Houston Cougars have one fatal flaw separating them from the field of 68 elite
(*68*)Houston Cougars have one fatal flaw separating them from the field of 68 elite initially appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With soccer season over, consideration turns to March Madness as the field of 68 takes form. ESPN’s Jay Bilas, in his newest “Bilas Index,” highlights Houston as a nationwide contender, describing the Cougars as a revamped Kelvin Sampson workforce now pushed extra by offense than protection. But as the saying goes, protection wins championships.
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“The Cougars have a high ceiling and can get significantly better. The interesting difference from past Houston teams is this group needs to get better on the defensive end to match what so many take for granted: that Houston is better defensively than offensively. Right now, Houston is actually a better offensive team, and freshman Kingston Flemings is the Cougars’ best player. That 42-point outburst he had at Texas Tech was simply magnificent.” Bilas wrote in his Index feature.
It ought to come as each a praise and a warning label for Houston. Essentially, the Cougars are ranked on the similar field as Michigan, Arizona, and Duke, however are virtually making it very clear that their weak point level lies in the defensive unit taking part in catch-up.
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Michigan is described as the most full workforce in the nation, top-five nationally in each offensive and defensive effectivity, and loaded with dimension, depth, and rim safety. Arizona sits proper behind with a paint‑dominant, bodily identification and a protection that protects the lane in addition to anybody, even when the Wildcats aren’t as harmful from 3. Duke rounds out the trio in entrance of Houston, powered by Cameron Boozer’s nationwide participant of the 12 months marketing campaign and a roster Bilas believes is “still legit” regardless of a pair of blown leads in marquee video games.
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Houston has 5 regular-season video games left earlier than postseason play. Here’s what’s nonetheless on the schedule: the Cougars fell brief of Iowa State final night time, they usually’ll look to Arizona on Saturday. Beyond that, 4 extra video games till the common season closes out, then the Big 12 match.
