UH basketball team focused despite No. 1 seed pressure

The University of Houston men's basketball team is preparing for their first game in the NCAA Tournament. They hold the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region and will face the 16th seed, SIU-Edwardsville. Despite the difference in rankings, the Coogs are not underestimating their opponent. Guard Emanuel Sharp emphasized that the team approaches all games the same way. "We focus on the sixteenth team the same way we do the one seed," he said. Forward J'Wan Roberts noted that SIUE is a solid team that plays hard and uses various defenses. The players are well aware of the challenges posed by their opponents. "They are good at offensive rebounding and have good size," said Milos Uzan. L.J. Cryer added that SIUE plays fast and deserves their place in the tournament after winning their conference. SIUE's head coach, Brian Barone, respects Houston's team. He pointed out that they have a strong identity and execute their game plan well. Both Barone and UH head coach Kelvin Sampson have faced each other in the past as coaches. They now meet again on the court, both aiming for a national championship.