One game at a time: Houston eyes matchup with Idaho in tournament opener

Houston men’s basketball has a path to play the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in Houston, but there are no shortcuts, and the first stop on the journey is a matchup against No. 15 seed Idaho, the Big Sky champion. That’s something coach Kelvin Sampson has never lost sight of.

“You’re playing a champion. You are either playing a conference champion, or you’re playing a team that had a really good year. This isn’t an invitational tournament; you have to earn your spot in this tournament,” he said. “Whoever you play, whatever seed they are, you start with respect. We respect Idaho.”

Meet the Vandals

Idaho will appear in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 36 years, after winning four games in five days to win its conference title. 

Freshman forward Jackson Rasmussen won Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors. He leads the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game and ranks second in rebounds, trailing only senior forward Brody Rowbury, who averages 5.2 a game. 

Senior guard Isaiah Brickner claimed the conference’s top reserve honors and is averaging 12.1 points and nearly four rebounds off the bench. 

The Vandals stretch the floor, with Brickner shooting 42% from beyond the arc, alongside redshirt sophomore guard Kolton Mitchell, who leads Idaho with 2.2 3-point makes per game on 35.9% from 3. 

“Everyone who steps foot on the floor has the ability to make 3s,” Sampson said.

That perimeter threat is a reflection of the system installed by coach Alex Pribble.

Idaho is his first Division I stop, where he has spent the past three seasons.

Same approach 

For the Cougars, this marks their first time in four years not being a No. 1 seed entering the tournament, but their approach remains unchanged.

“We’re still approaching every game with the mindset of competing at the highest level, and going out and winning every game,” redshirt senior guard Emanuel Sharp said. “Nothing changes but the team we’re playing.” 

Sharp added that the opening game of any tournament is often the toughest, as it sets the tone for everything that follows.

For the newcomers, it also puts into perspective the 5 a.m. summer workouts and VersaClimber sessions.

“It all boils down to the dance, now that we are here, it’s all starting to come into picture,” Sharp said.

For Sharp, graduate guard Ramon Walker Jr., senior guard Milos Uzan and graduate forward Kalifa Sakho, it’s their final dance. While for the team’s leading scorer, freshman guard Kingston Flemings, and freshman forward Chris Cenac Jr., it could be their only March Madness run.

But that one shot at glory is fueling the team, which is choosing not to get caught up in what lies ahead, whether that’s a potential Sweet 16 or Elite Eight matchup at Toyota Center, or the next steps in their careers.

“I’m trying to cry tears of joy, not sadness,” Sharp said.

Houston will tip off against the No. 15 seed Idaho Vandals on Wednesday at 9:10 p.m. on TruTV.