Houston Cougars loss to Arizona reveals the ultimate NCAA tournament concern

Survive and advance; that’s the mindset for any NCAA tournament team. Maintaining composure and resilience, despite setbacks, is key. However, today, the Houston Cougars faced a battle that was enjoyable until it turned difficult.

Kelvin Sampson's Houston Cougars faced another scoring drought, which previously led to their failure in a last-minute comeback against Iowa State. This time, they experienced the same issue in their game against No. 2 Arizona. This marks their second consecutive loss, both of which can be attributed to scoring droughts that put them at a disadvantage.

The Cougars went eight minutes without scoring in the second half at the Fertitta Center against Arizona. While the Arizona Wildcats defensive unit is much to tip a cap to for that, it still is no excuse for a team that eyes a possible repeat of last year’s deep run in March.

The question arises: Can the Cougars compete in March? The likely answer is yes, but there are some important considerations. ESPN's Myron Metcalf addressed this question honestly. If the team can't resolve its issues, it will need to enter March with a mindset focused on more than just surviving and advancing.

“This week's losses suggest that unless star freshman Kingston Flemings can create shots in clutch moments, they might be vulnerable to more droughts at the most critical juncture of the season.” Medcalf wrote.

“Do they have the offensive output to trade punches with the best teams in America? The NCAA tournament is decided by playmakers and stars, and the Cougars have them, but their inability to overcome a pair of ugly stretches in back-to-back games is concerning.” He added.

Houston has four regular-season games left before postseason play. The Cougars fell short of Iowa State on Monday and Arizona on Saturday. They'll look to Kansas on Monday. Beyond that, three more games until the regular season closes out, then the Big 12 tournament.

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