‘As good as anybody we’ve played.’ Houston’s Kelvin Sampson gives high praise to Gonzaga after dramatic finish in Round of 32 matchup

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WICHITA, Kan. – Gonzaga fans shared the same reaction when they learned the Zags’ NCAA Tournament seed on Selection Sunday, wincing, sighing and groaning when an “8” popped up next to the Zags’ name near the end of the hourlong CBS show.

They weren’t alone.

Kelvin Sampson was watching from a ballroom at Post Oak Hotel in Uptown Houston when the Cougars’ region began to take shape. Most college basketball fans completing brackets moved Houston to the Final Four without hestitation, but Sampson accurately predicted his team would get its first legitimate test before leaving Wichita.

“You look at that (Gonzaga) team. I mean, we just came from the Big 12,” Sampson said. “We’re in a league with Kansas, Iowa State, all those schools. Gonzaga is as good as anybody we’ve played all year. Personnel-wise too, (Graham) Ike and (Braden) Huff, (Ryan) Nembhard, I mean, that’s a really good team.”

The Houston-Gonzaga matchup surfaced after the Cougars dispatched SIU Edwardsville 78-40 and the Zags throttled Georgia 89-68 later on Thursday evening at Intrust Bank Arena.

Given the option, Gonzaga might have chosen anyone else to face with a 10th straight Sweet 16 berth on the line. Not that the Cougars were thrilled with the draw either.

“KenPom analytics are pretty spot on. That’s the eighth or ninth best team in the country,” Sampson said. “They should have never been seeded where they were seeded. I get the analytical component, but I also think the eye test should come into play, too.”

Gonzaga outperformed its seed, covered the 5½-point spread and nearly completed a late comeback in an 81-76 loss that sent Houston to its sixth straight Sweet 16 and simultaneously ended Gonzaga streak of second-weekend appearances – the longest active streak in the nation until Saturday night.

The Cougars blitzed Gonzaga early with defensive pressure and 3-point shooting, but the Zags made a number of runs throughout to keep the game within 14…

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Publish date : 2025-03-24 02:06:00

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