Not even close to being true of modern Kelvin Sampson. He prioritizes length and athleticism in recruiting and playing bigs. Sam is not a bad athlete, but he is far from a springy, rangy guy who can hound opposing bigs and be a defensive menace. Kelvin would love his effort, but Sam would not fit what Houston does defensively.
Yeah, it would be like saying JM was a stud because he was essentially automatic from the foul line. Sam is a great offensive rebounder, but it’s one part of the game.
I mean last year he was playing next to a guy currently starting for Houston, a guy currently starting for Kentucky, Waldo (arguably our best player the last month of the season), and Jalon Moore who is arguably our best player. I don’t think the weak supporting cast argument is a reasonable one tbh
Kelvin talked glowingly about Sam last year after Houston game. Sam would have a roll at Houston. I mean he only had 17 points and 7 rebounds against Sampson bigs. I mean he took Los who only scored 6 and 4 assists. I kid on last part.
The comment was that Sam would START for Houston. He wouldn’t. And I don’t think Kelvin would base a decision on one game. Sam has been in college for four years and that game was obviously not the norm. And there is nothing unusual about a coach praising an opponent who played well. Doesn’t mean that kid would start for his program.
Kind of. It was that he would start for Sampson. Wasn't meant as a definitive he would start every year for every sampson team. But I don't think sampson would have any issues starting a player like Godwin...depending on what other bigs were on the roster
The only way he would start for current day Sampson is if Kelvin missed out on every big he was recruiting to play the style of defense Kelvin wants, and/or if the roster was gutted by injuries. Regardless of whether you think Sam is good enough, he just doesn’t fit their style.
I think it depends. He definitely fits Sampson's energy & rebounding style. Can he play defense the way Sampson wants? That's the question, but we won't know unless he plays for him.
....... Jalon Moore and Waldo were the guys playing the 4 the most and arguably our two best players by the end of the season. I don't think you're helping your case here.
I think the Sam that played late last season would have started for last years Houston team. Don’t know enough about this years. I was not impressed with the forwards from Houston last year. Sampson played a lot of 4 guard lineup if I remember. Both Godwin and Moore had more rebounds than any single player for Houston. To bad they did not secure the last rebound.
Not only is Roberts a big, he is, according to Kelvin, their most important player. Started and played 27 minutes per game and averaged double figures, plus 7 boards. Averaged 10 and 8 the prior season. Zero chance Sam starts over him, he would have been fighting for minutes as their third big. Sam scored in double digits once in our final 11 games, despite Hugley missing several games. People are acting like that Houston game was how he played all year or even down the stretch, and it simply wasn't.
I think the Sam that played late last season would have started for last years Houston team. Don’t know enough about this years. I was not impressed with the forwards from Houston last year. Sampson played a lot of 4 guard lineup if I remember. Both Godwin and Moore had more rebounds than any single player for Houston. bad they did not secure the last rebound.
According to the box score, only 1 other big played, everyone else for Houston was a guard. That other big played less the 15 minutes and had 1 free throw. I would say sam could have done that. ALl others with minutes when I went through the box score were guards. This Sam could not play for others needs to stop. Is he the best center or forward out their no. but he would be 2nd best on most big 12 teams last year.
And you guys need to stop changing your argument. Saying he would start, then saying he would possibly start, then saying he would be the second best big, etc.
You don’t think excellent is a reach for a guy who averaged 7 pts and 5 boards and is nothing special defensively?
