Following the Houston Cougars’ victory over the Idaho Vandals in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, a CBS analyst made a bold statement regarding head coach Kelvin Sampson.
Gary Parrish outlined why some may have picked against the Cougars in their tournament bracket. He noted that Houston did not win a conference regular season title or its conference tournament. Parrish stated that, typically, a national champion claims at least one of those titles.
Analyst Backs Sampson for the Title
Parrish shifted to a confident evaluation of the Cougars. He believes that the Cougars have everything to win six games in the event. Parrish stated that it starts with the Hall of Fame-level coach in Kelvin Sampson. He added that they have roster continuity from one season to the next.
Parrish noted players from last season, such as Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan, are back and playing a big role on this team.
Key Players Highlighted
Sharp has been especially important for the Cougars, acting as a veteran voice in the locker room. The senior guard seems to be taking on the pressure with a calm, steady presence. Parrish also pointed to the NBA-level talent on the Cougars’ roster.
Parrish added that freshmen Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr. are projected top-20 picks. Parrish stated that you typically need pros to win the whole thing, and Houston has that. He believes they check every box and get home-court advantage in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 if they get there.
Freshmen Making an Impact
Flemings is averaging over 16 points, 5.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. Cenac Jr. has been a force around the rim this season, averaging a team high 7.8 rebounds per game along with 9.4 points.
Parrish thinks that, at the age of 70, Kelvin Sampson can get his first national championship.
The No. 2-seed Houston Cougars defeated the No. 15-seed Idaho Vandals in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Kelvin Sampson’s squad advanced to the Round of 32 with a 78-47 win. Guards Kingston Flemings and Emanuel Sharp combined for 34 points, shooting 14 of 19 from the floor.