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Message: [QUOTE="SwingDog, post: 3081535, member: 7919"] Since Coach Hurley said Houston is the example of the program he is looking to build, I thought it would be interesting to look at what Kelvin Sampson has achieved at Houston. When he took over he inherited a program that enjoyed some past success but was wildly inconsistent and had many bad years, with losing records over 10 of the previous 20 seasons. In Sampson's first season, 2014-2015, the Cougars posted a 13-19 record. At that time there was talk among fans that he might not be the man for the job and if there wasn't noticeable improvement the following season then maybe he should be replaced. (Sound familiar?) Sampson has gone on to post records of 22-10 in 2015-2016, 21-11 in 2016-2017, 27-8 in 2017-2018 and thus far in 2018-2019 Houston is 31-2. The strength of recruiting for Sampson didn't initially come from a rich Houston tradition of winning and certainly not being part of a premier conference, because neither were true at that point. Sure, Houston had achieved great success decades ago, mostly under Guy Lewis and then to some degree under Pat Foster and Tom Penders, but that was old news. They had not (and still haven't) reached the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament since 1984. I am sure Sampson's resume' including success as head coach at Oklahoma and Indiana along with six seasons as an NBA assistant coach were attractive to potential recruits and I'm sure he has used that, but it's more than that. Whatever it's been, Sampson has done at Houston what Coach Hurley wants to do at UConn. Hurley has his own resume' which is impressive in itself (success as a former player, in rebuilding programs, and as part of a family with great basketball tradition), plus something Houston doesn't have- a program with a history of winning not one, but four national championships. He also has the right attitude, mindset, and work ethic to achieve success and the ability to get his players to buy in. I think he is off to a good start. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach