Hi everybody. Welcome to a new week, in a new edition of Houston, sports weekly, our weekly podcast here on KPRC 2 plus and click2houston.com. I’m KPRC 2 Sports director. Randy, McEvoy, a two-parter today.
I got the first segment talking, uh, basketball. And course, uh, is our theme for the entire 30 minutes. First segment, my chat with University of Houston ad, crisp Esmond. And here in about 15 minutes, Chancellor Johnson, KPRC to It’s reporter catches up with you of HP writer from Houston. Chronicle Joseph Duarte the used to cougars no doubt the Hot Topic here in H-Town as they should be the number one rated team in the nation.
They approve an all season long. They are a team to be reckoned with and when you look at what they’ve accomplished so far as they open the AAC tournament coming up in a matter of hours in Fort Worth, they have stayed healthy that has been the number one positive from the season. They’ve stayed healthy, they’ve had a mix of veteran players. They’ve had newcomer specially a guy like Jairus Walker, who’s a projected lottery? Pick in the NBA draft.
This will probably be one and done for Jairus Walker, but right now he has business to take care of, we featured him on Thursday night on KP R, TC to sports as well. But it’s all about the cougs and the AAC tournament and this great run as they get ready for their move to the Big 12 this summer. Here’s some of my With Athletics director, Chris Perez. All right here on campus University of Houston. A hanging out with a very busy guy.
That’s got a lot of things going on right now. The athletic director here uh Chris pheasant. Good to see you. Good to see you what a busy time. We’ve hit the spring, March Madness is around the corner.
You happen to have a number one team in the nation right now. Things are going pretty good. There’s a lot of smiles around this campus right now. Yeah. Knock on wood.
It’s a good time to be Houston Cougar just obviously you know with the visibility of what K the basketball program have done and what they They continue to do and the number one ranking, you know, I mean it’s a number in everybody chases it and doesn’t really matter right now and only matters at the end of the season and I think that’s what everybody’s focused on overall, just the job, he has done to get the program to where it is, forget about what’s going to happen.
Hopefully next few weeks. But the prominent program that U of H is again, under the leadership of Coach, a, yeah, regardless of what happens with the remainder of the Season what he has done and what the staff has done. Done. And the way the kids buy into that program and the way they represent us on the court and off the court.
It’s what you want, especially something that sits in my role, just such an incredible Ambassador for the University, but also the city Houston and and that’s what’s fun about. It is the way we play the kids play. I say we the kids in the program plays and so many ways. It is reflective of our city, you know, just fighting for everything every every Ball every 50 ball 50/50 ball every rebound.
And that’s kind of who we are.
And, and I think it’s easy to buy into the way those kids play. And, and to reform, you look around the environment that’s been created. Now, 42 Center, many outstanding Arena, you selling it out, that’s a good problem to have when you put putting fans in the seats. Yeah, it’s a great problem to have. I mean it the it sounds a little you know, disrespectful.
But the best feeling I can say is they were sold out. I can’t help you, you know, where you been, you know, That’s it’s a real thing. And happens every game and you know, to see our students turn out and the way they’ve bought in and kids lining up an hour before the game, that is what you always hope for in the in these moments. And and now we just need to be mindful of that and carry that forward. This is a really special time but you know, we want to make this thing last as long as we can and God willing, we will you came on board as a Dean, your you win here, you you bleed red.
Your Literally University of Houston when K was hired. He said back then we can win here, we can win at a very high level and there are a lot of double takes like what. But you sure about that he was confident from day one. That what we’re seeing now could happen? Yeah, you know, obviously coach has got a very acute eye for what was possible here.
And we drifted away from that for a long time. I mean we had moments where there was moments of success but not sustain your and you’re out success like what we’re having right now and In his vision and just will is what got us to this place and he was right, you know, we all I wasn’t here when he got hired but I came in a few years after and just following his lead and trying to help support them any way possible, and turn it into what this is become. I mean, we’re, we’re nudging up against, you know, a really Elite status. And I don’t want to put that song I see yet, but that’s what we’re chasing. And with Coach there and with the program and coaches and kids, we got a chance Big 12 just around the corner.
I know you guys are Non-Stop and I’ve transitioned with all the tapping now and hopefully it’s the successful. Next few weeks that aside, you got a big 12 transition coming up, how exciting is that in? I guess the work to get there, still still there. Oh yeah, where we have just, I mean we’re scratching the surface of everything that needs to get done. And I we’ve been working on this, for a long time since the day that, that invitation was extended.
