 season...and they ended the nation's longest home winning streak at the time. We all know the OU connections to this year's Houston team. Go Cougars!

Yeah. That '91 Duke team had 2 top 10 picks on their roster including two number 3 picks. This Houston team has zero draftable players on their roster right now. So na man. You can keep talking yourself into this mess, but na.

Not one Houston player is on anyone's draft board:

2025 NBA Mock Draft with Lottery Simulator | Tankathon

Live updating 2025 NBA Mock Draft with lottery simulator and traded picks. Draft order and selections based on team needs are updated after every NBA game.

www.tankathon.com

 

[WTSooner]

Yeah. That '91 Duke team had 2 top 10 picks on their roster including two number 3 picks. This Houston team has zero draftable players on their roster right now. So na man. You can keep talking yourself into this mess, but na.

Not one Houston player is on anyone's draft board:

2025 NBA Mock Draft with Lottery Simulator | Tankathon

Live updating 2025 NBA Mock Draft with lottery simulator and traded picks. Draft order and selections based on team needs are updated after every NBA game.

www.tankathon.com

Kelvin took that 2002 OU team to the Final Four with no NBA players, and when healthy, they were the best team in the Final Four that year. Better than NBA talent-laden Kansas and Maryland.

Houston may not have a bunch of future NBA guys, but that doesn't mean that they don't have a team full of damn good college players. I have no idea how that game will go Saturday, but if anybody can figure out a plan in 6 days to slow Duke down and keep his team in it, it's Kelvin Sampson. Duke hasn't been in many tight games this year. They also haven't played against many good defenses. The best defense they faced in the ACC was Louisville at 24th (Ken Pom).

The game is also in Texas. Hoping the Houston fans show up like crazy to cheer them on. IF they get by Duke, I think they will find a way to cut down the nets.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Auburn is so gross. I hope they lose by 30 next game

 

[NickZepp]

4 number 1s in the final four

 

[ouboomer]

Remember how bad the lead ref was from the big XII days

Hasn’t changed

4 number 1s in the final four

Duke has made it look easy so far, Houston can ugly it up some but i just don't seem them scoring enough to beat Duke. Auburn is playing better than Florida but Florida has just managed to survive and advance but i will pick Auburn..and Duke will win it all.

 

[hoopsaustin]

4 number 1s in the final four

I think i saw it was only the 2nd time or 2nd in like decades. It's going to become almost yearly..

 

[TSSR]

Kelvin took that 2002 OU team to the Final Four with no NBA players, and when healthy, they were the best team in the Final Four that year. Better than NBA talent-laden Kansas and Maryland.

Houston may not have a bunch of future NBA guys, but that doesn't mean that they don't have a team full of damn good college players. I have no idea how that game will go Saturday, but if anybody can figure out a plan in 6 days to slow Duke down and keep his team in it, it's Kelvin Sampson. Duke hasn't been in many tight games this year. They also haven't played against many good defenses. The best defense they faced in the ACC was Louisville at 24th (Ken Pom).

The game is also in Texas. Hoping the Houston fans show up like crazy to cheer them on. IF they get by Duke, I think they will find a way to cut down the nets.

Duke hasn't been in many tight games because they've beaten everyone pretty handedly. OU also didn't win in that Final Four.

You can pray to whoever you want. Duke has the length, size, and they also play physical defense. Plus have a can't miss number 1 pick in Flagg. Houston is hoping Milos Uzan can score 30. I'm good on any of this crap. You guys keep talking about hope and stuff for Houston when the matchup looks dreadful on paper. I want to be wrong by the way, but I think I'm right on this.

 

[WTSooner]

Duke hasn't been in many tight games because they've beaten everyone pretty handedly. OU also didn't win in that Final Four.

You can pray to whoever you want. Duke has the length, size, and they also play physical defense. Plus have a can't miss number 1 pick in Flagg. Houston is hoping Milos Uzan can score 30. I'm good on any of this crap. You guys keep talking about hope and stuff for Houston when the matchup looks dreadful on paper. I want to be wrong by the way, but I think I'm right on this.

No crap. But if Houston keeps it close, Duke may tighten up.

Also no crap. Guys got injured. Remember? We thumped both Maryland and Kansas that year. OU wasn't out-manned.

Nobody is arguing that it's going to be tough. But stop selling this Houston team short. If Kentucky, Kansas, and Clemson can beat Duke, and Arizona and North Carolina can keep it close, Houston certainly can as well. Duke will be the favorite. They should be. It will be a tough game. But I'll be pretty shocked if Houston isn't in it until the end.

 

[mict085]

Duke hasn't been in many tight games because they've beaten everyone pretty handedly. OU also didn't win in that Final Four.

You can pray to whoever you want. Duke has the length, size, and they also play physical defense. Plus have a can't miss number 1 pick in Flagg. Houston is hoping Milos Uzan can score 30. I'm good on any of this crap. You guys keep talking about hope and stuff for Houston when the matchup looks dreadful on paper. I want to be wrong by the way, but I think I'm right on this.

Houston doesn’t need Uzan to score 30. Houston plays tough defense and they’ll be in the game. I don’t think they can beat Duke either but it’s not David vs Goliath.

 

[allday92]

 

[pnkranger]

That's crazy. Like, honestly mind-blowing how good all 4 of those teams are.