Kelvin Sampson comments on JT Toppin’s season-ending injury
Head coach of the Houston Cougars Kelvin Sampson gave his take about season-ending injuries to collegiate stars JT Topin and Richie Saunders.
Topin tore his ACL in the Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Arizona State Sun Devils game. He performed at a high level while in contention for the national player of the year award before collapsing towards the end of the 2025-26 season.
As for Saunders, he played a huge role in the BIU Cougars’ success before eventually going down with a torn ACL on February 14th. This diminished the Cougars’ chances of making a deep run in the postseason even though they remained in the AP Top 25.
Sampson reflected in the injuries of those two stars ahead of Houston’s upcoming game on Friday, according to reporter Joseph Duarte. He described the injuries as heartbreaking, hoping that Topin and Saunders make a full recovery and have great basketball careers when they return.
“It just breaks your heart. They are the foundation of their teams. They are great role models for the kids in their communities. They make the Big 12 look good. I just pray that they come back and make a full recovery and have great careers,” Sampson said.
What’s next for Kelvin Sampson, Houston
It’s brutal news for Texas Tech and BIU to get about their top players in JT Toppin and Richie Saunders. As for Kelvin Sampson, he’ll be hoping the same doesn’t happen to his Houston Cougars team.
Sampson is in his 12th season as the Cougars’ head coach. He wants to get back to the national championship game, where he and Houston finished as runners-up last season.
Houston has a 23-3 overall record this season, going 11-2 in Big 12 play so far. Despite this, they maintain control of the top spot in the conference standings, leading the Arizona Wildcats and Cyclones.
The No. 2 Cougars will look to bounce back in their next matchup as they are at home. They have a big contest coming up as they host the #4 Wildcats on February 21st at 3:00 PM ET.
2026-02-21 01:31:00