We knew that there’s There’s a lot of work that has to get into it and there’s moments where you feel like, okay, we’re getting there and you realize, it’s, it’s a false Peak and the Himalayas are staring right behind it of just stuff. That’s got to get done. But what makes it easy? Is the momentum and the energy and the excitement that everybody has around the program? You know, I just got a tick a report this morning, our new season ticket sales, continue to go through the roof for football were over.
4100 new season, tickets sold basically in last two weeks now and so there’s continued excitement but we have to continue to push out in every direction. Action. And and fortunately, it helps Grease, the wheels a lot. When you’ve got a really successful program, like what’s happening with basketball right now, there’s a kind of seek in this football specifically when that schedule came out and they cycle here we are. Yeah, that was there now.
I gotta I had a pretty early Glimpse at.
I was it was you know I don’t want to say sobering but yeah it’s it’s big boy, you know, I mean this is it. Here we go. We wanted it now because this is what everybody wants. We asked for it now where the now where the dog that bit the car and is getting drug down the street a little A bit.
But that’s okay. I mean that’s there’s things that we’re going to do really well and that we can knock out right away. But there’s some things I’ll take a little bit more time but that’s that’s the fun part of all.
This is growing into it and it’s everything we wanted for a really long time and now we get a chance to experience it. And also have to your point, the success of basketball elevating.
The stature of everything, as we prepare for this transition and Final Four being in town, all that continues to bring more Otis and more energy and more effort from everybody.
So we could be more excited. Got a lot of work to do but it’s all the good stuff want to end it with this and the fans cougar nation and you just mentioned the ticket sales going through the roof. What’s your message right now? To everybody out there in cougar nation that with what’s about to happen?
The next few weeks will be fun? Yeah, but big picture is this big 12? Yeah, you know. Yeah, the next few weeks will be a blast jump on board bandwagons big enough for everybody. We’re not kicking anybody off, but we, you know, as we prepare for next fall on this.
Position, we need everybody. This is the time if you were ever interested. Had any affinity for? Not just the University Houston. But for the city Houston is, this is good for everybody.
And I’m not saying that because I’m the athletic director and I sit in this chair, but I live in this community and I know what this is going to mean for everybody, and I can’t be more excited. So, come on, get out of here. We need you.
Hopefully, you’re not gonna be sleeping much of the next weeks and months already. No, no, it asleep is underrated, but I’ll take it.
I mean, I screw it up. Yeah, I mean, Randy, I, you know, like you mention I played here, I went to school here, I worked here early in my career, and I was here, when the Southwest Conference fell apart and we were left out and now to be here in this, you know, seminal moment I’m, you know, I get goosebumps and I can’t wait to share and enjoy this with everybody else. Give a great work. Crisp Esmond, athletic director here at University used to thanks for time. I thank you buddy.
Oops all right, great chat with Pez as always what a job he has done as the Athletics director and I really enjoyed the inside.
He brought us when it comes to the move, to the Big 12 Conference. This isn’t something that just happens overnight. This is a long process as they make the move and transition out of the AAC and of the Big 12 Conference again, that will happen coming up this summer, but how sweet would it be to end their run in the AAC end? It right here with a final four appearance.
It harjeet Stadium. They are certainly built to make a run it all. With the AAC tournament this weekend in Fort Worth the next week, March Madness, begins will see where they’re seated and where they begin their tournament run again. Hopefully the ends at NRG Stadium. All right, time for a break here at used to sports weekly, we come back.
KPRC 2 sports reporter chance of Johnson takes over his conversation with cougars, beat writer Joseph dorte from The Chronicle. When used to sports weeklies podcast continues, Welcome back to Houston sports weekly and we are joined by a very special guest. The longtime beat reporter for the Houston, Cougars choice of dorte Joseph. Thanks for joining us on the show. Appreciate it.
Thank you, having me on. Absolutely. Now, these the Cougars came into this season as one of the top teams in the country and now they’re ending the regular season as the top team in the country was impressed. You the most about this year’s group The. Well, I think that they, that they managed and lived up to what many thought they could be.
And, you know, they began the year number. 3. There’s no shame in losing Alabama even though they were up 15. Think about that. They could have won that game.
Then you lose by one to Temple. So just the fact that, you know, this is never been a team that had prolong losing streak so you don’t see the seven or eight losses in a year but to see them run through the conference.
Go to Virginia, I remember being in Virginia and do what they did. They’re just they prove that it wasn’t just a shouldn’t be at this point of surprise. Anybody k.
