Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars

[SoonerTraveler]

This is just an informative post about a former OU head coach. I know that some of you will be interested.

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The Houston Cougars beat Cincinnati in their final game of the season Thursday night, completing a strong season finish which saw Houston win 9 of its last 11 games. In Kelvin Sampson’s second season at the school, Houston finishes 22-8, and 12-6 in the American Athletic Conference (3rd place behind SMU and Temple). Kevin is building a program, and Houston will be a handful for future opponents.

For me, reading the post-game quotes brings back some good memories ...

Post Game Quotes following 69-56 win over Cincinnati:
http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030416aaa.html

Houston Cougars (22-8; 12-6) Schedule/Results
http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/hou-m-baskbl-sched.html

 

[sperry]

No surprise here, KS can coach. The Rockets made a big mistake by not hiring him as their head coach.

 

[SKSooner]

I've loved watching them play this year and get better. I hope he stays at Houston and builds something really good there... I am sure he will have opportunities after this year to move elsewhere, but I think Houston could win the American next year.

 

[AdaSooner]

I'm happy for Kelvin. UH is lucky to have a coach like him. I have watched several of their games this season. In typical KS style, his team plays hard. They play faster than most of the teams he had at OU, likely a change in philosophy he brought with him from the NBA.

What kind of chance does UH have in getting an invite to the dance?

 

[scrybe]

I know we have some members that harbor ill feelings for Kelvin, but I've always respected him and what he did to return our program to prominence. I'm happy to see Coach Sampson doing well at UH. Hope we don't have to play him in the NCAAs. :ez-laugh:

 

[Soonerinkc]

I always enjoyed his coaching style and teams...good luck to him

 

[aliasou]

I miss some of the innovative double screens we used to run.

 

[j2d2]

Buddy could use some of those screens from time to time.
Kelvin is a really good coach, but not a good manager/public relations person.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I know we have some members that harbor ill feelings for Kelvin, but I've always respected him and what he did to return our program to prominence. I'm happy to see Coach Sampson doing well at UH. Hope we don't have to play him in the NCAAs. :ez-laugh:

:chestram2:

I'm with you 100%!

 

[WTSooner]

Dude knows how to coach games and build teams that know how to win.

Hoping them or Tulsa can some out of the American (if not both) and make the Dance. Guess Temple is their biggest challenge to that?

 

[Big Old Booger]

Dude knows how to coach games and build teams that know how to win.

Hoping them or Tulsa can some out of the American (if not both) and make the Dance. Guess Temple is their biggest challenge to that?

Even more important, I don't know of another coach who is better in the last few minutes of a game. He (his teams) had a propensity to make the plays to either make it close at the end, but usually to win. If you go back over his career in Norman, I don't know what is his record in games decided by 3 points or less but I bet it was close to 66% and maybe even 75%. He was incredible.

Now, some can say because his offense wasn't very good which allowed teams to stay close or whatever but I never bought into that. When he had good offensive players his teams could score very well.

 

[stormspencer]

I'm happy for Kelvin. UH is lucky to have a coach like him. I have watched several of their games this season. In typical KS style, his team plays hard. They play faster than most of the teams he had at OU, likely a change in philosophy he brought with him from the NBA.

What kind of chance does UH have in getting an invite to the dance?

Houston won't make the NCAAs unless they win the American Conference tournament. Their non-conference schedule was abysmal and thus, they didn't rack up any "quality" wins until they got into conference play. But they should make the NIT.

 

[MercedeSooner]

Really miss our teams under him - just loved that I knew every night nobody would be tougher then us.

 

[deejay1]

Even more important, I don't know of another coach who is better in the last few minutes of a game. He (his teams) had a propensity to make the plays to either make it close at the end, but usually to win. If you go back over his career in Norman, I don't know what is his record in games decided by 3 points or less but I bet it was close to 66% and maybe even 75%. He was incredible

If my research is correct, he was 62% for his OU career. However, he was 50% (16-16) for his first 7 years, and an amazing 83% (15-3) for the last 5 years.

 

[WaymanFan]

If my research is correct, he was 62% for his OU career. However, he was 50% (16-16) for his first 7 years, and an amazing 83% (15-3) for the last 5 years.

Yeah, some of those close wins were in his last season. Late in the year, OU had four straight 1-point victories (or something like that). Our fan base was worried because we weren't playing well despite finding ways to win (sound familiar?)...then the game at Texas confirmed WHY we were a bit on-edge with those close wins. I think we scored like 36 or 38 points (not looking it up) to close out the regular season...and things didn't get better until Blake Griffin arrived on campus.

As for the Houston Cougars, I expected Kelvin to have them in the NIT this year before this season started...and believe he'll have them in the NCAA Tournament next year. Part of the reason his NCAA Tournament record is a bit on the pedestrian side is due to his teams physical nature. In the Dance, the refs used to blow the whistle quite a bit. In recent years they've been swallowing them more to keep the games exciting for the fans...and that will work great for Kelvin's teams starting next March (assuming Houston does not win the conference tourney this year).

 

[oudna]

Really miss our teams under him - just loved that I knew every night nobody would be tougher then us.

I hate that style of basketball. Hopefully the rules keep evolving the way it's been going.

 

[KBaden145]

I hate that style of basketball. Hopefully the rules keep evolving the way it's been going.

He is a helluva game manager. I loved our toughness and the way we guarded people under Sampson but he put a damn chokehold on the offense way too often. We were also terrible in transition when he was here. I would hope some time in the league has softened his stance on fluid, open offense.


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[Mookie]

Buddy could use some of those screens from time to time.
Kelvin is a really good coach, but not a good manager/public relations person.

wasn't the best at following the rules either..

Lon saved our hoops program.

OU

 

[kansasooner]

When Lon leaves, we have got to get this guy back.

 

[soonerbms]

When Lon leaves, we have got to get this guy back.

Is Lon going somewhere fast? He's only 63. I'm hopeful that this will be his last job and sticks around for 5-7 more seasons.