Paul Finebaum Names No. 1 Seed He Doesn't Trust in the NCAA Tournament

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Mar 22, 2025 9:44 AM ET

After the round of 64, there is still a chance for history to be made, as all four No. 1 seeds remain in contention. If they all advance to the Final Four, it would mark only the second time this has occurred in the tournament's history, joining the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

One of those No. 1 seeds hoping to secure a spot in the Final Four and ultimately win the national championship is the Houston Cougars. The Cougars finished the season with a record of 31-4 and an impressive 19-1 in the Big 12, winning both the regular season and the conference tournament championship.

On "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum shared his thoughts on the Cougars as they head into the tournament, stating that he is not entirely convinced about their chances.

"I don't need him to tell me what a great coach Kelvin Sampson is," Finebaum said. "He's been to the Final Four. He's been an elite coach. But I don't trust Houston either."

The Cougars delivered a dominant performance in their first-round game against the No. 16 seed SIU Edwardsville Cougars at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan. Houston showcased a suffocating defense, allowing only 40 points and limiting SIUE to a shooting percentage of 30.6% from the field and 8.3% from three-point range.

Additionally, Houston excelled on the boards, winning the rebounding battle 50-27. The Cougars forced 13 turnovers, converting them into 15 points, while SIUE managed to force only seven turnovers and scored just three points off them.

Houston led by as many as 40 points and trailed only twice after SIUE scored the first basket of the game. The Cougars tied the game at two, but after SIUE scored again to make it 4-2, Houston took the lead at 7-4 and never looked back.

Next, the Cougars will face the No. 8 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs at 8:40 p.m. ET on TNT this Saturday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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