Houston coach Kelvin Sampson addressed the media for the first time since his team’s 65-63 loss to Florida in the NCAA national title game. Sampson, who had been overcome with emotion after the game, spoke about the disappointment of squandering a 12-point lead and making four consecutive turnovers in the final minutes.
Sampson described his team as “built for six straight wins” but ultimately fell short due to mistakes on both ends of the court. He acknowledged that his star guard Emanuel Sharp had made crucial reads during the game, particularly on defense against Florida’s Alex Condon.
The loss marked a crushing defeat for Sampson, who was on the verge of securing his 800th career victory and first national title. Instead, he walked off the court in dismay after the handshake line.
Sampson’s daughter Lauren provided comfort to her father during an emotional moment in the tunnel. The coach later told her that he was “OK,” but it’s clear that this loss will be a difficult pill for him to swallow.
Assistant coaches Kellen Sampson and others in the locker room struggled to come to terms with the team’s performance, acknowledging that every margin is razor-thin in tournament basketball. Despite their disappointment, they acknowledged that Florida did enough to win the game as well.
The game’s final play saw Sharp attempt a long 3-pointer, which was blocked by Alex Condon, securing the victory for Florida. The loss marked a stunning upset and a heartbreaking end to Houston’s championship hopes.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/44582975/kelvin-sampson-calls-houston-ending-incomprehensible