With Houston’s amazing comeback in the Final Four last weekend, the Cougars have just over eight minutes left in the regulations after 14. On Monday night, the Cougars led up to 12 points against Florida in the second half, wasting their lead towards a catastrophic title game loss.
Houston was hoping for the first title in program history, but shooting a shot with final ownership over Florida won’t fall as a heartbreaker. This ownership by talented guard Emmanuel Sharp was a disruption. After Sharp lifted the ball, he scored a pump fake at the last moment, but he couldn’t get off it (it’s going to be a trip), or touched it again first (double dribbling), leading to a Madhouse scramble that gave the Gators a victory.
This was one of the three turnovers Houston had in the final minute, two from Sharp. During that period, the Cougars attempted a zero shot. zero! This will stick with Kelvin Sampson for a long time.
“I don’t understand that I couldn’t get a shot,” Sampson said. “We were two years old and didn’t need a three. … Florida was doing a good job of getting us out of the line. We didn’t do much good job finishing some shots.
After the game, Sharp was distraught and crouched down with his head in hand for a long time. He was comforted by Florida counterpart Walter Clayton Jr. with a lovely touch of sportsmanship. Sharp was fantastic in the final minute of his comeback with Houston and Duke two nights ago, making a stepback 3 pointer that would draw the Cougars within three of their final victory. Sharp scored 16 points in that victory. He wasn’t as effective as Monday night, but the rest of the Houston security guards also struggled. Milos Uzan was cold with ice, taking 4-4 for two of his nine field goals and three fields. Sharp hit one of his seven threes. Star point guard LJ Kryer scored 19 points in six of his 18 shootings.
Houston’s best chance at the NCAA Championship slides down after losing to Florida in the national title game
Dennis Dodd
And it is true that behind every comeback victory by a team is a similar collapse on the other side. That’s what happened in Houston on Monday. The Cougars earned a living from being a bit more physically and mentally challenging at critical times throughout the season. But on Monday night they folded when they absolutely needed to close.
Houston has three title game appearances, including 1984-1 Seed Georgetown and 1983, famous for Lorenzo Charles’ miraculous saves, and 1983 Seed NC State. It was the best ever to compete in the seven Final Fours without a national championship in Houston.
After such a defeat, there is no bounty of salvation, but Houston opens the 2025-26 season as the first team in a very important preview of his colleague Isaac Trotter.
