Teams emulate their coach, and boy is that true for this Sweet 16-bound Houston team, writes RossDellenger
They are legendary for their intensity. They are fast, and they are fierce. They can be downright nasty, in fact. Sampson compares some of them to a raging thunderstorm. At times, they’re more like a “tsunami,” he says.These are the practices of a grinder, a man who admittedly held an inferiority complex as a young head coach in the Pac-12.
Toughness? Yes, Houston had 15 offensive rebounds and, overall, out-rebounded a bigger opponent by six boards. Defense, you say? Houston had eight steals, forced 17 turnovers and blocked six shots. The Cougars limited the big man, Cockburn, to six points in the first half before withstanding 13 more from him in the second.