Houston or Florida?

[MU82]

Five turnovers on Houston's last six possessions. A brutal last five minutes for the Coogs.

To paraphrase a comment from Saturday ...

"Not looking good for the Sampson can coach crowd."

Obviously, I don't believe that. But it was a pretty big collapse, with numerous empty possessions in which they either got no shot or took a horrible shot.

If that was Scheyer's team - or Shaka's team - the rip-the-coachers would be out in full force.

[Johnny B]

Let's go Marquette in one shining moment !!

[GoldenEagles03]

Way easier to just lose in the 1st round than to lose how Houston just did.

[Elonsmusk]

What a great game.  Can't say I'm sad to see Kelvin Sampson take the L.

[Dish]

After watching One Shining Moment, it felt like the start of the tournament was 6 months ago.

[Johnny B]

.4 seconds of the MU pre game huddle hype.
.2 seconds more than X

[MuggsyB]

To paraphrase a comment from Saturday ...

"Not looking good for the Sampson can coach crowd."

Obviously, I don't believe that. But it was a pretty big collapse, with numerous empty possessions in which they either got no shot or took a horrible shot.

If that was Scheyer's team - or Shaka's team - the rip-the-coachers would be out in full force.

Fair point.  The late turns were an abomination and illustrates what can happen when you lose focus. 

[rocky_warrior]

I'm that guy (with a < $2 bet)

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Five turnovers on Houston's last six possessions. A brutal last five minutes for the Coogs. Give it up for Florida's defense

I was watching and thinking Houston picked a bad time to have Dave Joplin driving with the basketball disease.

And the last 3 seconds I don't understand why there was no shot attempt and the player was just standing there with the ball?

[muwarrior69]

I am not Herman, but an excellent article to end the season.

https://nypost.com/2025/04/08/sports/florida-star-walter-clayton-jr-consoled-emanuel-sharp-after-heartbreaking-loss-for-houston/

[Uncle Rico]

To paraphrase a comment from Saturday ...

"Not looking good for the Sampson can coach crowd."

Obviously, I don't believe that. But it was a pretty big collapse, with numerous empty possessions in which they either got no shot or took a horrible shot.

If that was Scheyer's team - or Shaka's team - the rip-the-coachers would be out in full force.

If there's one certainty on life, its message board posters would be the best coaches ever

[The Sultan]

Two things can be true.

1. Todd Golden is a creep who got let off easy because he was having such a good season.

2. Todd Golden is a very good basketball coach. Some of the stuff they ran out of timeouts was really nice. And rallying from behind the way they do shows he always keeps their heads in the game.

I would not be surprised to see him in the NBA if he wants to go there.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I thought FL's best adjustment was extending the defense and not allowing Houston to dribble to/past the three point line in the second half.  Made it very hard to get it to paint which was their most effect 1H scoring option (deep shooting was terrible all game).

Smart adjustment and Houston wasnt able to counter it with no true PG.

[The Sultan]

I thought FL's best adjustment was extending the defense and not allowing Houston to dribble to/past the three point line in the second half.  Made it very hard to get it to paint which was their most effect 1H scoring option (deep shooting was terrible all game).

Smart adjustment and Houston wasnt able to counter it with no true PG.

Agreed. They have big guards too, which was giving Houston fits.

[Billy Hoyle]

I thought FL's best adjustment was extending the defense and not allowing Houston to dribble to/past the three point line in the second half.  Made it very hard to get it to paint which was their most effect 1H scoring option (deep shooting was terrible all game).

Smart adjustment and Houston wasnt able to counter it with no true PG.

Not just that but having two bigs in the paint.

I was watching and thinking Houston picked a bad time to have Dave Joplin driving with the basketball disease.

And the last 3 seconds I don't understand why there was no shot attempt and the player was just standing there with the ball?

Since both of his feet had left the ground and it hadn't been touched by anyone else if he had picked it up it would have been a double dribble.

[Jay Bee]

Have read a few bizarro (and different) claims on why Sharp couldn't touch the ball last night — I can't get there yet. If he had grabbed the ball immediately after landing, what would the infraction be?

HUGE story no one is talking about.

[Billy Hoyle]

Have read a few bizarro (and different) claims on why Sharp couldn't touch the ball last night — I can't get there yet. If he had grabbed the ball immediately after landing, what would the infraction be?

HUGE story no one is talking about.

traveling or a double dribble:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2025/04/07/houston-florida-final-play-emanuel-sharp-national-championship/82985649007/#:~:text=Houston's%20Emanuel%20Sharp%20lined%20up,by%20Florida%2C%20ending%20the%20game.

Florida put on the clamps in the final possession, holding the Cougars without a shot attempt before stealing the ball. Houston's Emanuel Sharp lined up for a game-winning 3-pointer before trying to avoid Alex Condon's block attempt. But he left his feet, therefore not allowing him to touch the ball again without being called for a travel.

[The Sultan]

Have read a few bizarro (and different) claims on why Sharp couldn't touch the ball last night — I can't get there yet. If he had grabbed the ball immediately after landing, what would the infraction be?

