MISSING SAMPSON
Kelvin Sampson out for Saturday’s win for COVID-19 reasons.
Fifteen minutes away, Kelvin Sampson watched the University of Houston’s game Saturday against South Carolina from his living room.
Two days earlier, the 65year-old head coach found out he would miss the first game of his 32-year career, part of coronavirus contact tracing protocols after assistant coach and son Kellen Sampson tested positive.
“It was miserable,” Kelvin Sampson said during a video-conference call after the short-handed No. 10 Cougars put together a second-half rally to beat South Carolina 77-67. “I would rather wrestle a porcupine than have to do that again. It was just miserable.” Throughout the game, Sampson said he “hung up on Kellen 30 times.” He snapped at his wife, Karen.
“I just went outside,” he said. “It was just miserable.”
At Fertitta Center, acting head coach Quannas White, the point guard for Sampson’s Final Four team at Oklahoma, was nervous. Just like his boss, White tossed his jacket in the opening minutes of the game. His soon loosened his tie.
“I was sweating before the game started,” White said. “I was trying to get as comfortable as possible.”
Making matters worse, two of UH’s top scorers, Marcus Sasser and Caleb Mills, were out with ankle injuries.
It took UH (4-0) — which vaulted into the top10of the national polls earlier in the week — some time to get going in the first half. South Carolina took a seven-point lead, as the Cougars went 1for-15 during one stretch and nearly nine minutes without a field goal. Even so, the Cougars trailed only 35-31 at halftime.
After aQuentin Grimes 3pointer, South Carolina ran the length of the floor beforeUHwas able to get back on defense. White called a timeout, just 72 seconds into the second half.
“I thought it was a tremendous timeout by him,” Sampson said. “The timing was great. I can only imagine what he said in the huddle. The kids responded. That’s a sign of great respect on both sides.”
DeJon Jarreau scored in
the lane and true freshman Tramon Mark, making his first career start, followed with a free throw and 3pointer to tie the game. Brison Gresham added a putback, part of a 14-2 run as the Cougars seized control.
South Carolina stormed back, closing within 50-49, when the Cougars turned to their youngsters. With seniors
Jarreau and Gresham on the bench with four fouls apiece, Mark was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws, true freshman Jamal Shead made a pair of free throws and redshirt freshman J’Wan Roberts fought for a rebound underneath the past for a putback.
Grimeshad23 points and seven rebounds and Mark shook off a 1-for-7 start to score 18 points for the Cougars. Jareau had11points, including nine in a row midway through the first half to help the Cougars wake up from an offensive slumber.
The Cougars shot 44 percent in the second half and made 21 of 25 from the freethrow line.
“Quannas did a great job of landing the plane tonight,” Sampson said.
Kelvin Sampson said he will miss Wednesday’s game against Sam Houston State. Kellen Sampson is in 10-day quarantine and will return prior to the Dec. 15 game against Central Florida.
UH went through four days of testing during the week. Kellen Sampson tested negative the first two and was positive on Thursday.
“I’m feeling fine,” Kelvin Sampson said. “I don’t want to put anybody in jeopardy. I wanted to do everything by the rules and all the protocols and what’s safe for our kids.”
After the game, White grabbed the game ball and handed it to his family sitting in the front row of seats.
“That’s $37.95,” Kelvin Sampson joked.
In the locker room, White was given a Gatorade bath as he was mobbed by players.
“It’s a great feeling,” White said. “I’m really proud of the team.”