kelvin sampson interview

[JOC44]

Sampson kept having to take breaks in the interview so he could text recruits.

 

[DoctorBombay]

I think the zone gets in team’s heads. They watch games & see other teams befuddled by it, & they become intimidated.
Athletes are like machines where the game starts, and their bodies go into “play mode”. They know how to run their stuff and how to score off it, but the zone makes you hesitate and question almost everything youve always done, especially if you start missingg shots? The key is us getting a lead before they start to figure things out.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

We're going to win or lose on offense. Houston is capable of playing and winning in a slopfest. We don't have that same ability. The more missed shots, the better their chances.

We have to limit their 2nd chances on offense. I think JAB has changed his strategy somewhat and that's why you see JG3 with more rebounds. Houston will only make 35% of the 3's. The key to the game is what happens to the other 65% that miss.

 

[Day2]

Two things that are concerning with Houston ... they offensive rebound best in the nation. Rebound almost 40% of their missed shots. They are not big, they do it with quickness and energy. We are vulnerable to giving up lots of 2nd shots which tires your defense and can be demoralizing. They also pressure the ball well. And neither of our starting guards handles all that well. Marek will be needed to break pressure again and I expect a lot of minutes for Kadary.

They sound like a better version of Pitt. Would that be an accurate comp?

I see a lot of people are hoping for a big game from QG. I don’t see it. Houston doesn’t give up points in the paint. If he scores, it will probably me from the free throw line and outside.

(I still like our chances.)

 

[Day2]

Look, just bringing up it as an example.

We had a decent team (24-5) then.
It was a demonstration how the zone fell part. Am not saying that it will happen again.

Other events (poor execution, poor scoring and whatever) played into Syracuse loss.

I am just saying that the zone that day did not adapt to a hot shooter which opened opportunities for other Michigan St players to score.

It was intended as an example. They had good ball movement, hit the open man who was hot and brole down the zone.

it was not intended to be this is what is going to happen.

We were up double digits and blew it against the eventual national champs.

That’s the only time Izzo beat us, BTW.

 

[CousCuse]

I think the zone gets in team’s heads. They watch games & see other teams befuddled by it, & they become intimidated.
Athletes are like machines where the game starts, and their bodies go into “play mode”. They know how to run their stuff and how to score off it, but the zone makes you hesitate and question almost everything youve always done, especially if you start missingg shots? The key is us getting a lead before they start to figure things out.

That's why it's called the Enigma Zone. It will be set to level 9 this weekend.

 

[Brian Orange]

I just read Pete Thamel's article where he talked to Sampson and Sampson said one of the reasons his Oklahoma team was blown out in 2003 (still the most confused I've seen a team versus the zone) was because Hollis Price and another player were injured. I found that excuse funny all these years later.

 

[50YRsofCuse]

I just read Pete Thamel's article where he talked to Sampson and Sampson said one of the reasons his Oklahoma team was blown out in 2003 (still the most confused I've seen a team versus the zone) was because Hollis Price and another player were injured. I found that excuse funny all these years later.

Hollis their #1 player at the time played in that game and was really off, going something like 3 for 14 or so.

 

[AZOrange]

Less scared of UH than WVU. WVU can shoot.

 

[sufandu]

I think the zone gets in team’s heads. They watch games & see other teams befuddled by it, & they become intimidated.
Athletes are like machines where the game starts, and their bodies go into “play mode”. They know how to run their stuff and how to score off it, but the zone makes you hesitate and question almost everything youve always done, especially if you start missingg shots? The key is us getting a lead before they start to figure things out.

It does, but at some point, a team along the line plays good enough to beat it. If that wasn't true we'd have a couple more banners hanging next to 2003.

This assumption that many are making that we're gonna just roll over Houston doesn't make sense. As Sampson said in the interview, it's a 50/50 game. We'll have to play well to win. Houston isn't gonna just stand around mouths gaping open while Buddy bombs threes like it's a practice.

 

[jdubs30]

I just read Pete Thamel's article where he talked to Sampson and Sampson said one of the reasons his Oklahoma team was blown out in 2003 (still the most confused I've seen a team versus the zone) was because Hollis Price and another player were injured. I found that excuse funny all these years later.

Well that’s unfortunate because Jarreau is injured

 

[TexanMark]

Less scared of UH than WVU. WVU can shoot.

Grimes can shoot it well. He is the guy we'll focus on. Sasser has been in a slump, if he gets hot too we are in trouble.

 

[DoctorBombay]

It does, but at some point, a team along the line plays good enough to beat it. If that wasn't true we'd have a couple more banners hanging next to 2003.

This assumption that many are making that we're gonna just roll over Houston doesn't make sense. As Sampson said in the interview, it's a 50/50 game. We'll have to play well to win. Houston isn't gonna just stand around mouths gaping open while Buddy bombs threes like it's a practice.

Anyone who thinks we’re gonna have an easy time w/ UH, just isn’t paying attention. They are the worst kind of team in that they can have an off night shooting, but still beat you in other ways. They don’t need to shoot well to win, we do.
And after all the issues we had w/ WVU’s press, you can bet we’ll see it a number of times during the game.
We absolutely have to have Griff in this one. If he shows up, we win fairly smoothly. If he doesn’t, we’re in a nail biter at best, or taking the L at worst.

