HISTORIC HOOPS

Kelvin Sampson’s Coogs Claw Their Way into the Final Four Spotlight

UH Cougars celebrating

Four fingers raised high and dancing with delight amid a cascade of red and white confetti, the Coogs embraced each other and reveled in their monumental “March Madness” moment. Cue the scissors, and cut the net, the University of Houston had just punched its first ticket to the Final Four in nearly four decades by rattling off a breathtaking four straight wins at the 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, captivating a city and the entire Cougar community.

Madness indeed!

Yes, there would come a time later when the amazing season would finally end at the hands of a Baylor buzz saw, which then went on to take down previously unconquered Gonzaga and bring the NCAA trophy back to Texas.

But right here, right now, was a time to celebrate this special moment. Relishing a sweet rush of emotion, Head Coach Kelvin Sampson hugged his son, Kellen, and daughter, Lauren, both crying on their father’s shoulders, marking the culmination of countless long nights and early mornings of hard work. Both were integral to not only the team’s historic postseason run, but the remarkable rebuilding of a once-forgotten men’s basketball program.

“Proud of the kids, proud of the heart, proud of battling through so many things this year,” said Sampson after beating Oregon State in the Elite 8. “This is one of the greatest accomplishments I’ve been around.”

The Coogs posted a remarkable 28-4 record for the 2020-21 season, winning the American Athletic Conference tournament championship before earning a No. 2 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Region. While they fell to eventual national champion Baylor in the national semifinals, their incredible success was no accident. This was the plan all along. During preseason conditioning last summer, the team would often break huddles by shouting “Final Four!” and “National title!” They spoke it into existence.

“That’s when I knew we had a special team and a chance to do something special this year,” said junior guard Quentin Grimes.

It was UH’s deepest tournament run since Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon led high-flying Phi Slama Jama to consecutive national title games in 1983 and 1984. But make no mistake, this team had its own identity, one built on toughness, tenacity and togetherness. Quite simply, they are family.

“They made their own breaks,” UH Athletic Director Chris Pezman told PaperCity Magazine. “We were due. It’s our time with the program Coach developed. Kelvin got the odds stacked in our favor with the way he built this thing.”

Brick by brick.

Control what you can – effort, toughness, accountability. The rest will take care of itself.

Coach Kelvin Sampson cutting the net after the UH victory over Oregon State

Coach Kelvin Sampson cuts the net after the UH victory over Oregon State, the win that put them into the Final Four – UH’s first since 1984.

Coach Kelvin Sampson cuts the net after the UH victory over Oregon State, the win that put them into the Final Four – UH’s first since 1984.

WINNING CULTURE

Decades from now, Cougar faithful will reminisce about the one- two punch of Grimes and Marcus Sasser raining buckets and ultra- athletic point guard DeJon Jarreau dominating on defense. Skilled players such as those can propel teams to successful seasons, but finding sustained success year after year – the Coogs have enjoyed six straight seasons with 20 or more wins – takes something more than talent. It’s culture.

Culture can be the difference between a lucky, one-year Cinderella run and the emergence of a top-tier, consistently relevant program. UH has more wins during the past four seasons than every other team in the country except perennial powerhouse Gonzaga. Why? A collective belief in how business should be handled. There’s no gray area. And it starts at the top with Kelvin Sampson, who recently won the John McLendon Award presented to the nation’s top collegiate head coach.

“I don’t like a lot of glitz and glamour. I like guys who roll up their sleeves and go to work,” said Sampson on his weekly coach’s show midway through last season.

Loose ball on the ground? Sacrifice your body and dive on the floor. Someone driving the lane? Take the charge. Contest every shot. And rebound, rebound, rebound. The Coogs’ team “D” was one of the stingiest in the nation. Rest assured a Sampson-coached team will never be outworked. It’s in their DNA.

“Toughness, toughness. That’s what Coach preaches every day. The tough team is going to win,” said Grimes at the Final Four.

The return – a resurrection, really – of the UH men’s basketball program to national prominence since Sampson arrived in 2014 is rooted in his blue-collar philosophy. It’s a pack your lunch pail, punch the clock and work your tail off kind of culture. In the early years, Sampson would walk around campus with a bullhorn and small spirit squad hoping to drum up student support when there simply wasn’t any. Hofheinz Pavilion was often a ghost town on game days. Do whatever it takes. Turns out, winning serves as a pretty loud bullhorn.

Last season, Houston was ranked as high as fourth in the all- important NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings – the primary sorting tool for evaluating teams. When asked during the season by a reporter about such impressive kudos, Sampson said he had “no thoughts at all.” When pushed for a response: “I’ve got practice today. That’s something I can control,” he said. It’s not false modesty, it’s focus.

