SAN ANTONIO – Saturday night, the Houston Cougars men’s basketball team defied the odds and came from behind to take down the Duke Blue Devils, 70-67.
The win was huge for a UH program that’s returning to college hoops’ biggest stage for the first time in more than 40 years. However, the biggest star in the program’s history wasn’t allowed to be included in the celebration.
Following the win, a video circulated showing Hakeem Olajuwon—a legend in both Cougars and Rockets basketball—being refused access to the stage where the team was celebrating. Fortunately, he was eventually granted access.
Ahead of Monday’s championship game, KPRC 2 Sports Director Randy McIlvoy had a minute to sit down with Olajuwon to hear what happened.
KPRC 2’s Randy McIlvoy: You got a lot of attention because after the game, you were trying to celebrate. What was that like, where you couldn’t get on the floor? Did that kind of bother you a little bit?
Hakeem Olajuwon: No, I mean, the guy sometimes, people [make] bad judgment... I’m so glad we won anyway. That’s all.
Randy: But you’re able to eventually get out there and celebrate.
Hakeem: Yeah, no problem.
Randy: It was just like, man, they’re holding back Hakeem Olajuwon, man!
Hakeem: Also, the other security guy was telling me to go in. So, he’s rejecting the other guy’s authority. That was what was bad about it.
Randy: You got that all figured out tonight, if they win, there will be no delay?
Hakeem: I will push him out of the way. [Laughter]
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