DALLAS, TEXAS — What happens when two teams with “winning cultures,” according to Duke Head Coach Jon Sheyer, face off in men’s basketball for the first time?
You get a battle between a No. 4 seed in Duke and a No. 1 seed in Houston, a game that only saw one lead change and an unfortunate injury to one of the country’s best players in Jamal Shead, who suffered an ankle sprain in the first half.
“There just isn’t another Jamal,” Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson said.
“We got a one seed because of his leadership and his toughness, his ability to make everyone better.” Sampson said. “We don’t have anyone to replace Jamal.”
Sampson said that it didn’t take a lot to convince his players that they could still win, but Duke held their lead for the entirety of the second half, never allowing Houston to regain it.
He is proud of holding the Blue Devils to only 54 points, with Houston being referred to as one of, if not the best defenses in the country.
Sheyer said that Duke didn’t come out the way they needed to in the beginning, but they responded well.
In fact “learning how to win” is something he said he learned from former Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Kyle Filipowski led the Blue Devils with 16 points and 9 rebounds. L.J. Cryer led the Cougars with 15 points of his own.
While Sampson is disappointed in not getting to coach the Cougars tomorrow, Duke has punched their ticket to the Elite 8 where they will face in-state foe NC State on Sunday at the American Airlines Center.
