Jim Nantz praises the University of Houston Cougars’ loyalty as they reach the Final Four, highlighting their commitment amid shifting college basketball trends.

As the University of Houston Cougars prepare for their seventh Final Four appearance, former CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz says the team represents something that’s increasingly rare in college basketball — loyalty.

Speaking to KHOU 11’s Jason Bristol following Houston’s 69-50 win over Tennessee Sunday in Indianapolis, Nantz, a UH alum, praised the Cougars’ commitment to one another in an era dominated by NIL deals and transfer portal moves.

“I hope that when we get into the week, people will look at this team as a throwback team to what college basketball used to be,” Nantz said. “Because our guys stay. And yeah, we use the portal every once in a while… but that way, everybody else came back. No one does that anymore.”

Nantz pointed to the fact that most of the Cougars’ roster has remained intact despite the growing trend of players frequently transferring schools. He described the team as “the most committed team in college basketball” and said their loyalty to the program and to head coach Kelvin Sampson should stand out.

“This is a team that could have won 2 or 3 decades ago. Would have been a force who could have won a national championship. And this is the framework of the way college basketball used to be,” Nantz said.

He acknowledged that the Cougars have used the transfer portal at times but emphasized that most of the team chose to stay. “People don’t want to leave Camp Sampson. They want to be around it,” he said.

Houston alum Jim Nantz of CBS Sports College Basketball following the Coogs win: “I hope when we get into (Final Four) week, people look at this (Houston) team as a throwback to what college basketball used to be. “Because our guys stay.” Jim, of course, used to work at KHOU 11 News, as well.

Posted by Jason Bristol KHOU on Sunday, March 30, 2025

The Cougars advanced to the Final Four after shutting down Tennessee with relentless defense on Sunday. Houston’s top-ranked defense held the Volunteers to just 15 first-half points — the fewest in an Elite Eight game since 1979 — and extended their winning streak to 17 games. L.J. Cryer led the team with 17 points, and Emanuel Sharp added 16.

Nantz hopes the team’s loyalty resonates beyond Houston.

“I hope there’s a great appreciation for what this represents in the NIL new era of college basketball,” Nantz said. “These kids care about their school and they care about one another, and that is lost. That is truly lost in college athletics.”

Houston will face Duke on Saturday in the national semifinal in San Antonio. Tip-off is set for 7:49 p.m. Central Time.

“This is a team America should throw its arms around and say, ‘I like these kids,’” Nantz said.

“Because loyalty in the end is the word. It’s a loyal bunch that is really bonded. They are extraordinarily close. And they showed it tonight.”