Control what you can – effort, toughness, accountability. The rest will take care of itself.

Cougars celebrating after buzzer

As soon as the buzzer sounds, the Cougars celebrate their win over Oregon State and their opportunity to return to the Final Four..

As soon as the buzzer sounds, the Cougars celebrate their win over Oregon State and their opportunity to return to the Final Four..

Quentin Grimes

Super guard Quentin Grimes faces off against Baylor’s MaCio Teague.

Super guard Quentin Grimes faces off against Baylor’s MaCio Teague.

Reggie Chaney dunking

Reggie Chaney slams home a dunk in the season-ending game against Baylor.

Reggie Chaney slams home a dunk in the season-ending game against Baylor.

Item 1 of 3
Cougars celebrating after buzzer

As soon as the buzzer sounds, the Cougars celebrate their win over Oregon State and their opportunity to return to the Final Four..

As soon as the buzzer sounds, the Cougars celebrate their win over Oregon State and their opportunity to return to the Final Four..

Quentin Grimes

Super guard Quentin Grimes faces off against Baylor’s MaCio Teague.

Super guard Quentin Grimes faces off against Baylor’s MaCio Teague.

Reggie Chaney dunking

Reggie Chaney slams home a dunk in the season-ending game against Baylor.

Reggie Chaney slams home a dunk in the season-ending game against Baylor.

PLAYING DURING A PANDEMIC

Winning aside, this past season was unlike any other. Ever.

The challenges the team faced off the court due to the coronavirus pandemic were immense. More than a few games were postponed and schedules disrupted due to COVID-19 protocols. Home games at Fertitta Center were limited to 25% capacity – fewer than 1,900 fans. Hand sanitizer was more popular than hot dogs.

In the fourth game of the season against “Power Five” team South Carolina, Sampson and his top assistant, son Kellen, were forced to stay home due to those COVID-19 protocols, and two of the team’s top scorers were sporting walking boots on the sideline. Despite being significantly undermanned both on the bench and in the coaching ranks, the available players put on their hard hats and scraped out a 10-point win. The Cougars’ culture dictates that no matter the obstacle, you work the problem and find a solution. CBS Sports Network host John Rothstein called it one of the best “culture” wins he’s seen in 15 years on the college basketball beat.

Just a few days later, the University was forced to pause basketball activities due to positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing. Then came the bombshell just a week before Christmas. Sampson revealed that every player on the team had tested positive for COVID-19 at some point since testing began during the summer.

Fortunately, everyone had recovered, but imagine preparing for the rigors of a college basketball game with barely a full line-up of players at practice and juggling personnel to get a healthy quintet on the court at game time. Add to that the unexpected departure of Caleb Mills, the super-scoring guard and preseason AAC Player of the Year, who left the team and transferred to Florida State University. That might have left lesser teams reeling. If anything, the adversity seemed to fire up Kelvin’s Coogs and bring them closer as a team.

THE FRONT PORCH

Athletics are often called the “front porch” of a university given the significant visibility they bring — drawing spectators to live games and national broadcasts. Recognizing that athletic success is a source of pride and can help build loyalty, building a nationally competitive athletics program is one of the goals of UH’s new strategic plan, “Together, We Rise. Together, We Soar,” and aligns with the University’s vision of building a Top 50 public university.

All these eyeballs on the basketball program during their historic postseason ride should certainly help with that. The media exposure earned through a Final Four appearance is almost incalculable, but extremely valuable.

“This is a time for us all to be proud, for us all to stand tall and feel the moment of joy. Coach Sampson has successfully built sustained excellence,” said UH President Renu Khator. “It’s been a cultural transformation, and what’s going on in Athletics can be seen in so many parts of the University. It’s about the culture of being hungry, wanting excellence, whether it’s on the court, in the classroom or in a research lab. We are trying to build a university that Houston deserves.”

Winning seasons and national rankings are no longer just aspirations at UH, they have become expectations. And with a slew of talented players waiting in the wings and Sampson signed through the 2026-27 season, the future seems beyond bright for Cougars basketball.

As the diehard sports fan loves to say, “Wait till next year.” But in the Coogs’ case, it doesn’t ring hollow.

“We’ll be back,” said Sampson. “The perception of our program has changed. And, our program itself has changed. I can’t wait to play in front of sellouts next year. This is going to be exciting. But, this year’s team will never be forgotten.

DeJon Jarreau holds high the team’s Final Four trophy

Surrounded by his jubilant teammates, senior DeJon Jarreau holds high the team’s Final Four trophy.

Surrounded by his jubilant teammates, senior DeJon Jarreau holds high the team’s Final Four trophy.