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NCAA Basketball: Examining title contenders, Texas Tech’s return & more takeaways

By Brian Rauf

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes in to dunk the basketball during the first half of the game Kansas Jayhawks on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes in to dunk the basketball during the first half of the game Kansas Jayhawks on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 10: Head coach Kelvin Sampson of the Houston Cougars looks on from the bench area against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fertitta Center on February 10, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 10: Head coach Kelvin Sampson of the Houston Cougars looks on from the bench area against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fertitta Center on February 10, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

6. Kelvin Sampson will win National Coach of the Year

Houston is the top-10 team people probably have the most questions about because they don’t have a star and play in the American, but both of those factors are part of the reason Kelvin Sampson is the clear favorite to win National Coach of the Year.

Not even picked to win their own conference, Houston is the country’s only team with just one loss (and that loss came on a very controversial call at Temple). They’ve risen to the top-10 behind their lofty record, and that record contains several notable wins. Victories over Cincinnati, Temple, and UCF are the only real notable wins they’ve gotten in AAC play but they did legitimize themselves in the non-conference by beating a healthy Oregon team and by knocking off LSU.

Many were unsure what to make of Houston coming into the year following the graduation of Rob Gray last year, and no one player has really stepped up to replace him. Rather, the entire team has raised its level of play. The rank 12th nationally in defensive efficiency and, led by Corey Davis Jr., Dejon Jarreau, and Armoni Brooks, have a potent-enough offense that ranks 34th in efficiency.

Sampson has gotten more out of this team that anyone could’ve imagined. There are a number of other worthy candidates like Rick Barnes, Tony Bennett, Chris Beard, and Matt Painter, but Sampson is clearly above everyone else.

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