FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — When Marcus Sasser crumbled awkwardly to the court after his ft slipped from below him while dribbling previous midcourt, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson knew one thing became once scandalous even with out in actual fact seeing what had took place.
“Marcus goes down, it technique he’s injure,” Sampson talked about. “We always convey wretchedness is an opinion. Some kids enjoy a excessive opinion. Some kids enjoy a low opinion. However Marcus doesn’t budge down. He never misses apply, never misses a procure. He’s always there.”
Sasser, the American Athletic Convention player of the twelve months, suffered an obvious groin injury with about 6 1/2 minutes left within the main half of of the head-ranked Cougars’ 69-forty eight derive over Cincinnati in their AAC tournament semifinal sport Saturday.
Houston (31-2), which led all over, became once up by eight when Sasser bought injure and expanded that to 15 by halftime.
Sampson talked about Sasser would be re-evaluated, however indicated that the senior guard may well per chance well unprejudiced no longer play when the 2-time reigning fashioned-season champion Cougars strive to derive their third consecutive AAC tournament title against Memphis on Sunday.
“I would doubtless err on the side of keeping him out thanks to how necessary next week is,” Sampson talked about. “However necessary ingredient is Marcus … his wholesome going forward is necessary ingredient right here.”
Jamal Shead had 16 sides and nine assists for the Cougars within the AAC semifinal, which matched two teams which would be transferring to the Gigantic 12 next season. J’Wan Roberts had two second-likelihood layups within the game’s first minute to set Houston ahead to carry. He accomplished with 16 sides and eight rebounds, while Jarace Walker had 13 sides.
“True shining that Marcus got right here out of the game and we peaceable enjoy teammates that all of us know that lengthen off the bench and reach with that identical energy, it honest exhibits lots about our group of workers,” Roberts talked about. “It honest exhibits all people has one one more’s back and we never derive far from what we’re doing, honest staying collectively.”
Houston is a determined bet to be a No. 1 seed when the NCAA Match bracket comes out Sunday, regardless of what occurs in its fifth straight AAC Match championship sport.
Landers Nolley II had 14 sides for Cincinnati (21-12), which shot a season-worst 25.5% (13 of 51) from the sphere.
After 30 sides for the Cougars on Friday, Sasser had four sides in nine minutes against Cincinnati ahead of the non-contact injury. He became once dribbling between the conference emblem and the three-level line when his honest foot perceived to race, throwing him off-stability ahead of his left foot slipped as neatly, sending him into an awkward split.
Sasser became once a starter on the Cougars’ 2021 Closing Four group of workers however missed their bustle to the NCAA Elite Eight closing twelve months thanks to a damaged bone in his left foot ahead of Christmas. He didn’t confer with the media after the game.
Cincinnati became once within 44-35 on a 3-level by Nolley with about Quarter-hour left — the actual time after halftime the Bearcats had been within single digits. Shead then began a 17-3 bustle with a jumper, and had seven sides within the spurt that pushed Houston’s result in 61-38.
“Clearly, they’re the No. 1-ranked group of workers within the country for a cause, and they’re a elaborate group of workers to ranking on,” Bearcats coach Wes Miller talked about. “It became once a tough night time for us, because we didn’t ranking and we didn’t protect neatly. So that’s how you derive that extra or much less a lopsided margin.”
BIG PICTURE
Cincinnati: The Bearcats will omit the NCAA Match again, their closing appearance being 2019, which became once their ninth in a row. … For the second straight day, Cincinnati became once down 10 sides lower than seven minutes into the game. However there would be no comeback relish Friday’s 84-54 victory over Temple for the Bearcats’ glorious-ever winning margin in a conference tournament sport. As a change, they misplaced by extra than 20 sides for finest the second time this season.
Houston: The Cougars bounced back from Friday’s season-worst taking pictures sport (28.1% total, 16 of 57). They nearly about doubled that within the semifinal sport, taking pictures 50.9% (29 of 57). … Houston is 11-0 in Dickies Enviornment, and peaceable hasn’t misplaced far from dwelling this season.