Samson seems to replace four guys, every year they make it to the elite eight. Maybe another final four but they’ve certainly have lived up to things this year they definitely have. But you know we kind of were talking to some of the players early as still seems like they’re little bit disrespected. When you talk about some of the other top number one seed, she talked about the Kansas has you know so the produce and you know some other other teams are do you kind of get that sense to is? It is the conference or what you kind of make of all that?
You know I’ve been around this team for 12 years so some of it was deserving back in the old days. Of Conference USA, you know, just never got any respect, but then, you know, you had UConn early on. In this conference, win a National Championship.
Cincinnati had always been good, you added Wichita State, they were good program. Smu’s had some good years in Memphis, so you look at the entire body and you do wonder sometimes and I know K Samson.
You know we saw him getting on top of tables and celebrate you to Memphis. He’s been on this. This little Podium and soapbox for many years about the lack of respect that it’s a one bid, maybe too big. B leak in the NCAA tournament and that’s sort of what Houston has had to deal with. This is it’s going to change what the boobs are the Big 12.
They will have plenty of company in the, in the NCAA tournament next year with them if they’re able to duplicate this. But I mean that sort of, you know, what you have to deal with. And the the impressive thing is that they know sort of what the cards are that. They’re dealt and it’s never bothered them, they don’t act or play or run anything in this program that screams mid-may.
Major or lower level.
This is without the championship. This is a Blueblood. I mean, they’re about as close as, as you get two teams that have been in the Lexicon of of college basketball to UCLA’s, Kansas do. So, you know Houston Houston has been the five final four. So you know why not?
Yeah, look and make it six here in Houston or for the final four. Now, we’ll turn the tension. Now towards. I’ve seen watch this here, got the conference tournament coming up then, of course, the big dance, the NCAA tournament as the team looks to make a push for the van. For who is the X Vector for this team and your opinion.
You know, I liked Ramon, Mark, I’m saying, well, which, and because for one rightfully, so Marcus Sasser, and Jamal should get a lot of. The lot of the attention come on, just kind of seems to go out there every night.
And you never know if you know one night might have 15 might have 20 but then he does all the other things he plays really good defense. I’ve seen some sad lines words that you know, five assists or so and you know he’s another The guy that rebounds so you look at them otherwise you know I would think maybe a guy like a jj1 Roberts also just because of, you know, the runs that Houston’s had lately, they’ve always had a guy that was really good on the glass and could that could sort of body you or play, you know, play aggressive.
And, you know, Reggie Cheney and the final four run, was that guy who was sort of your Bruiser.
And if you mix him J1 Roberts and Jairus Walker, that’s a pretty formidable formidable, frontcourt. So I like, I like Trayvon. Yeah, and I like J1. I’m with you as well and Ramon Market, it does feel like, you know, he doesn’t get enough love because you just mentioned a lot of the, the praise goes to Marcus a surajmal shed, but, you know, I feel like there’s gonna be some teams who will play, uh, who may haven’t know? They’ve heard about you, they try and they’re like, hey, we had to stop Marcus a cerrar, we have to.
Hey, that kid. Cheers. Welcome to the Freshman, they’ll get a lot of hype only for its Ramon to go out and lead the lead the game in scoring and it’s just kind of goes to that the impact. He’s almost like a Swiss army knife and And what he’s been able to provide for this team and they’ve always had guys like that during their final four run. You know, trembles up sort of a reserve and he comes in and gets a big put back against believe.
It was Rutgers when they were down. And and that propelled them to the believe it was the the sweet 16 that one. These winds all run together. Now, they’ve had so many wins and then you look at other years you know, whether it was a Quentin Grimes or somebody. So the fact that they can they can run out so many different guys.
And it doesn’t have to be. If Marcus Aster doesn’t score 25 or 30? They’re done their toes. Now last year, they all decided to have an off night against Villanova if it’s hard to come back from that.
But I think this team is built when you factor in the defense you factor in the rebounding, the hustle stats, all the little things and then you get two or three guys that are going to give you between 10 and 15 points, that that’s good enough to get you a long way in March.
And I think the key for this team, Team. They’re going to be a number one seed.
How can they take that and run with it? Because they’ve had the number one seed in the ranking in the regular season. It’s a little different story when everybody’s doing it.
Yeah, everybody’s going to be gunning for you and no matter how many times you try to be in the backyard shooting, that half court shot when you’re a kid thinking, okay? I just want to 99% of those times. Those shut don’t go in. So you sort of have to have a different mindset when, when March in the madness starts. Yeah, I hope they didn’t use up.
