Random Thoughts On Houston’s Win Over Morgan State
Posted by Nate Kotisso on November 23rd, 2014Houston‘s win over Morgan State marked the home opener for new head coach Kelvin Sampson at Hofheinz Pavilion. Yes, the box score will tell you the Cougars won by 15 but watching it in person, it did not feel like a dominating performance from Houston. They shot about the same percentage from the floor (32.9 percent for Houston; 33.3 percent for Morgan State). As it turns out, the Cougars also turned the ball over more times than Morgan State (23-19) and had fewer steals (9-12). So I was left with no choice but to write some random thoughts on last night’s confusing result and other stuff.
Houston’s Cavon Baker (12 points, 10 rebounds) attempts a layup. UH would go on to beat Morgan State 72-57. (Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle)
1. Both teams got off to rocky starts for different reasons coming into the game. Morgan State was playing their fourth game since opening the season on November 14. Two nights earlier, the Bears played at Northern Iowa and led the Panthers going into halftime (yeah, the same Northern Iowa that won at Stephen F. Austin last Tuesday). Houston was playing in only their second game since defeating Murray State in Murray also on November 14. Eventually, the Cougars woke up and the Bears were hiberna–, wait, still sleeping. Phew, that was a close one.
2. During a media timeout, Hofheinz Pavilion played Ariana Grande’s “Bang Bang” and it felt so out of place for a top 40 hit to blast through the speakers of an aging 45-year-old structure. Hofheinz is shaped like a rectangle and its original white color on the outside has been turning into a rusty black for years now. The school claims that it is serious about upgrading its basketball facilities, starting with a $25 million men’s and women’s basketball practice facility. The building is estimated for completion in August 2015. Afterwards, Houston’s administration will turn their attention to Hofheinz where they will decide to either rebuild it from the bottom up (like they did with the football stadium) or find another place on campus to construct an all new basketball arena. They needed these upgrades, like, yesterday.
3. Devonta Pollard is some kind of magician. Warlock, sorcerer, all of these apply to him if I’m being perfectly honest. He affected the game in every possible way. His start to the game wasn’t the best, turning the ball over and missing his first shot attempt. But following Pollard’s one and only blocked shot 5:53 into the game, he nailed his second field goal attempt 12 seconds later and became comfortable playing soon after. He skied for not one but two tip dunks off errant shots that got a small crowd at Hofheinz as loud as I have heard them. He also added 13 rebounds (eight offensive), two assists, two steals and that block. We always knew the talent was there with Pollard. He was Mr. Basketball in the state of Mississippi and was named as a McDonald’s All-American during his senior year of high school. All he needed was the opportunity to put it on display.
4. The most eye-popping stat of all was how Houston controlled the boards throughout. The Cougars outrebounded the Bears 60-32. Four of Houston’s five starters had at least nine rebounds and two of those five registered double-doubles. The rebounding disparity essentially decided the outcome of the game.
5. Houston hasn’t looked bad two games into the season but it’s important to remember that they’re playing without two of their starters. L.J. Rose, the Baylor transfer going into his second season as starting PG, will attempt a return between December 15-20 after suffering a foot injury. Bert Kali, a JuCo center penciled in at the center spot, is eyeing his debut for December 4.
6. It’s refreshing to hear some honest quotes from a head coach in a world of dull, listless coachspeak. Here’s Coach Sampson on his outlook for this season: “We were picked to finish eighth in the league. When you’re picked to finish eighth in the league, what are you gonna do, beat teams on your talent? There’s a reason we were picked eighth. For us, every team is a good team. There’s no team for us that we say, ‘Well if we play good, we’ll beat this team.’ We don’t know that because I don’t know these guys. I have no idea how good we are yet.”
7. Shout out to the new Chick-Fil-A stand at Hofheinz. It wasn’t there when I covered two games at Houston last season but it is there to greet you once you enter in. It was delicious. Hashtag blessed.
8. Morgan State head coach Todd Bozeman was rocking a beard with some patches of gray mixed in. Naturally, this made me think about Just For Men which made me think about this classic spot. And this one too. Each one-liner is easily the best and worst thing about the ads.