HUGE story no one is talking about.

Yeah, everyone seems to be saying it would have been a double-dribble...but he never dribbled.

I think it would have been a travel. From the NCAA rulebook:

"Art. 5. After coming to a stop and establishing the pivot foot: a. The pivot foot may be lifted, but not returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal;"

It would be hard for a ref to consider that a "try for goal" right? So he pretty much passed to himself, which is a travel.

[Jay Bee]

traveling or a double dribble:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2025/04/07/houston-florida-final-play-emanuel-sharp-national-championship/82985649007/#:~:text=Houston's%20Emanuel%20Sharp%20lined%20up,by%20Florida%2C%20ending%20the%20game.

Florida put on the clamps in the final possession, holding the Cougars without a shot attempt before stealing the ball. Houston's Emanuel Sharp lined up for a game-winning 3-pointer before trying to avoid Alex Condon's block attempt. But he left his feet, therefore not allowing him to touch the ball again without being called for a travel.

This doesn't make sense to me. "Travel or double dribble"?? Which one? He caught a pass before releasing the ball - never dribbled -- so not sure how you find a double dribble in there.

As for travel, I'm not sure he ever established a pivot foot.

[Jay Bee]

This doesn't make sense to me. "Travel or double dribble"?? Which one? He caught a pass before releasing the ball - never dribbled -- so not sure how you find a double dribble in there.

As for travel, I'm not sure he ever established a pivot foot.

 I can probably get there through Section 5 Article 5 b.  "b. Neither foot shall be lifted, before the ball is released, to start a dribble" or else it would be a travel. You can release to shoot, but not dribble. Per Section 5 Article 3, when one foot is lifted, the other is the pivot foot.

So,.. OK, would have been traveling. But under 5.5.b, not the rules some of the media is citing. This is my belief and it is righteous.

[Billy Hoyle]

This doesn't make sense to me. "Travel or double dribble"?? Which one? He caught a pass before releasing the ball - never dribbled -- so not sure how you find a double dribble in there.

As for travel, I'm not sure he ever established a pivot foot.

"Once Sharp went up with the ball, which he decided to pump-fake at the last second, he could not come down with it (would be a travel) or touch it again first (double-dribble), leading to the madhouse scramble that gave the Gators the win. It was one of three turnovers Houston had in the final minute, two from Sharp."

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/how-did-houston-not-get-a-shot-off-in-final-minute-of-title-game-why-emanuel-sharp-had-to-let-ball-go/#:~:text=Once%20Sharp%20went%20up%20with,gave%20the%20Gators%20the%20win.&text=It%20was%20one%20of%20three,final%20minute%2C%20two%20from%20Sharp.

[Jay Bee]

"Once Sharp went up with the ball, which he decided to pump-fake at the last second, he could not come down with it (would be a travel) or touch it again first (double-dribble), leading to the madhouse scramble that gave the Gators the win. It was one of three turnovers Houston had in the final minute, two from Sharp."

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/how-did-houston-not-get-a-shot-off-in-final-minute-of-title-game-why-emanuel-sharp-had-to-let-ball-go/#:~:text=Once%20Sharp%20went%20up%20with,gave%20the%20Gators%20the%20win.&text=It%20was%20one%20of%20three,final%20minute%2C%20two%20from%20Sharp.

Yes, this is what I'm saying. I don't believe these media reports.

The question was 'why couldn't he have grabbed it once he came down'? It's because the pivot foot left the ground and the dribble must start before that... if he grabbed it, it would have been a dribble, and a violation of 5.5.b and thus a travel.

I don't understand the reference to double dribble.. but happy to be enlightened (which means let's cite the rulebook... not some guy writing on cbssports.com)

[The Sultan]

Yes, this is what I'm saying. I don't believe these media reports.

The question was 'why couldn't he have grabbed it once he came down'? It's because the pivot foot left the ground and the dribble must start before that... if he grabbed it, it would have been a dribble, and a violation of 5.5.b and thus a travel.

I don't understand the reference to double dribble.. but happy to be enlightened (which means let's cite the rulebook... not some guy writing on cbssports.com)

Yeah these reports are just wrong. It would have been a travel, not a double dribble.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Thanks for the explanation here on why that last play looked so awkward.

[MU82]

If there's one certainty on life, its message board posters would be the best coaches ever

Yep.

Just saw this stat:

Houston scored 15 points in the final 2:05 vs. Duke. In the final 2:05 vs. Florida, they scored zero.

To paraphrase another Scooper from after Saturday's game:

"Sampson ... deer in the headlights."

Scoopers couldn't have gushed more about Sampson's brilliance on Saturday, as they were killing Scheyer. Well, Sampson's charges couldn't even get off a single shot on five of the last six possessions vs Florida; at least Scheyer got a make-able 12-footer for the best player in the country on Duke's final go. Sampson hasn't won the big one in 100 years of coaching - ipso fatso, he must be a loser!