There’s a era of middle-aged American males that can at all times consider there’s no higher fraternity on the planet than Phi Slama Jama. They’re nonetheless ready for Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and the remainder of Houston’s dominant dunkers to be rewarded with their rightful NCAA title.
The era earlier than that? They thrilled to the sight of Elvin Hayes and Houston difficult Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) and UCLA earlier than large crowds on the Astrodome and elsewhere.
Alas, Phi Slama Jama got here up quick in back-to-back NCAA title video games (1983–84), and “Massive E” got here up quick in opposition to UCLA in back-to-back Closing Fours (1968–69).
On Monday in San Antonio, with Hayes sitting courtside as Houston’s radio analyst and Olajuwon sitting courtside as basketball royalty, the Houston Cougars will lastly deliver dwelling the college’s first NCAA championship after six missed Closing 4 alternatives.
Empirically, it doesn’t make sense. Oddsmakers say Florida is a 1.5-point favourite. In case you look again on the final 9 NCAA champions on KenPom.com, all 9 have been ranked higher on offense than protection.
Florida options the nation’s ninth-most environment friendly protection and second-most environment friendly offense (128.8 factors per 100 possessions), which additionally ranks because the third-most environment friendly offense throughout the KenPom period that stretches again to 1996–97.
Houston, in the meantime, boasts the nation’s No. 10 offense and the No. 1 protection (87.3 factors per 100 possessions). As we simply mentioned above, protection doesn’t often win championships — however the Cougars simply solved essentially the most environment friendly offense in KenPom historical past.
If they will do sufficient to decelerate All-American Cooper Flagg and two different NBA lottery picks, they will do sufficient to decelerate All-American Walter Clayton Jr. and Florida’s different high-fliers.
Now, we all know what you’re pondering: Saturday night time deserves to be often called an all-time Duke collapse — not an all-time Houston comeback. However check out this:
Duke’s first half-hour: 58 factors, 20-of-44 from the sector (45.5%), two turnovers.
Duke’s final 10 minutes: 9 factors, 1-of-9 from the sector, 5 turnovers.
That’s Houston locking down defensively. Now check out this:
Duke’s first half-hour: 9 offensive rebounds on 25 misses.
Duke’s final 10 minutes: One offensive rebound on 9 misses.
That’s Houston locking down the boards — and that’s earlier than we point out the Cougars’ 5 offensive rebounds within the last 5:10 that changed into six factors. Now check out this:
@OptaSTATS tweeted this in a single day:
Over the past 25 seasons, there have been 7,859 cases of a Division I group trailing by 5+ factors at halftime at the very least 5 instances in a single season. Solely a type of 7,859 has come again to win each single a type of video games.
That one group is Houston — in 2024–25 (5–0).
See, that is simply what Houston does.
On Jan. 25 at Allen Fieldhouse, the Cougars trailed 79–73 with 18 seconds left within the first time beyond regulation — and Kansas was on the line for 2 free throws. The Jayhawks had a 99.6% likelihood to win. However Emanuel Sharp hit a 3-pointer (sound acquainted?), Houston compelled a steal on the press (sound acquainted?) for an additional 3-pointer and went on to win in double time beyond regulation.
So when the Cougars have been down six with 1:14 to go in opposition to Duke — and the Blue Devils had the ball and a contemporary shot clock — it was virtually like Houston was already successful. Everybody anticipated Houston coach Kelvin Sampson to order a foul and prolong the sport so long as attainable. However he trusted his guys — and so they trusted him.
“This entire 12 months, I’ve been attempting to remain off social media and stuff like that,” mentioned fifth-year senior guard LJ Cryer, who led Houston with 26 factors Saturday. “I attempt simply to take heed to Coach Sampson, and he believed we have been the very best group within the match, in order that’s the one individual I listened to.”
“Coach at all times tells us simply preserve enjoying, combat, by no means stop,” mentioned sixth-year senior ahead J’Wan Roberts, who hit two free throws with 19.6 seconds to provide Houston its first second-half lead. “In case you lose the sport, and also you didn’t stop, you didn’t actually lose. Going into video games like this, you by no means wish to go down, however it occurs. However when you don’t stop and also you consider, something can occur.”
Florida will go on runs Monday night time. Like Flagg on Saturday night time, Clayton may become the very best participant on the ground. But when the Cougars management the tempo — and they’ll — they are going to reduce down the nets. Of their dwelling state. With Hayes, Olajuwon and an entire fraternity of former Coogs exulting in a job lastly performed.