Fitting match to open arena
When it came time to finalize the schedule, University of Houston men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson wanted the type of marquee opponent befitting the inaugural game at the Fertitta Center.
Sampson got his wish as the Cougars open the $60 million renovated on-campus arena at 8 p.m. Saturday against No. 18 Oregon.
“It was important that we bring in somebody good,” Sampson said. “Not just a good name, but a good team.”
Ranked No. 14 in the preseason, Oregon (4-2) has suffered a pair of losses to Iowa and Monday’s 89-84 shocker to Texas Southern. Even so, Sampson said the Ducks should be challengers in the Pac-12 and capable of making a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
“This is a good game for both teams,” Sampson said. “Four years ago, we may not have been a good game for some people because we just weren’t very good.”
Times have changed, as the Cougars are coming off their first NCAA appearance in eight years, are off to a 5-0 start this season and among the preseason picks to contend in the American Athletic Conference.
“Now, a lot of times, coaches judge teams are they a bad win or are they a bad loss?” Sampson said. “Losing to us is not what it used to be and beating us is not what it used to be either. As our program continues to grow, I think our schedule will begin to grow, although I don’t know how much more I want it to grow.”
After facing Oregon, UH plays a stretch that includes a road game against Oklahoma State and home dates versus Lamar, LSU, Saint Louis and Utah State. Those five teams are a combined 23-10 this season.
“Their names speak for themselves,” Sampson said of Oklahoma State and LSU.
But first, the Cougars must face an Oregon squad that presents several challenges and is “just ridiculously talented,” Sampson said.
The headliner is Bol Bol, a 7-2, 235-pound freshman and son of former NBA big man Manute Bol. Sampson said it’s difficult to draw comparisons to Bol, who is averaging 21.3 points, 10 rebounds and 2.8 blocks while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 53.8 percent from 3-point range. Bol, who is projected as NBA lottery pick, had a career-high 32 points and 11 rebounds in the loss to TSU.
“I don’t know how to describe his game because there is nothing he can’t do,” Sampson said. “He’s a freshman, so I still think he is finding his way a little bit. But when you are gifted like he is you can do just about anything. It’s hard to define his game right now.”
Sampson said the Cougars did not practice any differently this week, such as using brooms to simulate Bol’s height.
“We won’t have brooms and hold them up,” Sampson said. “We don’t shoot over brooms. We don’t shoot over 7-2 guys, either. Pass it would be my advice.”
Sampson admitted Bol’s ability to step beyond the 3point arc could create some problems for UH’s big men — 6-7 Breaon Brady, 6-10 Chris Harris and 6-7 Brison Gresham. Harris is nursing a sprained ankle, while the Cougars are expected to be without 6-7 forward Fabian White Jr. (foot) for the sixth straight game.
“Our 5s are going to have a hard time going out there and guarding him,” Sampson said.
Sampson said the Cougars must be wary of junior point guard Payton Pritchard, “a great shooter who is the heart and soul” of the team who averages 14.5 points, 5.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds. Kenny Wooten, a 6-9 power forward, “gives them their identity” with a physical, tough presence, Sampson said. Wooten missed part of the last game with an injury.