KELVIN SAMPSON TIMELINE
Important moments for the University of Houston men’s basketball program under coach Kelvin Sampson:
2014
April 3 — Kelvin Sampson is hired as the ninth head coach in UH history, signing a five-year contract. “I’m excited about the future,” he says at his introductory news conference.
Nov. 14 — UH beats Murray State 77-74 in season opener for first win under Sampson.
2015
Feb. 1 — Jherrod Stiggers made a pair of free throws with four seconds left as UH beats UConn, the defending national champion, 70-68 at Hofheinz Pavilion. March 13 — A four-game winning streak, including a first-round win in the AAC tournament, comes to an end with a 59-51 loss to Tulsa. The Cougars finish 13-19 in Sampson’s first season.
2016
January — The $25 million Guy V. Lewis Development Facility opens.
Feb. 1 — The Cougars record the signature win of the two-year Sampson era, knocking off No. 12 SMU 71-68 at Hofheinz Pavilion. It’s the highest-ranked team UH has beaten since third-ranked Memphis in 1996.
March 3 — UH wins the regularseason finale 69-56 over Cincinnati, just the second win (and first since 1973) in 29 all-time meetings with the Bearcats. March 16 — UH finishes 22-10 in Sampson’s second season with an 81-62 loss to Georgia Tech in the first round of the NIT.
2017
March 15 — For the second year in a row, the Cougars bow out in the first round of the NIT, falling to Akron 78-75. UH finishes 21-11 in Sampson’s third season.
2018
Jan. 20 — On a day the Cougars celebrated the 50-year anniversary of their upset of top-ranked UCLA in the Game of the Century at the Astrodome, UH knocks off No. 7 Wichita State 73-59. Rob Gray had 24 points to lead the Cougars to their first win over a top 10 opponent since beating No. 3 Memphis 69-67 on Jan. 6, 1996.
Feb. 19 — After more than 12 years out of the rankings, the Cougars enter the Associated Press men’s basketball poll at No. 23. UH last was ranked in the AP poll for one week early in the 2005 season. “It gives our program great credibility,” Sampson said.
March 7 — Sampson is named the American Athletic Conference coach of the year after leading UH to a 24-6 mark and tie for second place in the regular season.
March 11 — UH is named a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, ending an eight-year drought. Sampson becomes one of 15 coaches to lead four different schools (Washington State, Oklahoma, Indiana, UH) to the NCAA Tournament.
March 15 — Rob Gray scored a career-high 39 points, including a scooping layup with 1.1 seconds left, to lead sixth-seeded UH to a 67-65 victory over San Diego State for the Cougars’ first NCAA Tournament win since 1984. March 17 — Jordan Poole hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send Michigan past UH 64-63 in the second round. UH finishes 27-8 in Sampson’s fourth season.
May 30 — A candidate for the Orlando Magic coaching job, Sampson said he will remain at UH. “Both of us are going in a different direction. I am going to be at UH,” he said.
Dec. 1 — UH opens Fertitta Center with 65-61 win over No. 18 Oregon.
2019
Jan. 19 — UH defeats SMU 69-58 for Sampson’s 600th career win. Feb. 11 — At 23-1, UH moves to No. 9 in the Associated Press poll, its first top 10 ranking since the end of the 1984 season.
March 10 — Corey Davis Jr. scored a career-high 31 points as the 12th-ranked Cougars beat No. 20 Cincinnati 85-69 victory that clinched the AAC’s regular-season title outright. It was the Cougars’ first league title since 1992 in the Southwest Conference. March 13 — Sampson named American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for the second straight year.
March 24 — Third-seeded UH advances to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1984 with a 74-59 victory over No. 11 seed Ohio State. March 29 — A late lead slips away as one of the best seasons in UH history ends with a 62-58 loss to second-seeded Kentucky. The Cougars finish 33-4, a program record for wins.
April 4 — With his name linked to Arkansas’ coaching vacancy, Sampson signs a six-year, $18 million contract extension. His son, Kellen Sampson, is named head-coach-in-waiting as part of the succession plan announced by the school.
2020
March 8 — Fabian White Jr. had 18 points and 14 rebounds as the No. 21 Cougars beat Memphis 64-57 on the final day of the regular season to clinch a share of the AAC regular-season title. March 12 — On the way to the AAC tournament in Fort Worth, the Cougars learn the tournament has been canceled because of COVID-19 concerns. Later that day, the NCAA Tournament is called off, ending the season at 23-8.
Dec. 5 — Sampson is forced to briefly quarantine as a result of COVID-19 contact tracing and misses UH’s 77-67 win over South Carolina.
Dec. 28 — For the first time since the end of the 1983-84 season, the Cougars are ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press men’s basketball poll.
2021
March 7 — Tramon Mark hits a shot from just inside halfcourt as time expired, sending the Cougars to a 67-64 win over Memphis in the regular-season finale.
March 9 — Sampson signs a two-year extension that will keep him with the Cougars through the 2026-27 season.
March 14 — UH clobbers Cincinnati 91-54 to win the AAC tournament. Later that day, the Cougars are announced as a No. 2 seed, matching the school’s highest since 1984.
March 16 — Already named the AAC’s co-player of the year, guard Quentin Grimes is selected thirdteam All-America by the Associated Press.
March 21 — Tramon Mark’s tip-in with 24.1 seconds left, part of a three-point play, helped the No. 2 Cougars complete a 10-point second-half comeback and beat Rutgers 63-60 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The win was No. 665 of Sampson’s career, moving him past John Wooden for 38th all-time. March 27 — Houston beats Syracuse 62-46 to advance to Elite Eight for first time since 1984. March 29 — Houston defeats Oregon State 67-61 for the Cougars’ first Final Four appearance in 37 years.