If Houston fans were worried that Kelvin Sampson was leaving the program before his Thursday press conference, they may be in full panic mode following his latest comments.

Sampson has led Houston to a Sweet 16 appearance and a matchup against Kentucky for the right to advance to the Elite Eight but the hottest topic surrounding the Cougar coach heading into the big game is the speculation attaching him to the open job at Arkansas. The Razorbacks are currently looking for a coach after Mike Anderson was let go this week. It should also be noted that current Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek was previously at Houston, with Sampson.

During Houston’s Sweet 16 press conference on Thursday, Sampson was asked to respond to the rumors attaching him to the Arkansas job and if Houston had offered him an extension.

His response isn’t going to ease any minds back in Houston.

“I’m not going to talk about my contract situation. In response to… what school was it? I’m just joking. I didn’t know if you said Arizona or Arkansas or Alaska or… yeah,” Sampson said. “There’s been a lot of those schools over the years. I don’t really have a response to it. I don’t know where I’m supposed to respond to. There’s nothing to respond to.”

That’s a long-winded way to get around the subject, Coach.

Read into that what you will but it definitely seems like Sampson is prepared to depart Houston for another job based on that exchange.