The Magic in Memphis because you’re going to need it. When you get to the NCAA tournament, it was also kind of going back to their conversation about Ramon and just the rest of this group, I thought was funny.
He mentioned that in his opinion that they have the best Trio, you know. Potentially in the country markets, a sir agreed. And and to me I kind of laugh at it because like if there’s the trio then, what is yours, Walker?
Right. Like that talks it. Like to me that goes to show you the town on this team that, you know, you have Jamal shed, you have Marcus a search for Mark and a guy was going to be a top ten pick.
Just a couple of months, maybe a draft. Yeah and you know I think part of that with Jared says he’s not flamboyant he’s not a big talker but he goes out there and one night it will have a posterizing dunk or he’ll step back and hit a huge three and you’re thinking okay guys that big with that, does it don’t do that but then you know, the word they keep using his free, you know that it just natural ability.
But you look at also the the back Cork. And, you know, are they the best for you? That’s hard to say, you know, you haven’t seen it all.
And I think what what goes against them is, a lot of people still even though what they’ve accomplished don’t look at Houston like they do UCLA or Kansas or some of those other programs and it’s no knock on them because they’ve got the body of work to prove that hey, we’re, we should be up there. I think it was just a lot of people just aren’t used to use him.
Being a discussion. Let me think about it. Every time a lot of people from outside this program. About you. What do they bring up?
Five slamma-jamma right? Clyde Drexler Hakeem Olajuwon, well, a lot not a lot happened in those 30 plus years after that.
So there’s some new names in town. You know, there’s the Quinton Grimes at the Galen Robinson’s and the market has turned Jamal shed so it things are changing. You look at all the banners around here and you know, I’m that’s a lot of yeah.
Around the time I was born, they face sort of stop winning for a while and then now all of a sudden they’re making up. So it’s been the ride in the storyline. Line of a final four berth in their own City. It’s only happened for other times for team to play in the actual City that their school was in. That would be, that would be worth the price of admission.
Absolutely. Want to go back to Jairus Walker for a second. Obviously came into the program, a five-star recruit but you know, you get into just cause you’re ranking.
High doesn’t necessarily mean anything. K.
Samson will tell you that Kevin Samson. He’s been on the record multiple times of. He does not care. He likes you or he doesn’t It. But what he’s been able to do this season to provide for the team for you.
What’s impressed you the most about him about Jairus about years? Well, first, you know, K wants to talk starts. He’ll go to the Planetarium or he’ll go out to NASA. That’s the only stars that he’s interested in. But, you know, this was a guy that they, yeah, they this is the guy that doesn’t come to Houston in the past, but they don’t even get a phone call, they’re not wasting gas or the or the private jet to go.
See and jurors Walkers recruitment was very unusual. Qantas. White deserves, a lot of credit and then you look at what K and K did just the, the amount of work they all put into recruiting him, jerris. Wanted somewhere that he trusted he wanted a family atmosphere and what better place to go than the place, that that the Sampson’s Bellamy, you go down any hallway in this building and you see Lauren Samsung UC K, have to see the grandkids, you see, mrs. Sampson that, that sort of sold, jerris Walker on.
Hey, it may not be do. Not be North Carolina but guess what the who’s number one right now. So it’s not like he got shortchanged in all this and he also felt that this was a place that could develop.
Yeah. And even more they do a great job of development are there some things that you look at?
Maybe his shot wise that they correct? Yeah. But they’re not going to mess with anything at this point, or at all. Let the next level handle that. Let him just come in.
Be what you think? He can be develop him and I think in the next few weeks, We will see all of that finally, come together. They’ve been in the kitchen, putting everything in the bowl and now it’s time to cook and, you know, be a nice meal on on April 3rd for them would be like that little chef and now that is pretty good Miller from K Sampson.
I see it’s right here once in a while so I wanted to get to more of the tournament. Now as we wrap up here, you commission earlier last year, they pick the worst game to like not be able to buy a bucket with this year’s team.
They don’t get to the final four because Coz fill in the blank. They don’t get to the Final Four. If they don’t get to the farm fresh and say, you know, that’s a, that’s a tough one. You know, then preparation is not going to be the issue, game-planning scouting. None of that’s going to be the issue.
I think it comes down to, at some point, no matter how good you are. And there’s been some some teams that you go back in history and say they should have want them to look at 98. Houston should have won the National Championship but now my head me to like I know that has somebody born in the 90s. I’m saying too soon. Of course.
