The formidable defense of the Houston Cougars helped keep the volunteers of Tennessee under control during the ELITE EIGHT game on Sunday.
The nation’s most tacaña defense kept the VOLS to 15 points in the first half, the least amount in an elite game eight since 1979. Victory 69-50 assured Houston’s first trip to the Final Four since 2021.
The Coupars have now advanced to the Final Four seven times throughout the history of the program. The victory also extended the longest active winning streak in the country to 17 games.
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The Houston Couchars are shown after defeating Tennessee volunteers during the regional west media final in Indianapolis on Sunday. (Images of Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn)
The last two Houston races in the NCAA male tournament ended at Sweet 16, but this time coach Kelvin Sampson’s team is still dancing and still has the opportunity to win the first national title of the program.
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The Coupars will face Duke on Saturday in San Antonio, just a 3 1/2 -hour trip trip. The Coupars have reached the game for the national title twice, losing in 1983 against the state of North Carolina and in 1984 Georgetown in the Phi Slama Jama era.
Houston Emanuel Sharp Guard made four triples and Joseph Tugler, who made the assistance at Friday’s decisive basket against Purdue, had nine rebounds.
J’wan Roberts (13) by Houston celebrates in the last minutes of a victory over Tennessee in the Eight eight round of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament on Sunday in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey scored 17 points each for the second sown volunteers, who again did not reach the first Final Four appearance of the program. The team of coach Rick Barnes was also eliminated in a regional final last year.
Houston chief coach Kelvin Sampson has the championship trophy of the west media region after defeating Tennessee in the Eight ELITE Round of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament on Sunday. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
When the vols had the opportunity to reduce the deficit to a single digit in the second half, the 3 -point shooting team made three followed beyond the arch to extend the margin to 17.
Even in the second half, Tennessee fought. The defense that surpassed Kentucky so thoroughly in the previous round could not get enough stops and, although the offensive improved, it was not good enough.
