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For the third NCAA Tournament in a row, Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars are heading to the Sweet 16. But unlike the last two times, Sampson was in an unusually celebratory mood.
Upon joining his team in the locker room, the 66-year-old Cougars head coach took his shirt off and started dancing with his players. Some of them even spilled some water on Sampson as part of the celebration.
But apparently Sampson wasn’t aware that he was being filmed while he was dancing. When his players were asked questions about it in their post-game press conference, Sampson seemed shocked that everyone knew.
“Y’all saw that?” Sampson could be heard asking, prompting a laugh from the crowd. He nearly spit out his water too, according to SI’s Ross Dellenger.
Shirtless Kelvin Sampson was WILDIN’ in the locker room 💦@UHCougarMBK #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/yVHrZlSnQE
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2022
After narrowly escaping a loss to Chattanooga in the Round of 64, Illinois was unable to get past Houston in the Round of 32. The Cougars were coming off a strong win over UAB in the first round.
In doing so, the Cougars reached the Sweet 16 for the third tournament in a row and third in the last 35 years.
Last year, Sampson led Houston all the way to the Final Four before being ousted by Baylor.
But perhaps this is the year that Sampson and the Cougars seal the deal.
If nothing else, Sampson may rip his shirt off again if Houston reaches the Elite Eight.