Kelvin Sampson on Jamal Shead: ‘You Don’t Have Another Jamal’
Houston‘s loss of All-American guard Jamal Shead has been one of the most talked about storylines of the entire NCAA Tournament so far.
Following the team’s 54-51 loss to the Duke Blue Devils on Friday night, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson reflected on the loss of Shead, saying, “You don’t have another Jamal.”
“He’s First-Team All-American,” Sampson said. “He’s the Big 12 Player of the Year. He’s the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He’s the heart and soul of this team. I doubt any team in America has, maybe Edey from Purdue, that means as much to their team as Jamal would mean to this team. There’s just not another Jamal.”
The loss of Shead was a major momentum shift in Friday’s game as the Cougars were comfortably in the lead with Shead on the court. After going for a lay-up at the 6:38 mark of the first half, the Texas native was helped to the locker room for X-rays.
“He was the best player the floor tonight,” Sampson said. “He’s been the best player on the floor every game we’ve played this year except a few. We got a one-seed because of his leadership, his toughness, his ability to make everybody better. You don’t have another Jamal. You said ‘Who’s your point guard to replace Jamal?’ We don’t have a point guard to replace Jamal.”
Sampson’s words rang true as the Cougars were defeated 54-51 by Duke.
