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Rueben Chinyelu of the Florida Gators faces Houston’s L.J. Cryer during the NCAA men’s basketball championship in San Antonio, Texas, on Monday. Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images
The Houston Cougars fell to the Florida Gators in Monday’s NCAA men’s basketball championship game.
Why it matters: The loss was the Coogs’ first national championship try since 1984 and signifies the team’s growth in the last decade.
Driving the news: The Florida Gators outscored Houston 65-63 in the March Madness finale in San Antonio.
Catch up quick: Houston blew through most of the competition in this year’s tournament, topping SIU Edwardsville, Gonzaga, Purdue and Tennessee before facing the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four.
The intrigue: Despite the championship loss, it’s the furthest the team has gotten in March Madness since Phi Slama Jama greats like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler contended for back-to-back championships in the mid-1980s.
- The Coogs’ recent success is thanks to veteran coach Kelvin Sampson, who took over the team in the 2014-15 season after years of losing seasons and zero March Madness wins since 1984.
- By his third season at the helm, the Coogs started a streak of March Madness victories and made trips to the Final Four in 2021 and 2025.
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