Introduction to Kelvin Sampson
Bill Raftery, a legendary broadcaster, has known Kelvin Sampson, the University of Houston’s coach, for a long time. He thinks they first met when Sampson was coaching at Washington State, but it’s possible they met earlier when Sampson was a graduate assistant at Michigan State. Raftery spent a lot of time around Michigan State’s program, which had Magic Johnson at the time. Although he doesn’t remember the younger Sampson, he definitely recalls the one from Washington State.
A Coach with Unchanging Principles
Raftery believes that coaches grow and learn in their profession, making adjustments and learning about tendencies. However, he notes that Sampson’s standards and principles have remained the same over the years. Raftery saw the same Kelvin Sampson at Washington State, where he won at a place that is notoriously difficult for coaches to succeed. He was impressed by how Sampson’s team exposed their opponents’ flaws with ruthless efficiency.
The Secret to Sampson’s Success
According to Raftery, Sampson’s teams test their opponents every single possession. If the opponent is not ready, it’s going to be a long night. Raftery hopes that everyone appreciates what Sampson has built at the University of Houston. The team’s home arena, the Fertitta Center, is one of the best scenes in college basketball, and Raftery believes that Sampson’s consistency is what stands out.
UH’s Impressive Start to the Season
The University of Houston is off to a 16-1 start, which is two games better than last year’s national championship runner-up team. The team is led by freshmen Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr., and relies on two more freshmen in its top eight rotation. Raftery believes that college basketball insiders appreciate the magnitude of this run, but wonders if UH fans grasp the real magnitude of this achievement.
A Legacy of Greatness
The University of Houston will retire the jersey of early 1970s star Dwight Davis, who was a dynamic rebounder and athlete. Davis is a huge fan of Kelvin Sampson and believes that he could have done more in his NBA career if he had Sampson as his college coach. Davis thinks that Sampson has a way of motivating his players and getting the most out of them.
Sampson’s Coaching Style
Sampson is still teaching and building his team, even after 37 seasons as a college coach. He sees how he can help his players improve, including freshman point guard Kingston Flemings. Sampson believes that Flemings still has a long way to go and is not in his fan club like most people. He is always looking for ways to improve his team and prepare them for the next challenge.
The Team’s Growth and Improvement
The University of Houston team is still growing and learning, even as they continue to win. Senior guard Milos Uzan notes that freshmen Chris Cenac Jr. and JoJo Tugler are getting better together and helping the team improve. Bill Raftery sees the same thing he’s seen from Sampson’s teams since the Washington State days – a commitment to excellence and a focus on improvement.
Conclusion
Kelvin Sampson is a coach who has built a legacy of greatness at the University of Houston. His teams are known for their ruthless efficiency and ability to expose their opponents’ flaws. With a 16-1 start to the season, the team is off to a great start, and Sampson is still teaching and building his team. As Raftery says, "Kelvin’s still Kelvin," and college basketball is better for it.