Yeah, like you said, you were born sure. Joseph but something always goes wrong and I think it won’t be something that Houston does. Whereas I’ve seen teams get up for them so much that will go on a 15 of 20 from 3-point land or you just see something for you. Going to last seconds, Jordan pull from Michigan. I was there.
It happens me. Yes, it happened. And then it’s over and it just like that, it’s not move on. And, you know, wait till next year. But I just I haven’t seen that this year.
They’ve had some close games, they’ve had some type ones that you’re wondering house. Kent State still in this game. Yeah, but we’ve been proven as March comes along. Can’t say it’s a pretty good team. So I think to answer your question, it’s just going to be something Fuki that happens, but I think this program has built up enough.
Good. Will that Being good should probably happen to them because they’ve gone through a lot and the last one, we’ll wrap up with this one in your, for your prediction. How do you see the NCAA tournament play? Now obviously, we have got two selections on there yet? Well, no, no this Sunday, but how do you kind of Envision this thing planned out with the Houston Cougars?
Well, I think Houston and not in any order, Alabama, Kansas, Houston and UCLA.
Those are my number ones, I think Purdue was like, on that border. I think Purdue out of all the ones we It’s the first one to get eliminated. I think. I think they’ll be the first one.
I don’t see a 16. They’re just that team. Like every year is always, you know, with a star player and then just doesn’t, they get beat in the sweet 16 and that’s it, right? And so you know, I don’t see a 16 beating of one.
I see I see Houston getting to that Regional Championship and then when you get to that point, you know it’s pretty much just roll the dice but I think if there’s ever been a season that’s wide open this.
Is it. You don’t have just a Team that just steamrolled everybody. So if you’re a betting person and I’m not, but it, but it, but if you got a little extra money, or if you just want to want to put some chores out there, where if you and the wife bed, and there you not married, but say, hey, I’ll do the dishes for a week and if you stand wins, that’s not that might be a safe bet. You might get a few nights off and let her do the laundry or you do the laundry with whoever’s the bigger uh basketball fan in your household.
But there there’s a go Golden opportunities, last one for me, selfishly and a championship game who would like to see Houston play right here in H-Town.
Because I have answered well, I can give you mine first. You like, no, I mean, I’m okay with this because, I mean look, I checked my allegiances at the door, okay? So but I know and I’m a Texas Grand, I’m a longhorn. And for those of you out there that didn’t know that, I’m sorry, but many of them do I think from the standpoint of, if you’re going to have it in, There’s 75,000 just make them all Texans, make everybody to show their drivers, license at the door, only Texas people get injured, is he that one will move the needle more than anything out. There, UCLA, Houston.
You got the dome right next door’s game of the same storyline feet. Those would be my two. I’m not a big. Hey, let’s see if some so-and-so can win a second title in a row or a thern? Let somebody else win.
So those are the two juicy ones that I have now. Aggie fans, y’all are looking pretty good. Right now, I think there are sweet 16, they’re a hot humid Baylor’s like that, maybe TCU depending on when you get them, but I don’t think there’d be anything bigger than Texas and Houston and the folks here, and the whole big 12 coming up at that. Yeah, that’d be some some Ultra juiciness for, for that game, it would be great and I know you say, you don’t want to see kind of the repeat, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Houston Kansas because I think they’ve been The top two teams, all season long and with the talent that Kansas has and with this group, that University of Houston has this year and of course, leading up to what’s going to happen twice.
A year.
Minimum next year, I wouldn’t mind seeing that partystar. Just a little bit earlier this with also too with them being the best two teams in the country that would be a fun font for now I’ll add this before we wrap up an interesting thing to watch as the number one seed, you know, they’ll get the 89 matchup in the second round. I was talking with some people today. That are around the tournament and don’t be surprised if you see a duke or one of the blue buds, who are used to being one seeds, having to play the role of that, lower seed, 8 9, a 10 or 12.
And how is that going to impact it?
Because all of a sudden, if you’re Houston or Alabama, or Purdue who’ve never been number one for a while, you got that pressure, Dow of the what’s on the Jersey? Houston’s Place, Kentucky. They played Arizona in the past. They played Illinois, they’ve been there. Yeah, they’ve been In there but it’s going to be interesting to see the roles reversed and that could happen in this tournament and that what we do know that K Sampson at least with this Houston Cougars team when they will be a one seed, they won’t be worried about that at all.
Kevin Samson will have them ready to play. I can’t wait man it’s going to be fun. We’ll have plenty more of with Joseph Duarte throughout March Madness and appreciative a oh man..
