Houston guard Kyler Edwards celebrates after dragging down a rebound between Arizonaβs Bennedict Mathurin, left, and Christian Koloko in the final moments Thursday night.
Houston forward Fabian White Jr. hammers Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin on his drive during the Wildcatsβ 72-60 loss in San Antonio in the Sweet 16.
Fifth-seeded Houston struck first in its 72-60 win over the No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats in the Sweet 16 at AT&T Center and never turned back.
For the second time this season, the Wildcats never led. Not once in 2,400 seconds. And for the first time since legendary center Hakeem Olajuwon wore a UH uniform in 1983, the Cougars took down a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
When asked about the historic win for his program, Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson said the Cougars βwere solid.β
βWe werenβt good or really good,β Sampson said.
Then Sampson turned to critique the play of Houston guard Taze Moore, who concluded Thursday with three points, two turnovers and four fouls, and referred to him as a βnon-factor.β
βHe had 21 against Illinois. Tonight heβs in the witness protection program. I couldnβt find him nowhere,β Sampson said.
Ever since December, the Cougars have played without arguably their two best players, Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark, both of whom were key parts in Houstonβs run to the Final Four last season. Both players suffered season-ending injuries during nonconference play. With Houstonβs season on the line, their enforcements delivered Thursday: Kyler Edwards scored 19 points on 5-for-9 shooting from 3-point range, while Jamal Shead finished with 21 points, six assists, four rebounds and five turnovers.
βSheadβs been doing that β he was kind of thrusted into a major role early,β said Sampson. βHe just had to get better. β¦ We got thrown a curveball β we donβt need to talk about that anymore, but we got thrown a curveball in late December, early January, and we just had to go and figure out whoβs going to do what.β
Houstonβs gameplan against Arizona was simple: Play aggressive, and counter every run by the Wildcats. Essentially, old-school bully ball.
βIf the gameβs in the 80s, then theyβre doing what they practice,β Sampson said. βIf the gameβs in the 50s and 60s, that means our defense is really good.β
Added Sampson: βI watched Arizona play. I watched them play UCLA. I watched them play Colorado. I watched the way those teams guarded them, and I knew we werenβt going to guard them like those teams did. Those teams just switched them. They let them be comfortable. I knew we were going to make them uncomfortable. Thatβs what we do.
βI knew their size would be a factor, but I didnβt think their size was β if we did what our game plan called for β I didnβt think the size was going to make us lose. Our team, weβre a tough bunch. Weβve gotten a lot better as the season goes on.β
Arizona forward Pelle Larsson cut to the basket for a layup to trim Houstonβs lead to 37-35 in the second half, but that was the closest the Wildcats would get to taking a lead over the Cougars.
βThe best thing they did watching (film) was fast breaks, and they only had nine fast-break points,β Edwards said. βCredit to the coaches for getting us ready for this game, and just being together and being the toughest team pulled us through.β
The Cougars also have the top offensive rebounding percentage in college basketball, and it was on display Thursday. Houston corralled 12 offensive boards β Arizona had 16, in part because it missed more shots (36) than Houston (27) β and finished with 19 second-chance points to Arizonaβs 13. But the most notable statistical disparity between Arizona and Houston was the Cougarsβ 24 points off Arizonaβs 14 turnovers. The Wildcats? Six points off Houstonβs 12 turnovers. Arizona was also outscored 26-18 in the paint.
The short-handed β and undersized β Coogs sized up one of the tallest teams in the country and took their shot.
βOnce we come out of the locker room, we feel like weβre supposed to be here at all times,β Shead said. βWe always feel like the toughest team out there and always try to play like it. We always have each otherβs back, and I think thatβs the most important thing there. We canβt be scared of anybody if we all are together and just trying to go at it all the time.β
That never-scared mentality was the difference between taking one step closer to a Final Four and packing up their gear and driving three hours home to H-Town.
βGood, bad, or indifferent, every team is known for something. All our teams eventually get there. Itβs not always smooth sailing, weβre not going to win a lot of beauty contests, but victories donβt come with asterisks,β Sampson said. βItβs not a beauty contest.β
Now the Cougars are one win away from returning to the Final Four. Theyβll take on No. 2 seed Villanova in Saturdayβs Elite Eight.
βAll the credit goes to these kids. I can do what I want. Coach doesnβt win games, players do. Iβm really proud of this bunch,β Sampson said. βThey bought into the game plan tonight, and theyβre not afraid of anybody. Whether itβs UAB or Illinois, Arizona.
βOur next game is Villanova. Weβll just move on to that one, and weβll do the best we can with that one.β
Photos: Arizona loses to Houston, 72-60, in NCAA Sweet Sixteen game