SAN ANTONIO – J’Wan Roberts has enjoyed a lengthy and successful tenure at Houston, contributing significantly to 149 victories over six seasons. As Roberts looks forward to his last game against Florida on Monday night, he and his team aim to achieve their first-ever national championship title.
Reflecting on the journey, Roberts expressed his excitement, noting, “I can say I’ve been to the tournament every year since I’ve been in college. We’ve come close, but we always fell short.” On the eve of wearing his Cougars jersey for the 173rd time, the 6-foot-8 forward added, “To actually reach the national championship, especially winning the way we did last night, is surreal.”
The Cougars, boasting a 35-4 record, staged an impressive comeback against Duke, overturning a 14-point deficit in the last eight minutes to secure a 70-67 victory in Saturday’s national semifinal. Despite being only a 63% free-throw shooter, Roberts showed remarkable composure by making crucial free throws with 19 seconds remaining, putting his team in the lead. He then solidified their path to victory by effectively defending a final shot attempt by Cooper Flagg, Duke’s 6-9 standout freshman and national player of the year.
Roberts’ pivotal free throws came after Flagg committed a foul amid a scramble for a rebound following a missed free throw by Duke. Throughout the tense moments before and after his free throws, Roberts gestured for the 68,522 strong Cougar fans to settle down. “I was trying to calm everyone because I needed to concentrate on making another free throw,” he explained. “The crowd’s excitement made it seem like the game was already ours.”
Fans erupted in a delighted frenzy only moments later when Flagg’s attempt at a fadeaway jump shot, challenged adeptly by Roberts, failed to connect. At the game’s conclusion, Roberts proudly pulled on the front of his No. 13 jersey to showcase the Cougars name, celebrating vivaciously with nearby supporters. His enthusiasm was evident even before teammate L.J. Cryer sealed the victory by scoring the final points from the free-throw line.
Houston’s exemplary performance, including an 18-game winning streak and victories in 30 out of their last 31 games, has led the team to their first national championship appearance since the days of Phi Slama Jama in 1983 and 1984 with legends like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.
Roberts, who is now the winningest player in the history of Houston basketball, benefitted from an extra year of eligibility, an opportunity provided by the NCAA to players affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While his official playing time began only after redshirting in the 2019-20 season, he has since been an integral part of the team.
“He’s been with us longer than anyone else. He fully understands what being part of this program entails, and he embodies what it means to be a Cougar,” noted junior guard Emanuel Sharp.
Roberts stands as the only remnant from Houston’s 2021 Final Four roster, a team that succumbed to eventual champions Baylor in the national semifinals. In succeeding seasons, the Cougars progressed to the regional final and twice reached the Sweet 16 before this year’s advanced run.
“Six years is a long time to be at Houston. I can’t imagine how he’s managed it all because being part of this program involves a lot of exhausting days, especially in practice sessions,” commented Cryer, a prominent scorer and second-year transfer who was initially part of Baylor’s 2021 championship team. “His perseverance and dedication to the program and his teammates are evident. We’re committed to winning this championship and ensuring he caps his career with a well-deserved victory.”