Houston's Style of Play: Is this What We Want Basketball to Be???

[BamaMoon]

In the NC thread, @bamadwain posted the following fact: Houston was 33 and 0 when holding opponents to less than 70 points, now they are 33 and 1.

I'm really glad UF had the composure and ability to make that comeback and win it all, but as I watched the game and noted how Houston mucked up UF's style of play with their physical/sand lot style of play, I kept asking "Is this what we want basketball to be?"

I think UF plays a beautiful style of basketball that is similar to CNO's style. They want to push and play dynamic offense and they'll guard you by getting up in your jock. But Houston's style is to be super handsy, rough, uber physical and slow the game down, thus, the "factoid" above.

I'll say this, a team playing like Houston would foul every player out in the first half if the officials actually called the contact that needs to be called to allow the game of basketball to be played enjoyably and more in line with the spirit of the game. Houston's style is more like rugby than basketball!

 

[BhamToTexas]

I don't care for it. Rugby on the court is exactly what I told my wife last night. The game was ugly and boring I thought. Lots of fouls called on Houston but they could have called a lot more. The style just leads to terrible shooting percentages and a slow game. They said this is the lowest score for a winner in a decade I think.

 

[Bama Shoals]

I was thinking this very thing last night. The problem is at some point, basketball folks decided it's OK to keep one hand or arm on an offensive player at all times. It's OK as long as you don't put two hands on them. So, Houston takes full advantage of that. But they are doing what other "physical" teams are doing as well and that is using their lower bodies to "push" into people shooting shots, going up for rebounds, and trying to drive to the hole. They'll have their hands up so the refs almost never call it, but it definitely is a foul and throws off the other team. This leads to ugly basketball. If it's said about your team that your chances of winning largely hinge on how the game is called, you are not designing your program nor coaching your team the right way in my opinion. That's Kelvin Sampson.

It also drives me crazy with all this Kelvin Sampson adulation that has been going on. Does no one remember he resigned from Indiana in disgrace and basically was banned from coaching in college for 5 years (given a show clause)? And one of the things he did was lie to the university and NCAA about what he had been doing. He's about the same character as Pearl. Combine that with the ugly style his teams play and I was definitely glad to see them go down last night.

 

[BamaMoon]

I was thinking this very thing last night. The problem is at some point, basketball folks decided it's OK to keep one hand or arm on an offensive player at all times. It's OK as long as you don't put two hands on them. So, Houston takes full advantage of that. But they are doing what other "physical" teams are doing as well and that is using their lower bodies to "push" into people shooting shots, going up for rebounds, and trying to drive to the hole. They'll have their hands up so the refs almost never call it, but it definitely is a foul and throws off the other team. This leads to ugly basketball. If it's said about your team that your chances of winning largely hinge on how the game is called, you are not designing your program nor coaching your team the right way in my opinion. That's Kelvin Sampson.

It also drives me crazy with all this Kelvin Sampson adulation that has been going on. Does no one remember he resigned from Indiana in disgrace and basically was banned from coaching in college for 5 years (given a show clause)? And one of the things he did was lie to the university and NCAA about what he had been doing. He's about the same character as Pearl. Combine that with the ugly style his teams play and I was definitely glad to see them go down last night.

That's a great way of describing what they do. How many "walking/traveling" calls did UF get in the first half last night? Most were because Houston was literally bumping into them with their lower bodies causing them to loose their balance/pivot foot.

And I had forgotten about the Indiana episode. Even better they lost!

 

[Special K]

Very similar style to Tennessee. And no, I don't like it. If games were called today like they were when I was in high school, multiple guys would foul out in the first 10 minutes of every game.

 

[BamaMoon]

Very similar style to Tennessee. And no, I don't like it. If games were called today like they were when I was in high school, multiple guys would foul out in the first 10 minutes of every game.

And why would a great offensive player want to play in that style of offense that aims to win games in the 60's and 70's?

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

Reminds me of SDSU that we lost to back in the Sweet 16 in 22'. That game frustrated me because the refs let them get away with murder.

The style of play only works if the refs allow it to work. A style like Florida, Bama, Auburn takes advantage of the happy whistle blowing refs we have now in basketball. As mentioned before, if Houston's games were called like the other teams I mentioned, half their roster would be gone before the first half was over.

 

[BamaMoon]

Reminds me of SDSU that we lost to back in the Sweet 16 in 22'. That game frustrated me because the refs let them get away with murder.

The style of play only works if the refs allow it to work. A style like Florida, Bama, Auburn takes advantage of the happy whistle blowing refs we have now in basketball. As mentioned before, if Houston's games were called like the other teams I mentioned, half their roster would be gone before the first half was over.

Yes, and that's what St. Mary's wanted to do to us this year too, IIRC!

 

[Coach D]

Do I like it? No. Do I think a team like that should be given basically more fouls no. But devils advocate here, I do appreciate teams having different styles of play. Refs need to hold teams like them accountable. But I like that college is more diverse than the NBA which I stopped watching because it’s all 3s and drive. If all of college played like us, UK, BYU for example to me it wouldn’t be worth watching. I just hope refs get better and teams like Houston/tenn Grand Canyon get adjusted.

Also I do hate how offensive players (well other than at Bama) Can become running backs running over defenders and pushing off with no calls except the defender might get called for a foul. Basically refs suck. Fix how the game is called.

