Why UH Players Are Back: "Our Guys Return for Another Shot at the Final Four" After Duke Loss

INDIANAPOLIS — Roughly one week into the previous offseason, after an unsatisfactory conclusion to their season, an upset defeat against Duke in the Sweet 16 , multiple players on the University of Houston's male basketball team The roster faced some choices to make.

Should they leave and start professional careers? Or should they return for another season to chase their program’s long-sought-after first national championship?

Individually, the Cougars announced their plans openly.

Forward J’Wan Roberts was the first to reveal on social media his decision to return for a sixth and final year of eligibility.

Then guards L.J. Cryer and Emanuel Sharp, Following them were the large players Ja'Vier Francis and Joseph Tugler. Shortly thereafter came the guards Mylik Wilson, Ramon Walker Jr., and Terrance Arceneaux.

In just a matter of days, the whole Cougar team—including All-America point guard Jamal Shead excepted—opted to come back under what later became known as the "Run It Back" initiative.

" The job isn't done yet," Roberts shared on X.

A year later, the Cougars did more than just defend their Big 12 regular-season title; they also established a new school record of 34 victories. On Sunday, the top-seeded UH finished off the challenges of the Midwest Region bracket. capping off with a 69-50 victory against No. 2 Tennessee to reserve a trip for the Final Four.

Next up: vs. Duke advances to the national semifinals On Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

I felt like there was still more to accomplish," Cryer stated. "To be honest, my return was solely for this purpose. My objective has always been to triumph. We've reached this stage, and if we hadn't gotten here, I would have certainly been disappointed with how the season went. But now, everything feels worthwhile.

Given that Shead was the sole player who left, Kelvin Sampson brought back four starters this season. This represents a shift from past years when the esteemed hall-of-fame coach routinely needed to overhaul his lineup because of graduating players.

Indeed, ever since Sampson joined 11 seasons back, just three out of his top ten rotational players (namely Caleb Mills, Tramon Mark, and Damian Dunn) have moved on. During this time, Sampson has brought in new transfers as necessary, with the latest addition being point guard Milos Uzan from Oklahoma during the previous off-season.

Sampson credits the program stability to “good player leadership.”

Our players return," Sampson stated. "They don't transfer. We don't have a portal program. This has been our approach for many years.

Prior to reaching the Sweet 16, a graphic circulated on social media showcasing each team’s starting lineup. Five out of Purdue’s initial five players were original members of their squad, trailed closely by Duke and Michigan State with four apiece, and then UH and BYU both boasting three from the start. Besides Uzan, Cryer initially played for Baylor where he claimed an NCAA championship during his freshman year in 2021; meanwhile, Sharp, Roberts, and Tugler all developed through their college programs directly.

I'm hoping that as the week progresses, people will view this squad as a nostalgic reminder of how college basketball used to be, since all our players have stayed," stated Jim Nantz, a University of Houston alumnus who served as CBS' chief NCAA Tournament commentator for 32 years before his retirement in 2023. "Yes, we occasionally utilize the transfer portal — like bringing in Milos this season — but everyone else has returned. This doesn’t happen much these days. We're definitely the most dedicated team in collegiate basketball.

Nantz mentioned that retaining athletes is uncommon during the era of Name, Image, and Likeness deals and the transfer portal in collegiate sports.

You see, people start running," Nantz mentioned. "And they depart. But nobody wants to exit Camp Sampson; instead, they wish to remain close to it.

These young athletes genuinely care for their school and each other, which seems largely absent from collegiate sports today. The nation ought to embrace this group wholeheartedly with the sentiment 'These youngsters deserve our support.' Ultimately, devotion defines them; they exhibit remarkable loyalty and share an exceptionally strong bond.

Walker mentioned that the Cougars' familial environment made it an easy choice to come back.

“It holds a special place,” Walker stated. “There’s this sense of family. The fact that everyone wants to return highlights the kind of program we have here.”

Just two victories away from claiming a national title, the "Run It Back" initiative stands at the precipice of reaching its objective.

Wilson stated, "This is precisely why I returned, to savor these instances," as he rejoiced with his fellow team members following their victory in the Elite Eight round. "I was aware that we had a shot."