Cougars face Gators in NCAA championship after thrilling Final Four wins

Without a doubt it was Houston’s, for two reasons. Though Houston’s defense was ranked as the best in the country this season in field-goal percentage allowed and total points allowed, Duke’s historically efficient offense presented its most difficult challenge.

Not only did the Blue Devils bog down offensively in the second half, they went more than seven minutes without a field goal, an absurd drought given Duke’s talent. Perhaps the even harder challenge for Houston, however, was finding enough offense to complete the comeback.

Scoring has never come easily for Kelvin Sampson’s teams in recent seasons, and though this year’s team is much more dangerous, it still doesn’t often produce points in bunches. Emanuel Sharp won’t have to pay for a meal the rest of his life around Houston’s campus with the way he shot the ball in the final minutes.