Houston coach Kelvin Sampson says the Cougars 'bought into the game plan tonight, and they're not afraid of anybody.'
Fifth-seeded Houston struck first in its 72-60 win over the No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats in the Sweet 16 at AT&T Center and never turned back.
Ever since December, the Cougars have played without arguably their two best players, Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark, both of whom were key parts in Houston’s run to the Final Four last season. Both players suffered season-ending injuries during nonconference play. With Houston's season on the line, their enforcements delivered: Kyler Edwards scored 19 points on 5-for-9 shooting from 3-point range, while Jamal Shead finished with 21 points, six assists, four rebounds and five turnovers.
Added Sampson:"I watched Arizona play. I watched them play UCLA. I watched them play Colorado. I watched the way those teams guarded them, and I knew we weren't going to guard them like those teams did. Those teams just switched them. They let them be comfortable. I knew we were going to make them uncomfortable. That's what we do.
The Cougars also have the top offensive rebounding percentage in college basketball, and it was on display Thursday. Houston corralled 16 offensive boards compared to the Wildcats’ 12, and finished with 19 second-chance points to Arizona’s 13. But the most notable statistical disparity between Arizona and Houston was the Cougars’ 24 points off Arizona’s 14 turnovers. The Wildcats? Six points off Houston’s 12 turnovers. Arizona was also out-scored 26-18 in paint points.