This was my first women's game of the season, and I had to leave for a meeting with 10 minutes remaining, and with the Owls seemingly in control. I learned later that Rice had lost a game in which Rice appeared to have superior personnel.

At one point in the 2nd half, Rice led by 39-27, and so the Owls thereafter were outscored by 26-12.

My observations:

1. Kuster should take 90% of the shots, as no one else has more than a tiny bit of offensive ability;

2. Houston's point guard #5 (Landry), had no outside shot, but was a great penetrator. Yet, the Rice players kept guarding her closely on the outside, permitting her easy drives. Either the Rice coaching staff fell asleep, or the Rice players did not listen. Inexcusable.

3. Houston's players were infinitely more aggressive. Passive basketball teams never excel.

Now, because this was just one game, I might not have the complete picture. I would love to have feedback from others regarding this year's team.

Feedback on this game (as seen from the BOB section):

-UH played better down the stretch, but also got helped by the refs a chunk (to wit: a sequence where a tie-up was called, possession to UH on on end, and when a nearly-identical play occurred at the other end, it was ruled timeout UH). There have been few sequences where I've felt that a call was poor enough that I needed to get out of BOB uniform and go heckle for three minutes; that was one of them.

-Rice stopped going inside as much in the last ten minutes; odd since we were in the bonus for all of that stretch.

-As per usual, Rice fans sat on their hands the entire back half of the game, compared to the half of the visitor's side that had UH people, who were quite rambunctious.

-Rice did not make a shot from the field in the last 4 minutes.

-Rice regained possession after a UH miss with ~6 seconds left, brought the ball up the court, did not call time, and missed an off-balance 3 at the buzzer to end it. We also did not call time at all during UH's run.

Summary: we didn't play well enough down the stretch to win, but we didn't really help ourselves out either.

(02-10-2013 04:34 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  This was my first women's game of the season, and I had to leave for a meeting with 10 minutes remaining, and with the Owls seemingly in control. I learned later that Rice had lost a game in which Rice appeared to have superior personnel.

At one point in the 2nd half, Rice led by 39-27, and so the Owls thereafter were outscored by 26-12.

My observations:

1. Kuster should take 90% of the shots, as no one else has more than a tiny bit of offensive ability;

2. Houston's point guard #5 (Landry), had no outside shot, but was a great penetrator. Yet, the Rice players kept guarding her closely on the outside, permitting her easy drives. Either the Rice coaching staff fell asleep, or the Rice players did not listen. Inexcusable.

3. Houston's players were infinitely more aggressive. Passive basketball teams never excel.

Now, because this was just one game, I might not have the complete picture. I would love to have feedback from others regarding this year's team.

I saw a little of the game on TV here in Ohio. I think we had a 14 point lead at one time. In regard to your point, it did seem like Kuster vs the Cougars.

I'm not sure if we have superior personnel to UH. We certainly outplayed them for 35 minutes but Houston finally played well at the end of the game today. That non-call at the end was bad but I can't complain about the officiating up until that point and we would have needed to make a bucket anyway (or the 2 free throws).

Our biggest issue is a lack of a point guard. Goswitz either is hurt or was not feeling well today at all because she barely played. The freshman reserve tries but doesn't understand our offense.

If this was Football, there would be 'fire Greg Williams' threads going....Fortunately and unfortunately, WBB is under-the-radar and thus he gets a pass.

This is an underachieving team. No question about it. It is now sub-.500 and playing in a conference w/ not one team in the national top-50 (SMU top C-USA at #52 RPI).. Many had it playing in post season and it loses to another sub .500 team today by blowing a double digit second half lead at home to a poor Houston team. Very disappointing.

Williams is not the right coach for Rice but nobody cares anyway.


-UH played better down the stretch, but also got helped by the refs a chunk (to wit: a sequence where a tie-up was called, possession to UH on on end, and when a nearly-identical play occurred at the other end, it was ruled timeout UH). There have been few sequences where I've felt that a call was poor enough that I needed to get out of BOB uniform and go heckle for three minutes; that was one of them.

-Rice stopped going inside as much in the last ten minutes; odd since we were in the bonus for all of that stretch.

-As per usual, Rice fans sat on their hands the entire back half of the game, compared to the half of the visitor's side that had UH people, who were quite rambunctious.

-Rice did not make a shot from the field in the last 4 minutes.

-Rice regained possession after a UH miss with ~6 seconds left, brought the ball up the court, did not call time, and missed an off-balance 3 at the buzzer to end it. We also did not call time at all during UH's run.

