This Houston Cougar's Growth Has Captured Kelvin Sampson's Attention The Houston Cougars have emerged as one of college basketball’s most formidable teams in recent years, blending seasoned veterans with emerging talent under the guidance of head coach Kelvin Sampson since his arrival in 2014. Despite falling short of a national championship in the previous season against the Florida Gators, the program has continued to attract young talent, with freshman guard Kingston Flemings leading the way by setting the school’s freshman scoring record. However, another underclassman has recently caught Sampson’s eye in a significant way during the 2025-26 season. Sophomore guard Mercy Miller, who played a key role on the team that suffered a devastating loss to the Gators in the national championship, has shown remarkable growth that has not gone unnoticed. While Miller wasn’t an everyday starter like Flemings or Emanuel Sharp, his development has been particularly striking. A standout moment came during the Big 12 Championship, where he scored 13 points against the Arizona Wildcats, showcasing his increasing impact on the court. Sampson emphasized how Miller’s progress has been both tangible and meaningful, noting that the player’s dedication and work ethic have set him apart. “I don’t think we have anybody in our program that has improved over the last year more than Mercy,” Sampson said. “And I think it means more when you earn it. It means that you’ve had to make some changes.” The coach highlighted that Miller’s growth extends beyond physical skills, reflecting a deeper shift in mindset and approach to the game. Sampson elaborated on how Miller’s development has been a mental transformation, particularly in adapting to the complexities of five-on-five play.#houston_cougars #kelvin_sampson #arizona_wildcats #mercy_miller #kingston_flemings
Jayhawks will look to play tougher as they face Houston Kansas’ win over TCU on Thursday night was hardly a masterpiece. But what it can be for the Jayhawks in the very near future, as they turn their attention to Houston on Friday, is a “stepping stone,” as senior forward Tre White put it. “Houston kind of plays a similar way, creating havoc on defense, push it down your throat on offense, strong, tough, aggressive, and that was kind of how TCU played, so kudos to them,” White said. Those traits have indeed been the hallmarks of Houston teams under head coach Kelvin Sampson. This year’s Cougars, the second-best team in the Big 12, have been the best scoring defense in the country, ranking No. 3, and prolific at forcing turnovers (12.7 per game) while maintaining possession of the ball themselves (a mere 7.6). It’s all amounted to a top-five ranking for the Cougars, a 27-5 record on the season, and most recently a hard-fought 73-66 victory over No. 10 seed BYU on Thursday night. “They’re terrific defensively, they’re tough, their guards can get their own shots, and the biggest thing is they keep balls alive,” KU coach Bill Self said. “They don’t rebound all the balls cleanly, what they do is they do the best job of crashing and back-tapping and creating extra possessions that way. There’s a reason why they’ve been in the top five or seven every week of the season. They’re good, and of course they’re well drilled and extremely well coached.” In short, they are the sort of team against which the Jayhawks will need to be a lot tougher. “Just play even grittier, limit turnovers and offensive rebounds and just making the right adjustments on the fly,” Elmarko Jackson said.#kansas #bill_self #texas_church #tre_white #kelvin_sampson
