Everything appeared to line up for Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars.
No. 1 seed Florida had been knocked out of the South bracket. The No. 2 Cougars entered the Sweet 16 taking part in a South regional hosted simply miles from Houston’s campus at the Toyota Center.
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And they opened Thursday’s Sweet 16 recreation taking part in their own model of basketball in a grind of a primary half towards No. 3 Illinois. But Illinois beat Houston at its own recreation.
Illinois took a 24-22 lead out of halftime and (*2*). Illinois will play in Saturday’s South regional last towards No. 9 Iowa.
Houston’s season, in the meantime, ends wanting the Final Four as Sampson and the Cougars stay in search of their elusive first nationwide title.
Normally explosive Illinois wins ugly
A crew recognized for its explosive offense greater than lockdown protection, Illinois restricted Houston to 4 factors in the primary 8:40 of the second half. It rode a 17-0 run to a 44-26 lead with 11:54 remaining, and Houston by no means recovered.
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The Cougars reduce their deficit to as shut at 50-41 with below six minutes remaining. But Illinois responded with an 8-0 run to reassert management, doing what it did in the primary place to construct its lead — making life tough for Houston’s offense and crashing the offensive glass.
And an Illinois crew that ranks (*3*) and twenty fourth in protection gained ugly to maneuver inside a win of the Final Four.
Illinois’ explosive All-America freshman Keaton Wagler shot simply 4 of 14 from the ground and completed with 13 factors, practically 5 fewer than his season common of 17.8. But the 6-foot-6 guard led each groups with 12 rebounds, together with 3 on offense as Illinois secured a 43-34 margin on the glass.
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Fellow freshman David Mirkovic added 14 factors and 10 rebounds to guide Illinois in scoring.
Illinois didn’t shoot explicit nicely at 43% from the ground. But it related on 39% (9 of 23) of its 3s, with a number of coming after offensive rebounds.
Houston falls flat
Houston’s offense that includes three starters from final yr’s Final Four crew that pushed Florida till the ultimate seconds of the nationwide championship recreation couldn’t get something happening offense.
Houston shot simply 34% from the ground and 28% (9 of 32) from 3. Every Houston participant shot worse than 50% from the sphere. And the Cougars obtained to the free-throw line simply twice.
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Emanuel Sharp led the Houston effort with 17 factors. Fellow veteran starters Milos Uzan and Joseph Tugler managed simply six factors every. Uzan shot 2 of 11 from the sphere.
Houston’s own All-America freshman Kingston Flemings completed with 11 factors, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in what was probably his last recreation earlier than getting into the NBA Draft as a projected lottery choose.
What’s subsequent for Houston, Sampson?
For Houston, it provides as much as a disappointing finish to a season that began with hopes of a return journey to the Final Four. And Sampson enters one other offseason of hoping to rebuild a contender, having maybe missed his finest alternatives to win a championship these final two seasons.
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Sharp and Uzan, each seniors, are definitely gone. Freshman starter Chris Cenac Jr. may be part of Flemings in the NBA Draft.
Illinois, in the meantime, retains taking part in and is one win away from its first Final Four since Deron Williams and Dee Brown led it to the nationwide championship recreation in 2005.