Summary: we didn't play well enough down the stretch to win, but we didn't really help ourselves out either.
[/quote]

Williams is not the right coach for Rice but nobody cares anyway.


-UH played better down the stretch, but also got helped by the refs a chunk (to wit: a sequence where a tie-up was called, possession to UH on on end, and when a nearly-identical play occurred at the other end, it was ruled timeout UH). There have been few sequences where I've felt that a call was poor enough that I needed to get out of BOB uniform and go heckle for three minutes; that was one of them.

-Rice stopped going inside as much in the last ten minutes; odd since we were in the bonus for all of that stretch.

-As per usual, Rice fans sat on their hands the entire back half of the game, compared to the half of the visitor's side that had UH people, who were quite rambunctious.

-Rice did not make a shot from the field in the last 4 minutes.

-Rice regained possession after a UH miss with ~6 seconds left, brought the ball up the court, did not call time, and missed an off-balance 3 at the buzzer to end it. We also did not call time at all during UH's run.

Summary: we didn't play well enough down the stretch to win, but we didn't really help ourselves out either.
[/quote]

(02-10-2013 06:58 PM)owl40 Wrote:  If this was Football, there would be 'fire Greg Williams' threads going....Fortunately and unfortunately, WBB is under-the-radar and thus he gets a pass.

This is an underachieving team. No question about it. It is now sub-.500 and playing in a conference w/ not one team in the national top-50 (SMU top C-USA at #52 RPI).. Many had it playing in post season and it loses to another sub .500 team today by blowing a double digit second half lead at home to a poor Houston team. Very disappointing.

He definitely seems outmatched against most opponents. Then again, with our recent history of contracts, we will likely extend him.

Kuster is a very good player. Having said that, she is very sloppy with the ball and turns it over constantly. She also misses ALOT of shots.
Our point guard play is horrible. Point guards should distribute the ball, we don't need a 5'3 chick going inside attempting a layup: stupid.
We have players come in off the bench who play very well and provide a much needed spark.....then we never see them again. Ever. I have no idea what he is doing with his bench, its like he forgets he has other players.
Why does #22 play?

(02-11-2013 02:03 AM)Antarius Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 06:58 PM)owl40 Wrote:  If this was Football, there would be 'fire Greg Williams' threads going....Fortunately and unfortunately, WBB is under-the-radar and thus he gets a pass.

This is an underachieving team. No question about it. It is now sub-.500 and playing in a conference w/ not one team in the national top-50 (SMU top C-USA at #52 RPI).. Many had it playing in post season and it loses to another sub .500 team today by blowing a double digit second half lead at home to a poor Houston team. Very disappointing.

He definitely seems outmatched against most opponents. Then again, with our recent history of contracts, we will likely extend him.

How can Williams be fired if Braun isn't let go?

(02-10-2013 04:34 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  2. Houston's point guard #5 (Landry), had no outside shot, but was a great penetrator. Yet, the Rice players kept guarding her closely on the outside, permitting her easy drives. Either the Rice coaching staff fell asleep, or the Rice players did not listen. Inexcusable.

And yet, the three point shot that tied the game was when Landry was unguarded (loosely guarded) at the three point line. Rice led about 47-38 or so with 9 minutes left. For those 9 minutes, Rice looked overwhelmed by UH's defensive speed and intensity.

One request, though - putting the final score (or result) kind of spoils the experience of watching it on DVR.

(02-10-2013 05:38 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Our biggest issue is a lack of a point guard. Goswitz either is hurt or was not feeling well today at all because she barely played. The freshman reserve tries but doesn't understand our offense.

I've always thought Goswitz was more of a shooting guard with D'Franz Smart being the point guard the past few years, but I may have been confused. I had the same thought about PG. I think Gumbs will get there, but they need an alternative until she gets more experience.

(02-11-2013 09:14 AM)tramile12 Wrote:  Kuster is a very good player. Having said that, she is very sloppy with the ball and turns it over constantly. She also misses ALOT of shots.

Kuster's FG percentage this year is .401, down from .468 last year. I don't have the sense that she's shooting within 6 feet all the time, so I don't know what kind of percentage you'd expect from her. Having an experienced PG last year in D'Frantz Smart may account for a significant part of that.

(02-11-2013 09:33 AM)I45owl Wrote:  

(02-11-2013 09:14 AM)tramile12 Wrote:  Kuster is a very good player. Having said that, she is very sloppy with the ball and turns it over constantly. She also misses ALOT of shots.

Kuster's FG percentage this year is .401, down from .468 last year. I don't have the sense that she's shooting within 6 feet all the time, so I don't know what kind of percentage you'd expect from her. Having an experienced PG last year in D'Frantz Smart may account for a significant part of that.

