Florida delivered an epic comeback. Walter Clayton Jr. proved to be a name in the making. Todd Golden became the youngest coach to win a natty in decades. But if one were to think of the most memorable moment in the sea of orange and blue confetti from the 2025 finals night, it has all got to do with one Houston name– Emanuel Sharp. An era-defining moment had been reduced to a disappointing, dissatisfying stop. None could digest what transpired. Kelvin Sampson one among them. But as players move on and programs gear up to do it all over again, has the guard really been forgiven?
Only for the third time ever had the Cougars managed to make the finals in 2025. Things looked hopeful, too, as Hakeem Olajuwon, who was still playing for Houston last time they were in the position, sat among the other 65,000 fans present in the Alamodome. A 12-point lead said the curse was about to be broken. But Sampson’s squad instead ended up having a deja vu moment from the time they had defeated Duke to reach this stage– a full force comeback by the Gators.
First, Clayton Jr.’s 3-pointer with 3:14 to go tied the game at 60. Then came one of the most chaotic finishes to a big dance final game ever. Houston took the lead. Florida played catch-up. Fouls stacked up, and so did a few missed free throws, not letting one get too far ahead of the other. This came down to one final moment.
With just 40 seconds left and Houston down by 2, junior guard Emanuel Sharp made two costly mistakes that sealed the Cougars’ fate. A first turnover may have even gone unnoticed, thanks to the final-second shot he did not take. All Kelvin Sampson could do was watch. “This team was, this team was built, this team had the character and the toughness and the leadership. This team was built to win this tournament, and that’s why it’s so disappointing,” he’d say. This was a team that came in with a 35-5 record, defeating the Blue Devils who were riding high with Cooper Flagg.
But Sharp’s blunder wasn’t lost on him. Especially when the guard was trusted with that final shot. “We thought if we could get Emanuel to shot fake and get downhill… he probably should’ve shot faked that,” the head coach admitted after the game. No one regretted that more than Sharp.
Reports say he was heard wailing in the locker room as his teammates tried to console him. He screamed expletives and took the blame incessantly, saying, “That’s me, bro.” But the fans clearly haven’t been forgiving. They weren’t back then, they aren’t right now, as the guard gathers up his courage to run it back. He isn’t shying away. Sharp is back. Ready to prove everyone wrong.
Yes! The 2025 Midwest Region MOP is returning to Houston for his senior season! He gets another shot at redemption. Can he fix the mistakes from last year? Only time will tell. But one thing’s clear. The fans aren’t exactly thrilled to see the guard back for another season.
Fans fume as Emanuel Sharp decides to run it back with Kelvin Sampson
Fans were definitely not happy. “Maybe he can lose them the tournament again with 2 awful last-minute plays,” one fan wrote. Another added, “The guy who turned the ball over on the last 2 possessions of last season. They went from having a 241 to a 041. Bold move, Mr. Sharp.”
Maybe he can lose them the tournament again with 2 awful last minute plays
— Brad Jacobson (@bradballer1212) April 17, 2025
It’s easy to see why fans are so frustrated. With the title on the line, Emmanuel Sharp had his moment to shine. But as Alex Condon came flying in, Sharp froze. His three-point shot turned into a bounce pass. The ball slipped away, and so did the championship. But that wasn’t his only blunder. Just moments earlier, Sharp drove into a wall of Gators. Too much pressure. He lost control. Another opportunity down the drain. Those two plays flipped the game upside down. One fan even called him a “Certified flop artist” while other joined in saying , “Sold the biggest moment of his life” after that disastrous final sequence.
But do those two sequences truly define a player’s ability? Some fans don’t think so. “Great news, 10 seconds don’t define a basketball player. Give Florida credit for playing great defense at the end. This young man makes the Coogs a better team. If you think otherwise you don’t know shit,” one fan fired back, defending Sharp.
That’s absolutely right! Sharp was a key contributor to the Cougars’ success this past season, averaging 12.6 points for the second year in a row. He started all 37 games, shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from three.He was named an honorable mention All-Big 12 and is the top returning scorer for Houston heading into 2025-26. But that’s not all!
Sharp also earned Most Outstanding Player honors in both the Big 12 Tournament and the Midwest Regional. He averaged 20.7 points during the conference tournament. His NCAA tournament performances were equally good! Standout performances in the big dance, including 17 points against Purdue and 16 against Tennessee, showed just how crucial he really was for Houston. His 16 points against Duke helped the Cougars script a memorable victory. He had a season to remember, and one game shouldn’t describe who he is as a player!
But fans were still making fun of him. “ still ain’t gonna win a natty.” Despite the ongoing fan jokes, Houston’s future looks incredibly bright. The Cougars currently top the Way Too Early Top 25 list by ESPN. Coach Kelvin Sampson has already made moves to strengthen the squad, landing Creighton transfer Pop Isaacs, a dynamic guard who can score and create for others to replace Milos Uzan who is headed for the NBA draft.
The Cougars are also bringing in a stellar recruiting class, including three top-20 prospects that include the likes of Chris Cenac and Isiah Harwell. With the return of Emanuel Sharp and Joseph Tugler, Houston is shaping up to be a serious contender for a Final Four appearance this year. They will definitely be a team to watch out for this season!
The post No Forgiveness for Houston’s Final Minute Blunder as Kelvin Sampson’s Locker Room Update Turns Laughing Stock of the NCAA World appeared first on EssentiallySports.