Houston basketball HC Kelvin Sampson focused on Arizona after loss to Iowa State

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Houston basketball remains firmly in the national spotlight, and head coach Kelvin Sampson made it clear his program will not dwell on a narrow loss to Iowa State. After the No. 2 Cougars fell 70-67 on the road to the No. 6 Cyclones inside Hilton Coliseum, the focus quickly shifted to the Arizona Wildcats and the next challenge in Big 12 play.

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The loss occurred in dramatic fashion. The Cougars had a 10-point lead before the Cyclones went on a decisive 17-4 run down the stretch. Nate Heise hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:17 left, and a late turnover sealed the victory. Despite Kingston Flemings’ 22 points, Houston dropped to 23-3 overall as the Big 12 race tightened.

Sampson, however, did not linger on missed opportunities. The veteran head coach emphasized recovery and preparation, signaling that perspective matters in a conference defined by elite competition. With Arizona headed to town Saturday, Houston faces another high-level matchup that could influence conference positioning and NCAA Tournament seeding.

The Houston Chronicle’s Joseph Duarte posted Sampson’s postgame remarks on X (formerly known as Twitter), capturing the head coach’s forward-looking mentality as Houston immediately turns its attention to the Wildcats.

“We’ll lick our wounds with this one and get ready for another big one on Saturday.”

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The message was brief but revealing. Rather than revisiting the late-game collapse, Sampson framed the setback as part of the grind of Big 12 basketball. That approach reinforces the culture Houston has established under his leadership—measured, disciplined, and forward-focused.

Arizona now becomes the challenge. A return to the Fertitta Center offers Houston a chance to respond with intensity in front of its home crowd. In a conference where every possession…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/houston-basketball-hc-kelvin-sampson-065810986.html

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Publish date : 2026-02-17 06:58:00

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