COLLEGE HOOPS: For Houston, SMU win just one more step forward

The University of Houston Cougars celebrate together after a 71-68 win over No. 12 Southern Methodist University Monday, February 1, 2016 at Hofheinz Pavilion. SMU is the highest-ranked opponent Houston has beaten since a 1996 victory over No. 3 Memphis. less The University of Houston Cougars celebrate together after a 71-68 win over No. 12 Southern Methodist University Monday, February 1, 2016 at Hofheinz Pavilion. SMU is the highest-ranked opponent Houston has ... more Photo: Tony Gaines Photo: Tony Gaines Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close COLLEGE HOOPS: For Houston, SMU win just one more step forward 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

HOUSTON - The University of Houston Cougars are a team on the rise, under second-year head coach Kelvin Sampson.

Monday night they accelerated that upward trajectory, soaring to a 71-68 victory over No. 12 Southern Methodist University at Hofheinz to improve to 16-6 and 6-4 in American Athletic Conference play. Now, they sit one game back in the loss column from Cincinatti, Tulsa and Temple - with SMU disqualified from postseason competition, their hold on the top spot is in name only - with a chance to improve that standing, facing Tulsa on the road Sunday.

With seven brand-new players on his roster, through a combination of recruiting and transfers, Sampson is only just beginning to see his vision for the program start to bear fruit, and the yield is both impressive and well ahead of schedule.

The wider college basketball world got a chance to see the Cougars’ capabilities Monday, as they ground their way back from an 11-point deficit against one of the country’s best teams. But Sampson contends that this team has been quietly, sneakily good all year, whether or not anyone else has been watching.

“We didn’t become a good team last night,” Sampson said. “Really good teams have up and downs during the season. We stubbed our toe against South Florida, but we bounced back. We beat Tulsa, we beat East Carolina and we beat SMU. It tells you a little about our program. It’s all about knowing who you are and staying in the moment.”

The moment is plenty pleasing for the Houston program, but the future is almost certainly sweeter. Sampson foresees plenty of growth, contending the big win over SMU is only the first of many to come.

“We’re going to have a great basketball program here,” Sampson said. “Our best days are way ahead of us. We’re nineteen months into this project, so it’s not like we’re a finished product. We’re building this thing, and the process continues. I like where we are and I like our team. But I think we’re going to be better next year, and the goal is to be better next year, and that’s how you build a program.”

One of the advantages the Cougars possess going forward is their relative youth. Shooting guard Rob Gray, Jr., the AAC’s leading scorer at 17.3 points per game, is only a sophomore, and did not even play against the Mustangs Monday, sitting out with a severe ankle sprain.

Sampson also pointed to point guard Galen Robinson, Jr. and team-leading rebounder Damyean Dotson as cornerstones for the team going forward.

“The thing I love about our future is that Galen’s a freshman, Rob’s a sophomore and Dotson is a junior,” Sampson said. “That’s a pretty good backcourt. Those guys are going to be back here next year and we’re going to add to them. I’m enjoying this. At this stage of my career what I really enjoy [is building the program].”

With sophomore guard Wes VanBeck, a fan favorite and local product out of Westside High School, contributing at a high level in limited minutes - shooting the Cougars to a double-overtime win against East Carolina University - and junior forward Bertrand Nkali taking charges, blocking shots and playing with physicality every time he hits the court, Sampson has an exciting, deep roster to dip into this season and next.

Another factor Sampson feels he can count on going forward is the fan support. Hofheinz was so raucous and loud against SMU that head coach Larry Brown said it reminded him of his first game as head coach at the University of Kansas, against the 1983 Phi Slama Jama incarnation of the Cougars.

“To me, the key to that whole night, other than the performance on the floor, was the students,” Sampson said. “Our students were fantastic, and they’ll be back.”

If Houston can take care of business on the road against Tulsa this weekend - a team they beat 81-66 when they faced them at Hofheinz - it is easy to imagine the Cougars can expect the same level of intense energy in the arena when they return to face Memphis on Feb. 10.

Just like the line goes in “Field of Dreams” - if you build it, they will come. Sampson has put together all the pieces of a strong team, with a bright future, and now it is up to the fans to fill the stands.