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Today's starting lineup

UH certainly plays a much more important game on Saturday against Duke in the Final Four, but the Rockets had a big one of their own on Friday. Houston knocked off Oklahoma City, the NBA's best team, and showed that when they are focused, they can be 'one of the best teams in the NBA.'

Please scroll down for the rest of this morning's headlines.

Reid Laymance, Sports Editor

reid.laymance@houstonchronicle.com

Rockets / NBA

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) reads after making a three-pointer during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Houston, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Photo by: Ashley Landis, Associated Press

Rockets show how they can be 'one of best teams in NBA'

The Rockets started Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams together to set the tone against Oklahoma City, the top seed in the West.

UH / March Madness

Houston Cougars guard L.J. Cryer (4), guard Milos Uzan (7) and guard Mercy Miller (25) watch during a practice for a men's NCAA Final Four semifinal college basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, April 4, 2025.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Houston's top-ranked defense will try to stop Duke's No. 1 offense

The UH-Duke matchup is the first time the nation's best defense has faced the most efficient offense in the history of the KenPom database.

The matchups: How the starting lineups for Houston and Duke compare and a prediction for the Final Four semifinal. Read More
Three keys: What will it take for UH and Duke to win? A look at three keys to victory for each team in Saturday's Final Four matchup. Read More
Players to watch: NCAA Tournament games often come down to one key player. A look at one for Houston and Duke entering Saturday's Final Four matchup. Read More
How to watch: UH and Duke face off for a berth in the national championship game. Here's how to watch Saturday's semifinal. Read More
Home-court edge: CBS' Grant Hill once played for Duke in a Final Four close to home. Will it mean an advantage for UH? Read More
Young and old: It's not just experience against youth on the floor at the Final Four. The same can be said for the two coaching matchups in the semifinals. Read More
'Toughest test': Entering his first season as Duke's coach, Jon Scheyer wanted the "toughest test" for his team. That meant bringing them to Houston for a scrimmage. Read More
CBS' view: Ahead of Saturday's Final Four showdown between UH and Duke, CBS' announcing crew offers its thoughts on the matchup and keys to victory. Read More
The big stage: The Final Four is played in an environment players don't see all season. But UH may have an advantage over other teams in this year's event. Read More
Famous alums: You've heard enough about the on-court matchups, what about which Final Four school has produced the best singer or actor or has had the best pop culture moment Read More
Rap rules: Mercy Miller, the son of Master P, says his famous father is "one of my favorite artists," but that doesn't mean he wants his Houston teammates playing it before games. Read More
Shout out to Guy V: Three of the head coaches in the Final Four are Jewish leading Auburn's Bruce Pearl to give reporters a history lesson that included Houston's Guy V. Lewis. Read More
Auburn's flight: Before Auburn played Houston in November, its plane had to turn around because Tigers players were fighting each other. Now, they're in the Final Four. Read More

Texas women / March Madness

Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) reacts to the 74-57 loss against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA semi-final game at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Friday April 4, 2025. The Longhorns lost 74-57 to South Carolina.

Photo by: Sara Diggins

South Carolina just too good for Longhorns in NCAA Final Four. 'It does sting'

Texas Longhorns only lost four games this season, but three were to South Carolina, including season-ending decision in Final Four.

Samford Bulldogs head coach Bucky McMillan during a college basketball game between the Samford Bulldogs and the Wofford Terriers on February 15, 2025 at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C.

Photo by: Icon Sportswire, Icon Sportswire Via Getty Images

Texas A&M to hire Samford's Bucky McMillan to replace Buzz Williams

Bucky McMillan, 41, has coach at Samford for five seasons and reached the NCAA Tournament once.

Transfer: Kalifa Sakho could help fill a void on Houston's front line after loss of J'Wan Roberts and Ja'Vier Frances after this season. Read More