Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3: Kelvin Sampson

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
• Episode: Hour 3 - Kelvin Sampson
• Release Date: March 31, 2025
• Description: A thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.

1. Introduction

At the outset of the episode, Colin Cowherd welcomes listeners to "The Herd" and introduces the main guest, Kelvin Sampson, the head coach of the Houston Cougars basketball team. The conversation primarily focuses on Sampson's coaching philosophy, his extensive experience in both college basketball and the NBA, and the current state of the Houston Cougars as they prepare to face Duke in the tournament.

2. Interview with Kelvin Sampson

A. Coaching Philosophy and Culture

[03:53] Colin Cowherd:
"When you got to Houston, you've done it four times. You did it at Washington State, you did it at Oklahoma, you did it Montana Tech, I think it was. What is it about you in the first year or two? How do you change not just recruiting, how do you change culture in basketball?"

Kelvin Sampson delves into his approach to building a strong team culture, emphasizing the importance of a clearly defined way to win the game. He highlights the significance of punctuality, effort, responsibility, and maintaining the right attitude among players.

[04:15] Kelvin Sampson:
"Culture starts with being on time. It starts with giving your best effort. It starts with your body language, being responsible so you don't have to be held accountable. Being someone that has the right attitude."

Sampson stresses that cultivating a culture where players are committed to something larger than themselves is crucial. He notes that under his leadership, the Houston Cougars have maintained stability, with eight out of their top ten players returning the previous year and minimal player transfers.

[05:40] Colin Cowherd:
"You know what you sound like coach. You sound like a warm weather Villanova."

Colin draws parallels between Sampson's coaching style and successful programs like Villanova, praising the emphasis on defense, loyalty, and players contributing beyond individual performance.

B. Experience in the NBA and Its Influence

[08:12] Colin Cowherd:
"What did you learn in the NBA that you think even today you think about it occasionally that helps you as a college coach because you spent six years there. That's a spell of time."

Sampson reflects on his six-year tenure in the NBA, notably working with coaches like Scott Skiles and Kevin McHale. He credits this period as an intensive "crash course in advanced basketball lytics," enhancing his understanding of matchups, situational basketball, and the importance of spacing in offense.

[08:21] Kelvin Sampson:
"Scott probably helped me the most because he's a little bit of a basketball savant. Extremely smart, prepared, organized. He understood how to hunt matchups."

His NBA experience reinforced his belief in cultivating a strong team culture, much like the Spurs under Gregg Popovich, where players like Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili exemplified commitment and teamwork.

C. Current State of Houston Cougars and Facing Duke

[02:33] Colin Cowherd:
"USA Basketball Kelvin Sampson at Houston. He spent six years in the NBA on several teams and it gives you a sense of, of where you want to take the players. It's the ultimate destination. And he's now with the Houston Cougars. This was a program that I grew up with that was five slam a jama. But when Calvin took him over, they were in a drought."

Colin sets the stage by highlighting Houston's resurgence under Sampson after a period of underperformance. The Cougars are now positioned as a formidable team, facing Duke in the tournament's game of the tournament.

During their discussion, Sampson acknowledges Duke's strategic team-building, particularly the pairing of Cooper Flagg with Sion James and Canepo, which presents a significant challenge.

[06:32] Kelvin Sampson:
"You have to be the best version of yourself. You know, we played in the Big 12 the last two years and you know, whether it's Kansas or Iowa State or Texas Tech, there's a lot of really good teams and all those teams had a best player. So we'll come up with something. Now, will it be good enough? I don't know. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. But at the end of the day, every team has to focus on what they do good and try to be their best version of themselves."

He emphasizes focusing on Houston's strengths and the collective effort required to compete against top-tier teams like Duke.

D. NIL and Its Impact on College Basketball vs. G League

[14:34] Kelvin Sampson:
"I think the antithesis of the G League is college basketball. Now guys aren't leaving early to go to the G League. They have to take too much of a pay cut."

Sampson discusses the evolving landscape of college basketball, particularly the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. He posits that NIL has strengthened college basketball by allowing players to benefit financially without abandoning their education and team dynamics, contrasting it with the G League, which often requires players to take pay cuts and offers less stability.

He notes that the presence of veteran players in the NBA is increasing as players prefer staying in college to maximize their NIL opportunities rather than entering the G League prematurely.

[15:52] Colin Cowherd:
"Yeah. Kelvin Sampson, 69% plus winning record, three Final Four appearances. This team is athletic, they are tough, they are physical. And I meant that as the greatest compliment. Villanova south."

Colin commends Sampson's successful track record and likens the Houston Cougars' resilience to that of Villanova, underscoring the program's strength and potential in the current season.

3. Additional Discussions and Banter

Beyond the interview, the episode features various sports discussions and banter between Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre. Topics include:

• NBA Brawl Involving Detroit Pistons:
  Jason highlights a recent melee involving the Pistons, describing the team's aggressive playstyle and potential challenges in the playoffs.

• Patriots' New Wide Receiver Stefan Diggs:
  A light-hearted discussion about Diggs' role in the Patriots' offense and his comparison to Josh Allen, showcasing team dynamics and player responsibilities.

• Baseball's New Torpedo Bats:
  The conversation shifts to baseball, where Colin and Jason debate the introduction of new bat designs by the Yankees, examining their impact on the game and player performance.

• NFL's Tush Push Play:
  The hosts discuss the controversial "tush push" play in the NFL, debating its effectiveness and implications for the game's integrity.

These segments provide a mix of in-depth analysis, humor, and personal anecdotes, maintaining the show's engaging and dynamic nature.

4. Conclusion

The episode concludes with Colin Cowherd expressing his admiration for Kelvin Sampson's contributions to college basketball and the Houston Cougars' promising trajectory. Kelvins departs with well-wishes and gratitude, reflecting the mutual respect between the host and the guest.

[16:36] Kelvin Sampson:
"Thank you, Colin. Appreciate you having me on."

[16:39] Colin Cowherd:
"You bet. Kelvin Sampson, Houston Cougar basketball coach, 36 years. J. Mac. He started at Montana Tech, Washington State, Oklahoma, Indiana, Houston."

The episode wraps up with standard sign-offs and promotional content, transitioning listeners to upcoming segments and other shows within the network.

Notable Quotes

1. Kelvin Sampson on Team Culture:
   "[04:15] Culture starts with being on time. It starts with giving your best effort. It starts with your body language, being responsible so you don't have to be held accountable. Being someone that has the right attitude."

2. Kelvin Sampson on NBA Influence:
   "[08:21] Scott probably helped me the most because he's a little bit of a basketball savant. Extremely smart, prepared, organized. He understood how to hunt matchups."

3. Kelvin Sampson on NIL Impact:
   "[14:34] I think the antithesis of the G League is college basketball. Now guys aren't leaving early to go to the G League. They have to take too much of a pay cut."

4. Colin Cowherd on Kelvin's Success:
   "[15:52] Kelvin Sampson, 69% plus winning record, three Final Four appearances. This team is athletic, they are tough, they are physical."

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for listeners who may not have tuned in. It highlights Kelvin Sampson's coaching strategies, his NBA experiences, the Houston Cougars' current performance, and the broader implications of NIL in college basketball, all while maintaining the engaging and conversational tone of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd."