Houston and March Madness: A Match Made in Clutch Three-Point Heaven?
The confetti's settled, the brackets are a crumpled mess of shattered dreams (looking at you, perfect bracket guy in the office), and March Madness is just a memory (a glorious, buzzer-beater filled memory for some). But for the Houston Cougars, one burning question lingers: could they have brought home the championship trophy?
Defense? Dynasty? Let's Dive In!
Let's be real, folks. Houston wasn't exactly a Cinderella story this year. They were a freight train rolling down the tracks, a defensive juggernaut that left opponents feeling like they were trying to score with oven mitts on. They led the nation in scoring defense, making teams feel like they were up against a brick wall with a bad case of the steals.
But were they all Brick and No Baskets?
Here's the rub. While their defense was a symphony of hustle and heart, their offense wasn't exactly lighting up the scoreboard like a disco ball. Don't get me wrong, they could get buckets, but sometimes it felt like they were pulling rabbits out of a hat – talented rabbits, sure, but still rabbits.
The Great Guard Gamble: Shead to the Rescue?
Enter Jamal Shead, the Big 12 Player of the Year and Houston's very own spark plug. This dude could weave through defenders like nobody's business, leaving them grasping at air (and occasionally his ankles... sorry Big 12). If Shead could stay hot and the rest of the team could find their shooting rhythm, Houston might have been unstoppable.
So, Could They Have Done It? The Verdict (with Air Quotes!)
Truthfully, nobody knows for sure. March Madness is a fickle beast, and a bad shooting night or an unlucky bounce can send even the best teams packing. But Houston had the heart, the defense, and a playmaker in Shead. Would they have waltzed to the championship? Probably not. Would they have been a force to be reckoned with, leaving opponents with nightmares of bricked shots and defensive pressure? Absolutely.
Here's to next year, Houston! Maybe next year those bunnies will learn to use a jump shot.
