Houston's Heartache: A Season of What-Ifs

Houston's basketball team had an incredible run, but their season ended in heartbreak. They lost the national championship game to Florida by just two points. The final score was 65-63, a result that left the Cougars and their fans devastated. The Cougars had been on an incredible streak, winning 18 games in a row since February. They had not lost a game in regulation since the third game of the season. Their defense was a force to be reckoned with, holding opponents to an average of 125 points below their scoring average in the tournament. The championship game was a rollercoaster of emotions. Houston was up by 12 points with less than 16 minutes to go. But then, their offense stalled. They made only seven field goals in the second half, none in the last 2:29 of the game. The Cougars, known for their control of the paint and tempo, saw their season slip away. Coach Kelvin Sampson, who is 69 years old, had high hopes for this team. He had devised a defense that was one of the best in the country. He had also made strategic decisions that had paid off in previous games. But on this night, it was not enough. The Cougars' defense forced Florida into 13 turnovers, and the Gators' guards shot a combined 5 for 20. But it was a defensive play by Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. that sealed the game. He forced Houston's Emanuel Sharp to double clutch on a potential game-winning 3-pointer, and the ball bounced away as time ran out. The locker room was a scene of raw emotion. Players were seen crying, and the coach was visibly disappointed. Sampson, who has been to three Final Fours and one championship game, has a history of heartbreaking losses. He has been with the team since 2014, and this loss adds to a string of frustrating endings. The Cougars had a chance to make history, but it slipped away in the final moments. The box score didn't reflect the heartbreak. Houston had held opponents to a combined 125 points below their scoring average in the tournament. Florida scored 25 less than its average on Monday. The Gators turned the ball over at least 12 times in all six tournament games. The team's forward, J'Wan Roberts, summed up the feeling in the locker room. "This was the year right here, " he said. "Shit, I feel like he had a chance to do it but we didn't. How much ever longer that he is here I pray that he has another opportunity, a chance to get back to Monday night again. " The season ended with a final record of 35-5. The Cougars didn't need to be reminded of the heartbreak. They had to soak in what just happened and realize that the season was over.