Houston basketball is a bit different than most teams, with coach Kelvin Sampson building a program model that is predicated on grit and defense.
Sampson's core pillars have turned the Cougars into one of college basketball's top programs in recent years. It's no wonder why Houston plays the way it does — especially as videos of its practices were posted to social media in the leadup to the Cougars' national championship matchup against Florida on Monday night in San Antonio.
Drills centered around players fighting for loose balls and rebounds resemble a football practice more than a college basketball game.