As the Houston Cougars prep for their NCAA opener against the Idaho Vandals, questions about their tournament resilience loom.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Houston Cougars men’s basketball have arrived in Oklahoma City for the NCAA Tournament, greeted by a familiar face for Houston viewers.
Head coach Kelvin Sampson stepped off the team bus and gave a quick wave to a KHOU 11 News camera as the Cougars prepared for their tournament opener.
Houston’s first test comes Thursday night against the Idaho Vandals at the Paycom Center.
As the Cougars settle into Oklahoma City, three questions loom heading into the opening round.
Is Houston built to last in March?
Houston enters the tournament with the profile of a contender: an experienced backcourt, a dynamic freshman scorer and the second-best scoring defense in the nation.
But the Cougars have occasionally struggled to score inside, particularly around the basket.
Senior guard Emanuel Sharp said the team understands the urgency that comes with the tournament.
“There’s no more do-overs,” Sharp said on Monday. “This is the last time this team is going to be able to be a team.”
How good are the Vandals?
Idaho earned its NCAA berth by winning four games in five days to claim the Big Sky Conference tournament championship.
Sampson said the Vandals’ shooting ability makes them a dangerous opponent.
“They’ve got excellent shooters,” Sampson told reporters on Monday. “Everybody that steps on the floor has the ability to make threes.”
Houston knows better than to overlook any opponent this time of year.
What exactly is a Vandal?
The nickname dates to 1917, when a writer for the University of Idaho’s student newspaper described the team’s ferocious style of play as “vandalizing” opponents.
Houston hopes the only thing getting vandalized Thursday is Idaho’s bracket.
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