Mailbag: Cougars bring March Madness to Houston with Sweet 16, potential Elite 8 matchups

Houston, which has advanced to its seventh straight Sweet 16, will compete against the No. 3 seed Illinois at Toyota Center on Thursday. With a victory, the Cougars would compete in an Elite 8 matchup against the winner of No. 4 Nebraska and No. 9 Iowa, which defeated the top-seeded defending national champion Florida in the Round of 32. 

Editor in chief Camryn Alberigo and senior staff writer Sean Paul answer fan questions ahead of the Cougars’ Thursday’s 9:05 p.m. tip.

Which bench player do you see having the biggest X-factor moment in the Sweet 16? — @alessandreaux/X

Sean: The bench player that will have the biggest X-factor moment against Illinois on Thursday will be redshirt freshman forward Chase McCarty. Since the latter portion of the season, McCarty has essentially become Mylik Wilson 2.0: high energy and always on the move.

McCarty has been the go-to guy when the energy for the Cougars is low, and the team needs a spark plug. He has been able to fill that role and show that it’s the little details that make him an important asset to the team.

Camryn: I would also have to go with McCarty. The fact that he got to witness a national championship run with the team last season during his redshirt season has given him valuable experience. 

In his Zoom conference on Monday, coach Kelvin Sampson talked about unlocking McCarty’s competitive spirit. 

“You have to have the bones. It has to be in there somewhere, and we have to trust that we can get that out of you,” he said. “I always saw that in Chase.”

Now, with almost a full season under his belt, McCarty is beginning to play a critical role in leading the bench unit.

Obviously, skill development, physical training, and tactics are extremely important. How does sport psychology feature in the team’s preparation? E.g, dealing with emotions, distractions, and pressure on and off the court. Developing confidence at the individual and team level. Team cohesion and leadership. — Steve Kozub/Facebook 

Camryn: At the end of the year, the players fall into a routine. After all, they have been laying the foundations and working on the physical aspects of the game since summer workouts. Practices are shorter, and it’s expected that the team has cleaned up numerous problem areas by this point.

“You just have to find a way to keep yourself engaged, and we do a really good job at that,” graduate guard Ramon Walker Jr. said. “I feel like whenever we come in, we always come in with really high energy.”

That energy is necessary to get through the grueling days of March. The team shares a strong bond. They know any game could be their last together, so they are keeping the focus on just the game in front of them.

“Every single team now is desperate,” freshman guard Kingston Flemings said. “They want to play more games with their team.”

Emotions like these can fuel a team, but coach Kelvin Sampson often credits the freshman class for their maturity, which helps keep the group focused.

Where to watch if not going in person? — JohnnyBbad7/Reddit

Camryn: Avenida Houston is hosting a free Cougar watch party, with a 20-foot screen displaying the game. Doors open at 7:30 with performances by the Spirit of Houston, UH giveaways and various activities at the plaza. 

The Den near the UH campus has great food options and a festive atmosphere. The Phi Slama Hama and Mexadelphia are my favorite menu items. You also can’t go wrong with the Ultimate Platter, which includes the delicious mac & cheese bites. The Den is a smaller venue, so arrive early if you plan to watch the game. 

Sean: If I’m a fan and I need to go somewhere to watch the game, I’m choosing the Pitch 25 Bar on Walker Street. While it’s mainly a soccer-centric sports bar, they also showcase many college sports games. In addition, it has a huge yard for large gatherings, so you can watch the games with all your friends.

For entertainment, they have a variety of arcade games and even a mini-soccer pitch, so you’ll be able to have something to do before the game starts. Pitch 25 also has a large variety of food options, with my favorite being the Hangover Burger, which I like to pair with a side of mozzarella sticks.

The Coogs have been playing only eight players during the first two games. Who would be the next guy up if needed due to foul trouble or injury?-Richard Alberigo/email

Sean: It mostly depends on what the situation calls for. 

If it’s the guards, the next man up will be freshman guard Isiah Harwell. He has fallen out of the rotation as of late, but has been dealing with injuries throughout his first season in Houston. Harwell has the tools to take games over and establish himself as a future starter for the team.

If the situation calls for more stabilization in the paint, redshirt junior center Cedric Lath will take on the challenge. Despite only more than 10 minutes in a game once this season, when called upon, the big man from the Ivory Coast will need to assert himself in the interior, especially against Illinois, which is arguably the best rebounding team left in the tournament, particularly on the offensive boards.

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