 

[Bama Shoals]

Do I like it? No. Do I think a team like that should be given basically more fouls no. But devils advocate here, I do appreciate teams having different styles of play. Refs need to hold teams like them accountable. But I like that college is more diverse than the NBA which I stopped watching because it’s all 3s and drive. If all of college played like us, UK, BYU for example to me it wouldn’t be worth watching. I just hope refs get better and teams like Houston/tenn Grand Canyon get adjusted.

Also I do hate how offensive players (well other than at Bama) Can become running backs running over defenders and pushing off with no calls except the defender might get called for a foul. Basically refs suck. Fix how the game is called.

This is a good point. I like different styles of play as well; but you shouldn't change the rules for the different styles. And I'm with you on offensive players initiating contact. When I see them jump horizontally into a defender (who has the right to his position), and the defender gets the foul, it drives me crazy!

 

[CB4]

That's a great way of describing what they do. How many "walking/traveling" calls did UF get in the first half last night? Most were because Houston was literally bumping into them with their lower bodies causing them to loose their balance/pivot foot.

And I had forgotten about the Indiana episode. Even better they lost!

Less we forget that Sampson pulled the same recruiting shenanigans at Oklahoma prior to taking the job at Indiana. This guy thumbed his nose at the rules for years.

The entire final four was like a “celebration of misfit coaches” - Pearl - a three year show cause for recruiting violations and lying to investigators. Sampson - a five year show cause. Golden under investigation for sexual harassment and one of his assistants (who continues to coach) under investigation for sexual assault, and Shire and Duke - a coach and program that is easy to dislike.

 

[alabama mike1]

Some of y’all are to young to remember the NC 4 corners, Pete Carroll at Princeton with his pass, pick and cut offense that would keep final scores in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s and when refs actually called fouls instead of allowing mugging on the court.

 

[CB4]

Some of y’all are to young to remember the NC 4 corners, Pete Carroll at Princeton with his pass, pick and cut offense that would keep final scores in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s and when refs actually called fouls instead of allowing mugging on the court.

Pete Carrill and Princeton would pick/screen and back door a defense to death. And the beauty of it was the flow/motion of the guards.

 

[BAMAVILLE]

Ehhh not bothered by it ... but I've been a Pistons fan since the Bad Boys and I was in Detroit for the last championship with Big Ben sooo lol

Plus this Houston program has been a constant fixture as a premier program over the last 10 seasons by using a similar style.

For a while, our matchups with them were our guage if this CNO program made it among premier programs. And they were 3 points away from winning a championship Monday with the same style.

But I get it, everything ain't for everybody

 

[imauafan]

I was thinking this very thing last night. The problem is at some point, basketball folks decided it's OK to keep one hand or arm on an offensive player at all times. It's OK as long as you don't put two hands on them. So, Houston takes full advantage of that. But they are doing what other "physical" teams are doing as well and that is using their lower bodies to "push" into people shooting shots, going up for rebounds, and trying to drive to the hole. They'll have their hands up so the refs almost never call it, but it definitely is a foul and throws off the other team. This leads to ugly basketball. If it's said about your team that your chances of winning largely hinge on how the game is called, you are not designing your program nor coaching your team the right way in my opinion. That's Kelvin Sampson.

It also drives me crazy with all this Kelvin Sampson adulation that has been going on. Does no one remember he resigned from Indiana in disgrace and basically was banned from coaching in college for 5 years (given a show clause)? And one of the things he did was lie to the university and NCAA about what he had been doing. He's about the same character as Pearl. Combine that with the ugly style his teams play and I was definitely glad to see them go down last night.

100% agree. Someone else has already mentioned him getting into trouble at OU as well. I figure Houston has been a lower profile program that he could get away with things that he couldn't get away with in other places where there was more scrutiny. I can never pull for a Kelvin Sampson coached team.

 

[CajunCrimson]

Yall know my take.

More and more teams will adopt this style, because let’s be honest, it’s easier to coach. Doesn’t matter if you can shoot or not, because you are going to rattle the other team to death.

Duke did it too. I don’t know how Sears made it through the season still walking. He took more hits than Milroe this year.

Basketball is supposed to have a level of physicality, but it’s not supposed to be a grab and hold sport.

 

[TideEngineer08]

I can recall the mid to late 90s when the NBA turned into literal rugby on hardwood. Scores routinely stayed in the 80s. It was slow, plodding, and extremely physical. Their game evolved over the early 2000s to now.

The same is currently occurring in the college game, but refs have to catch up.

 

[CB4]

I can recall the mid to late 90s when the NBA turned into literal rugby on hardwood. Scores routinely stayed in the 80s. It was slow, plodding, and extremely physical. Their game evolved over the early 2000s to now.

The same is currently occurring in the college game, but refs have to catch up.

Looks like it might take them a while. Monday night’s game the refs weren’t calling anything short of the amputation of an extremity in the first half. Then, in the first 10-12 minutes of the second half, they started calling it tighter.

I don’t think many of us want games that turn into free throw shooting contests. But we don’t we don’t want “no blood, no foul” to be the standard either.

 

[TideEngineer08]

Looks like it might take them a while. Monday night’s game the refs weren’t calling anything short of the amputation of an extremity in the first half. Then, in the first 10-12 minutes of the second half, they started calling it tighter.

I don’t think many of us want games that turn into free throw shooting contests. But we don’t we don’t want “no blood, no foul” to be the standard either.

It's why the game is essentially unwatchable to me. I do hope it changes.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

If you remember about 10 - 12 years ago we were snubbed from the NCAA tournament because we played like this and we didn't pass the "eye-test"!