SAN ANTONIO – The University of Houston is set to take on Duke at the 2025 Final Four in San Antonio, a matchup that has been widely talked about as one of the best in recent final four clashes, featuring the no. 1 defense in the country in Houston and the no. 1 offense in the country with Duke. It is a mammoth collision of two programs that have had outstanding years.
Game information
Teams: Houston (34-4) and Duke (34-3)
Tip-off: Approximately 7:49 p.m. CST
Watch: CBS
Listen: KPRC 950, Westwood One
The way that Houston approaches this game doesn’t change. The defensive culture and identity that brought them this far has the ability to change the game. As incredible as Duke has been all season, the Blue Devils have not faced the physical intensity that Houston presents, even with some of the good competition they have seen.
“They’re pretty good but once we come in with that defensive mentality it’ll be a different ball-game,” graduate forward J’Wan Roberts said.
Being Fearless on the Biggest Stage
Assistant head coach Kellen Sampson reminded junior guard Emanuel Sharp to be fearless, a mindset that allowed Sharp to take over in the second half vs Tennessee with 14 points & win most outstanding player in the Midwest regional.
That attitude of being fearless can be extremely important in a big game like the Final Four where all the attention and bright lights are on you.
“You don’t want to second guess yourself, especially putting all your work. Just take advantage of it,” graduate guard Mylik Wilson.
The team is just ready to get out there and make a statement. Houston is not here to be hesitant. They’re ready to make their shots.
“When you go into these games and you play fearless, I feel like that takes care of everything,” Roberts said. “You can’t hesitant because the lights are brighter or the stakes are higher.”
Houston has the veterans to stay calm.
“We have a lot of veterans on this team, J’Wan LJ, guys who have been to the final four, so they know what type of mindset to have,” Sharp said.
Cryer looked to be right at home during Friday’s open practice ready to be fearless.
“That’s something that coach preaches to us. Its about going out there and trusting your work,” Cryer said.
Biggest challenge yet with Duke
The Blue Devils enter this game as widely recognized favorites, but that doesn’t bother any of the players, nor do they focus on that.
“We’re not the big name school, we’re just Houston in third ward. We probably don’t get the respect we need but that’s something that puts a fire under us and a chip on our shoulder. Being an underdog in these games we’ll take it. We’re not running from it,” Roberts said.
Freshman 18-year-old star forward Cooper Flagg leads Duke with 18.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Flagg was honored Saturday with the AP player of the year & Oscar Robertson trophy as the youngest to ever win the award. Houston has been asked all week on how they are going to guard the presumed no. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
“The biggest thing is to make them uncomfortable,” Roberts said.
Duke has won their last 15 games and 30 out of their last 31. The Blue Devils are also highlighted by junior guard Tyrese Proctor and freshman guard Kon Knueppel, a great shooter who will also be a lottery pick.
The talk has been of Duke’s size and how Houston will combat that, but the reality is that the Cougars have been undersized before, but because of players like sophomore forward Joseph Tugler & his 7-foot six-inch wingspan, it does not pose a problem. Tugler already has one defensive player of the year award under his belt and is also a nominee for the Naismith defensive player of the year.
UH also has senior forward Ja’Vier Francis with a 7’6 wingspan as well as 6’6 sophomore guard Terrance Arceneaux off the bench.
“We just gotta be us,” Francis said.
Scheyer has a lot of respect for Sampson, and wanted to give his team the biggest test early, setting up a secret scrimmage at Houston in 2022, during his first year at the helm. “
“Coach Sampson and I sitting down for 45 minutes talking about life. It wasn’t just about basketball, it was talking about life. His knowledge, his support. He texted me many times throughout that year. Not many coaches do that. Genuinely reached out for his support,” Scheyer said.
With every game, it is impossible to simulate Houston’s identity of playing hard and Scheyer knows that as well.
“One, haven’t slept much. That’s a credit to Houston,” Scheyer said.
What it comes down to
Houston will have to leave everything out onto the court defensively, while also having a strong shooting night from players like Sharp, Cryer, point guard Milos Uzan or even a bench player like Arceneaux. Graduate guard Mylik Wilson also had the potential to come up big in his last season, as shown vs Kansas earlier this year.
“It’s my last year, it’s special to make the Final Four,” Wilson said.
It’s the last ride for most of this team, they’re trying to make the most of this one last chance.
“I spend most of my time with these guys every single day so I’m gonna go out there & lay it all out on the line for them & I now they’d do the same for me,” Cryer said.
[…] defense cannot be simulated. Over the course of the game, it played a huge effect on Duke. Like J’Wan Roberts said earlier this week, their defensive mentality will change the game. It did. The no. 1 defense in the country limited […]
[…] defense cannot be simulated. Over the course of the game, it played a huge effect on Duke. Like J’Wan Roberts said earlier this week, their defensive mentality will change the game. It did. The no. 1 defense in the country limited […]