Episode 958: Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson

Marching to Madness

Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson checks into “Marching to Madness” as his Cougars won the Big 12 regular season title in their first season in the conference. His roster and rotation generally remain intact as Jamal Shead moved onto the Toronto Raptors, but he returns a quality backcourt with Lj Cryer and Emmanuel Sharp on the perimeter and J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis inside. Watch role players in Terrence Arceneaux, Mylik Wilson, and JoJo Tugler, who were injured throughout last season. The Cougs returned with a 125-19 record over the last four seasons, including two Sweet 16s, an Elite Eight, and a Final Four.

Topics of Discussion Include:

• The mentality that allows Houston to be able to keep players in his program in the era of the transfer portal
• The dynamics of guards LJ Cryer and Emmanuel Sharp on both ends of the floor
• The length of learning the Cougars’ culture
• Building consisttency on the defensiv end of the floor as they led the nation in allowing only 57.6 ppg last season and opponents only shot 37.9 percent from the floor. Both of those stats placed Houston as the nation’s leader in both categories