Houston coach Kelvin Sampson expressed his disbelief after his team suffered a heartbreaking 65-63 loss to Florida in the NCAA Championship Game on Monday night. The Cougars squandered a 12-point second-half lead and faltered in the final minute, allowing Florida to mount one of the largest comebacks in NCAA tournament history. Sampson, visibly crushed, shared his thoughts on the disappointing loss, which capped a promising tournament run that had seen Houston in control for most of the game.
Houston’s Unexpected Fall in the Final Moments
Houston entered the final minute of the national title game with a slim 63-61 lead, but a series of critical turnovers turned the tide in Florida’s favor. The Cougars, who had dominated for most of the game and trailed for only 63 seconds, could not manage to execute on their final possessions. Coach Sampson, who had hoped for a historic finish, was left stunned by the collapse.
“It’s incomprehensible,” Sampson said, reflecting on his team’s inability to execute in the closing moments. Houston failed to even get a shot off on their final two possessions, with star guard Emanuel Sharp committing back-to-back turnovers. The loss came just days after the Cougars had stunned Duke with a last-second rally to secure a spot in the title game.
A Turnaround for Florida in the Final Seconds
Florida’s win marked the third-largest comeback in NCAA Championship history. After trailing for most of the game, they gained their first lead with just 46 seconds left. The turning point came when Sharp, attempting to drive to the basket with 26 seconds remaining, was stripped by Florida’s Will Richard. This crucial turnover led to Florida’s Denzel Aberdeen making one of two free throws, bringing the Gators within one point.
Houston’s fate was sealed when Sharp, facing intense pressure from Florida’s defense, missed a last-second three-point attempt with just five seconds on the clock. Walter Clayton Jr. made a key defensive play, contesting the shot and forcing a turnover. Florida’s Alex Condon then sealed the win with a steal, completing the Gators’ improbable comeback.
Sharp’s Emotional Struggles Post-Game
Sharp, who had been integral to Houston’s defense throughout the tournament, faced intense criticism for his late-game miscues. As reporters entered the Cougars’ locker room, Sharp was seen being consoled by teammate Milos Uzan, clearly distraught over his performance. “That’s me, bro,” Sharp was overheard saying, expressing his frustration.
Despite his late turnovers, Sampson expressed his support for Sharp. “I told him I loved him,” Sampson said. “He did an awesome job on defense. We don’t get here without him.”
Sharp had spent much of the game guarding Florida’s Clayton, limiting the guard to just 11 points on 3-for-10 shooting. Sampson praised Sharp’s defensive effort but noted that a better decision-making moment could have helped the team close out the game.
Houston’s Missed Opportunities in the Final Stretch
Houston’s failure to seal the game wasn’t limited to Sharp’s turnovers. There were other crucial mistakes in the final moments, including a turnover by Joseph Tugler off an offensive rebound and a misplaced pass by L.J. Cryer on a baseline drive. Cryer, frustrated by the misplay, summed up the overall feeling of missed opportunity: “It was definitely there for the taking.”
Had Houston secured the victory, it would have marked a milestone for Sampson—his 800th career win and first national title. Such a victory might have also propelled him into the Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. However, instead of celebrating, Sampson walked off the court in disbelief, as Florida celebrated its title.
A Father’s Support and the Emotional Aftermath
After the loss, Sampson was consoled by his daughter, Lauren, who ran to him in the tunnel. “I’m OK,” Sampson reassured her, despite the sting of the defeat. The Cougars’ assistant coaches, visibly disheartened, sat in their locker room reflecting on the near-miss. Sampson’s son, Kellen, who is also an assistant coach, summed up the brutal nature of the game, saying, “It’s a brutal, cruel guillotine. The margins are so razor-thin. We certainly did enough tonight to win. Florida did, as well, and they won.”
In a game defined by missed opportunities and late-game mistakes, Houston’s hopes of claiming their first national title were dashed by Florida’s resilient defense and timely scoring. Sampson and his team now face the difficult task of reflecting on what could have been. With such a tight contest and narrow margin, the loss will likely haunt the Cougars for some time, but their tournament run shows they were more than capable of capturing the championship.
