“I don’t know there’s anybody better than us.”
Longtime CBS college basketball broadcaster Jim Nantz has always been open about his support for the University of Houston. As expected, Nantz is very optimistic about his alma mater’s prospects for the 2024-25 college basketball season.
Last season marked the first time Nantz, who served as the primary voice of the NCAA Tournament for CBS from 1991-2023, experienced March Madness as a fan. This allowed him to enjoy the games alongside his family while attending Houston’s NCAA Tournament run last season.
Hello friend.
Jim Nantz gets to watch his Houston Cougars play in the NCAA Tournament as a fan in the stands now. 🏀🎙️👏 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/OefQfnW3G2
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 25, 2024
Despite entering last year’s tournament as a one-seed, Houston fell short in the NCAA Tournament with a Sweet 16 loss to Duke. However, even with the team’s recent struggles under head coach Kelvin Sampson, Jim Nantz believes Houston will be a formidable team this upcoming season.
“I think it’s just great respect to see we’re No. 4,” Nantz said in a conversation with Greg Rajan of the Houston Chronicle. “Although I don’t know that there’s anybody better than us. But you’ve got to go out and earn it.”
Nantz elaborated on his optimism, highlighting Sampson’s proven track record of success.
“What makes me optimistic? Kelvin, Kelvin and Kelvin,” stated Nantz. “We have everyone back except for — and that’s a big exception — Jamal Shead. The commitment that these kids have to come back and win a championship, like L.J. Cryer and J’Wan Roberts, is impressive. Houston went into the conference last year, won the regular title by a couple of games, and even reached No. 1 in the AP poll; that’s amazing. It’s great to see where we are with the program and what Kelvin has done. He’s the best.”
Though Nantz might have personal bias as a 1981 graduate of the university and former P.A. announcer, he was honored last March when the program hung a banner with his name in the Fertitta Center.
Now that Nantz no longer covers college basketball, he can fully embrace his support for the Houston Cougars. His praise may indeed be justified, as the Cougars enter the 2024-25 season ranked No. 4 in the Preseason AP Top 25 polls.
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