Cougars Men's Basketball Head Coach Kelvin Sampson Talks TAMU Exhibition, Previews Upcoming Season

The Matt Thomas Show

Houston Cougars men's basketball head coach Kelvin Sampson joins "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" to preview a charity exhibition game against the Texas A&M Aggies. Proceeds from the game will benefit the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund. The Cougars, who were ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 poll, have an early test against a formidable opponent ahead of their season opener against Jackson State on November 4. "In a month from now, nobody is going to remember this game, but it's part of our process," Sampson said. "It's so early in the season to be making decisions, so we're just going to let the guys play." The Cougars finished last season with a 32-5 record, earned the Big 12 Conference regular-season championship, advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight season and appeared in the Sweet 16 for the fifth consecutive year. Four starters and nine lettermen have returned to the lineup, one of which is guard LJ Cryer, who led the Cougars in scoring last season. "He's an outstanding shooter... I'd just like to see him be a little bit more aggressive." Sampson also comments on the emergence of NIL and the importance of the transfer portal in collegiate athletics. These elements have led many coaches to express their concerns and outright leave the game, as most recently with Sampson's friend Tony Bennett, the former Virginia basketball coach who suddenly retired earlier this month. "The reason I got into this profession to begin with, I still love," Sampson said. "I'll evolve and change because I have to."