 

[Orangezoo]

Anyone who thinks we’re gonna have an easy time w/ UH, just isn’t paying attention. They are the worst kind of team in that they can have an off night shooting, but still beat you in other ways. They don’t need to shoot well to win, we do.
And after all the issues we had w/ WVU’s press, you can bet we’ll see it a number of times during the game.
We absolutely have to have Griff in this one. If he shows up, we win fairly smoothly. If he doesn’t, we’re in a nail biter at best, or taking the L at worst.

UH could be a nightmare or they could be overrated. Their tape shows a team that comes to fight every night. Also shows a team that like us is flawed. Their rebounding helps them overcome like our zone does for us.

Houston went 15-1 vs Q3 and Q4. They went 2-1 vs Q1 and 6-1 vs Q2. In many ways they share more similarities with San Diego State than WVU. The big difference would be SDSU comes in with more shooters and UH more rebounding.

So in terms of fully expecting a war like we did vs SDST is 100 pct on point but expecting a team that is far better than us because they are a 2 seed is unrealistic too. It's why these kinds of matchups are frustrating because it's really hard to know what to expect in terms of how they will fair against us.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

The most important stat is that SU is undefeated against U of H.

 

[jdubs30]

UH could be a nightmare or they could be overrated. Their tape shows a team that comes to fight every night. Also shows a team that like us is flawed. Their rebounding helps them overcome like our zone does for us.

Houston went 15-1 vs Q3 and Q4. They went 2-1 vs Q1 and 6-1 vs Q2. In many ways they share more similarities with San Diego State than WVU. The big difference would be SDSU comes in with more shooters and UH more rebounding.

So in terms of fully expecting a war like we did vs SDST is 100 pct on point but expecting a team that is far better than us because they are a 2 seed is unrealistic too. It's why these kinds of matchups are frustrating because it's really hard to know what to expect in terms of how they will fair against us.

I think the main thing is Grimes is better than anyone on WVU and SDSU. And Jarreau is just as good as anyone on those teams with the possible exception of McBride.

We really need to hope Grimes struggles. If he goes off and frees up the other guys it’ll be a problem for us. If Grimes is on and Sasser is hitting from 3 we need to get to 75 to win

 

[Orangezoo]

The most important stat is that SU is undefeated against U of H.

 

[Orangezoo]

I think the main thing is Grimes is better than anyone on WVU and SDSU. And Jarreau is just as good as anyone on those teams with the possible exception of McBride.

We really need to hope Grimes struggles. If he goes off and frees up the other guys it’ll be a problem for us. If Grimes is on and Sasser is hitting from 3 we need to get to 75 to win

I expect Grimes puts up 20 plus for sure. As long as those are difficult shots and he has to put up a lot of shots to get there we should be able to survive that.

We need to be able to attack their propensity for fouling and use the drive to hammer away like we did the 3 vs San Diego State.

 

[Orangezoo]

I sense a lot of folks here and among the media and analytics side are pretty or at least mildly convinced we likely are done dancing after Saturday. Let's just hope that is also how Seth Davis feels.. and we survive and advance.

I am trying to treat this like the extra gravy it is. It's so hard to not get greedy and overanxious because of what could be.

 

[jmcclure33]

Well that’s unfortunate because Jarreau is injured

That’s exactly what they want you to think. They got you right where they want you...

 

[Orangezoo]

As we all struggle waiting for this game to get here there is another really key element to me. That is how aggressive Houston is playing against the zone. That even goes for rebounding.

Both SDSU and WVU were less than themselves in attacking us. You saw the hesitation or reliance on what they thought would work and then it didn't. The mental aspect can sound and look lock tight all the way up to the tipoff. Then all the sudden something doesn't go as planned, something else and next thing you know you are thinking vs playing. UH is a team of players who get after it. If they lose their identity even just for a little while trying to figure out how to play us, it's a huge plus for us.

 

[Day2]

It does, but at some point, a team along the line plays good enough to beat it. If that wasn't true we'd have a couple more banners hanging next to 2003.

This assumption that many are making that we're gonna just roll over Houston doesn't make sense. As Sampson said in the interview, it's a 50/50 game. We'll have to play well to win. Houston isn't gonna just stand around mouths gaping open while Buddy bombs threes like it's a practice.

All of our tournament losses last decade were against coaches familiar with our zone or when we had injured/suspended key players. You would have to go back to Oklahoma in 2009 to find a game that didn’t meet either of those criteria.

 

[jdubs30]

All of our tournament losses last decade were against coaches familiar with our zone or when we had injured/suspended key players. You would have to go back to Oklahoma in 2009 to find a game that didn’t meet either of those criteria.

Dayton? Although our D was fine that game ... it was the offense that killed us

 

[Day2]

Dayton? Although our D was fine that game ... it was the offense that killed us

Yeah, we didn’t hit a three. Not one.

Allen Griffin was an assistant at Dayton. If you want to say that doesn’t count, let’s just agree to disagree.

 

[sufandu]

All of our tournament losses last decade were against coaches familiar with our zone or when we had injured/suspended key players. You would have to go back to Oklahoma in 2009 to find a game that didn’t meet either of those criteria.

Do we not have injured players now?