Kelvin Sampson has been a college basketball head coach for 32 years and has made the NCAA Tournament 21 times, yet he’s reached the Final Four just twice and not since a memorable 2021 run with Houston. Without a National Title on his resume, Sampson has become one of the most overlooked head coaches in the sport. Then, on Friday night in Indianapolis, he reminded everyone why his teams have been so successful for so many years.
With Houston’s Midwest Regional Semifinal matchup against No. 4 seed Purdue tied at 60 with 2.2 seconds remaining and a chance for the Cougars to inbound the ball under the Boilermakers’ basket, Sampson drew up a beautiful in-bounds play that worked to perfection and secured the two-point victory.
On a play that Sampson revealed to CBS’s Evan Washburn in the postgame interview, Milos Uzan inbounded the ball to Joseph Tugler, who gave it right back to Uzan for a layup after he stepped in bounds. Though Sampson admitted it was a play with multiple reads and Uzan told Washburn it was drawn up for LJ Cryer to touch the ball, it reflected the genius of a coaching legend and how well-prepared his team was for the crucial moments in the NCAA Tournament.
INBOUND MASTERCLASS FROM KELVIN SAMPSON
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 29, 2025
HOUSTON LEADS WITH LESS THAN A SECOND
pic.twitter.com/v2672v49Tl
College basketball media and fans could hardly contain their excitement as the Cougars advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2022.
What an outstanding out-of-bounds play by Kelvin Sampson. Perfection. And Milos Uzan is the fitting man to hit it. You can't draw it up ANY better.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 29, 2025
THERE IS NOT A BETTER COACH IN THE BUSINESS THAN KELVIN SAMPSON
— Nico (@elitetakes_) March 29, 2025
The basket capped off a brilliant 22-point performance from Uzan, a transfer from Oklahoma, the lone transfer in Sampson’s rotation. The veteran point guard has led the Cougars to a dominant season which now sits at 33 wins, another masterful move from Sampson last offseason, plucking the perfect point guard out of the portal.
That is why Kelvin Sampson is the GOAT
— Sidelines Houston (@SSN_UH) March 29, 2025
Yes the execution was elite. But that was alllll Kelvin. What a coach. What a team.
I WILL SEE YOU SUNDAY
To make the moment even better, Sampson’s team pulled off the win against a hostile crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, just 65 miles from Purdue’s campus. Nearly every fan in attendance was stunned by the former Indiana head coach.
Just a masterful in-bounds play by Kelvin Sampson. Smith left Uzan, the inbounder, who had a wide-open lay-in off the Tugler pass. Teach tape stuff. Crowd in Indy stunned silence. Houston leads 62-60 with .9 seconds left.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 29, 2025
Houston is on to the Elite Eight and the play that sent them there will forever be a part of a legendary head coach’s legacy.
Playing for your season with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line and Kelvin Sampson draws up *this*
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) March 29, 2025
What a freaking play design from the future Hall of Famer pic.twitter.com/rSYjt2BRpj