Florida Gators defeat Houston Cougars in NCAA championship
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.
Duke led for nearly the entire game, but Houston went on a 9-0 scoring run in the last 35 seconds to secure the victory.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Florida will get better CFP odds after tough games
Trysta Krick and Vaughn Dalzell believe the Florida Gators have high upside but due a tough schedule, their value to make the CFP isn't good enough to take before the season.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Yordan Alvarez nearing return amid Astros' scoring slump
Yordan Alvarez nearing return amid Astros' scoring slump originally appeared on The Sporting News The Houston Astros are desperately in need of some offense. They've been shut out four times in their last five games, including last night's 1-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers in 10 innings. Still, the Astros (69-57) hold a 1.5-game lead in the AL West and could soon be receiving a major offensive boost—star slugger Yordan Alvarez. The 28-year-old lefty has been out of the lineup for more than three months due to a nagging hand injury. But on Tuesday, he finally began his rehab assignment. Analyzing Alvarez's first rehab game Alvarez, a three-time All-Star, immediately showed why he's been so important to Houston these past few years with a multi-hit game for Double-A Corpus Christi. He drew a seven-pitch walk in his first at-bat of the day before swinging at a first-pitch strike in the seventh inning for a single. But the highlight of Alvarez's night came during his last plate appearance, when he drilled a double to left field. Oh, and in addition to his two hits, he also recorded a steal. That's a good sign for Alvarez, who originally hurt his right hand swinging the bat during a game in April. He tried to play through the pain but was officially placed on the injured list on May 5. Alvarez had a 'small fracture' of the fourth metacarpal in his hand, but the Astros didn't realize that until May 31 because of swelling and inflammation that clouded the injury. Houston manager Joe Espada said Alvarez will rest today before playing in back-to-back games for Corpus Christi, per Brian McTaggart. If he continues to look sharp, he could be activated this weekend for the Astros' series at Baltimore.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Rockets hire another senior business executive from Timberwolves
For a second time this summer, the Rockets hired a business executive from the Timberwolves. This time, it's Laura Meyer as senior vice president for business intelligence and performance marketing. In the aftermath of a recent NBA ownership change in Minnesota, the Houston Rockets are hiring another veteran executive from the Timberwolves. In June, longtime Timberwolves chief operating officer Ryan Tanke joined the Rockets in the same role. Now, per Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal (SBJ), Laura Meyer has been hired as Houston's senior vice president for performance marketing and business intelligence. SBJ has more details on her role: Lauded for her role in the T'Wolves' current 94-consecutive game sellout streak — while orchestrating the teams' efforts to become the first in the NBA and WNBA to deploy 100% digital ticketing — Meyer was recruited to Houston by former Tanke, now the COO in Houston. 'She's an absolute force, and a transformational hire for us,' Tanke said. Recently named a 2025 SBJ Game Changer, Meyer spent 19 years in Minnesota, focused initially on data and analytics. In 2010, under her guidance, the T'Wolves became the first pro team in the Twin Cities to utilize dynamic ticket pricing, and when the T'Wolves and Lynx successfully converted entirely to a digital ticketing template in 2015, she began ideating ways to make fans' mobile phones the centerpiece of their game experience. Eventually, in 2017, the launch of the team's phone app led to mobile ordering, mobile loyalty currency and discounts, and mobile payment functionality. Promoted in 2023 to senior vice president of business intelligence, Meyer's initiatives included a revamped courtside configuration that resulted in a 29% increase in premium seating — leading to significant revenue. She also oversaw the expansion of the Lexus Courtside Club, and, in 2024 led an eight-figure investment that focused, in part, on a renovation of a Target Center restaurant into a 500-member premium space. Earlier this summer, Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez officially replaced Glen Taylor in Minnesota's ownership role. Amid widespread changes, another leading executive who left the Timberwolves during that window is former CEO Ethan Casson, now president of the Dallas Mavericks. In Houston, Tanke and Meyer are working underneath Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations with the Rockets. Tilman Fertitta has owned the Rockets since 2017, though given his current stint as the new U.S. Ambassador to Italy, it's his son — Patrick Fertitta — who is most involved on a day-to-day basis. Sheirr is one of the only women in the NBA to lead a team's business operations. Beyond the NBA, both Tanke and Meyer bring experience in building the brand of a WNBA franchise — which Houston hopes to land in the near future. More: Longtime Timberwolves chief operating officer Ryan Tanke to join Rockets in same role
