Kelvin Sampson sends a classy message to Iowa State

Houston basketball once again showed why Kelvin SampsonThe program is among the most respected in Big 12 basketball. Even after a narrow 70-67 road loss to Iowa State, Sampson produced a composed and gracious response that reflected the culture he has built in Houston.

The The Cougars’ No. 2 watched a late skid away at Hilton Coliseum as they shut down the No. 6 Cyclones on a decisive 17-4 run to close out the game. Nate Hayes knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:17 left, and a turnover in the final seconds sealed the outcome. The loss dropped Houston to 23-3 overall and tightened an already competitive Big 12 race.

Instead of deflecting blame or questioning the circumstances, the veteran head coach credited TJ Otzelberger and the Iowa State program for their execution and atmosphere on the field.

After the final buzzer, 247Sports’ Alec Busse shared Sampson’s postgame comments on X (formerly known as Twitter), expressing respect the Cougars head coach has the Cyclones for the program.

“We have a lot of respect for TJ Otzelberger, his program and this fan base. I don’t know how it looked on TV, but any time you get the Hilton Coliseum on TV, it’s good for the Big 12.”

The comment underscored the influence of the Hilton Coliseum without framing it as an excuse. Instead, Sampson turned to conference pride, reinforcing his belief that Big 12 basketball benefits from a high-level environment and national exposure.

Houston remains firmly in the national championship conversation. A competitive road loss to a top-six opponent does little to hurt the Cougars’ NCAA Tournament run and may end up strengthening it.

Loss also serves as a measuring stick. Winning in Ames is one of the most challenging tasks in college basketball, and Houston showed its ability to compete with a top-six opponent in the right environment on the road.

More importantly, the Cougars head coach’s response reflected stable leadership. In a sport defined by pressure and intensity, he chose perspective over frustration. As March approaches and the Big 12 title race intensifies, that tone could prove just as valuable as any late-game adjustment.