She seems to be playing out of position. She takes some ill advised shots, but it is understandable since she is the dominant player. its the turnovers that really bother me. She had 6 yesterday, and didn't receive "credit" for a few more terrible passes. I hate sloppy basketball.

(02-11-2013 09:24 AM)I45owl Wrote:  I've always thought Goswitz was more of a shooting guard with D'Franz Smart being the point guard the past few years, but I may have been confused. I had the same thought about PG. I think Gumbs will get there, but they need an alternative until she gets more experience.

Goswitz was shooting guard the past few years. After D'Franz graduated, she's been asked to take it over, and while she has a better understanding of the offense than our backup does, her skillset isn't particularly suited to playing the point.

I wish I knew. I do not know of many D1 schools who would put up with such W-L records as Rice. That's why no one shows up. If the Univ does'nt care, why shouold anyone else?


If this was Football, there would be 'fire Greg Williams' threads going....Fortunately and unfortunately, WBB is under-the-radar and thus he gets a pass.

This is an underachieving team. No question about it. It is now sub-.500 and playing in a conference w/ not one team in the national top-50 (SMU top C-USA at #52 RPI).. Many had it playing in post season and it loses to another sub .500 team today by blowing a double digit second half lead at home to a poor Houston team. Very disappointing.
[/quote]

He definitely seems outmatched against most opponents. Then again, with our recent history of contracts, we will likely extend him.
[/quote]

How can Williams be fired if Braun isn't let go?
[/quote]

Quote:How can Williams be fired if Braun isn't let go?

These things do not have to follow any sort of logical procession.

(02-12-2013 02:23 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

Quote:How can Williams be fired if Braun isn't let go?

These things do not have to follow any sort of logical procession.

Braun can go first. No objection here.

(02-10-2013 07:00 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  Williams is not the right coach for Rice but nobody cares anyway.

Is Williams returning? How many years does he have on his current contract?

-UH played better down the stretch, but also got helped by the refs a chunk (to wit: a sequence where a tie-up was called, possession to UH on on end, and when a nearly-identical play occurred at the other end, it was ruled timeout UH). There have been few sequences where I've felt that a call was poor enough that I needed to get out of BOB uniform and go heckle for three minutes; that was one of them.

-Rice stopped going inside as much in the last ten minutes; odd since we were in the bonus for all of that stretch.

Many things that work were not repeated. If the press was working, we would back off the press, if a bench player was hot, she would never see the court again.

-As per usual, Rice fans sat on their hands the entire back half of the game, compared to the half of the visitor's side that had UH people, who were quite rambunctious.

Rice fans are far to quiet, even a few visitors from other schools are louder than our fans.

-Rice did not make a shot from the field in the last 4 minutes.

-Rice regained possession after a UH miss with ~6 seconds left, brought the ball up the court, did not call time, and missed an off-balance 3 at the buzzer to end it. We also did not call time at all during UH's run.

I believe we had two timeouts left unused at the end of the game, poor coaching decisions.

Summary: we didn't play well enough down the stretch to win, but we didn't really help ourselves out either.

[/quote]

The Rice leadership has simply never cared whether we were any good in basketball or not. I am referring not just to the academic administration but also within the athletic department itself. I actually think there may have been some resentment that certain faculty members who were openly opposed to football were actually supporters of basketball, and therefore no effort was made to be good at basketball to punish them. I know of at least one basketball coach who was hired with the instruction that he not win more games than the football team. Seriously.

We have missed a huge opportunity for at least 50 years. We missed a huge opportunity to lead the way in desegregating sports. We missed a huge opportunity to be at the forefront of the women's sports movement. We continue to miss opportunities in basketball. Homer Rice understood this and replaced Bob Polk with Mike Schuler. Jerry Berndt understood this and replaced Tommy Suitts with Scott Thompson. CDC understood this, felt Willis couldn't get it done, and replaced him with Braun. Who knows where we go from here?

So here we sit, a year later and nothing has changed. Braun gone, Williams still here. Kuster still only player allowed to shoot all season. Coach assuming you can win a game with one player shooting, pulling everyone else if they shoot. All plays are “get the ball to Kuster”. Losing record. Beat down players, bored fans. Not sure how we go into next season when only one player was allowed to shoot and now she is graduating. I guess he wins, she got accolades, made him look good, who cares about wins or developing other players. These girls came to Rice as top players from their high schools, now they are beat down, mechanical, hesitant and stiff. Someone needs to evaluate his coaching skills, obviously he doesn’t know how to motivate or encourage players, constant negativity does not produce strong, confident players.