It's Rivalry Week so tonight we play our longtime rivals Florida Atlantic. It seems like a strange team. They only have one player averaging in double figures at 10.3 per game. They usually play 8 men averaging between 5.3 and 10.3. They do have a 7 foot post who averages 9.7 and shoots over 50%. He's also a pretty good rebounder and shot blocker. They have 3 3point shooters who are pretty good and they are a good free throw shooting team (over 71%) I see we're a 5 1/2 point favorite and I have a feeling we'll beat that,

I guess someone thought Owls vs. Owls makes a rivalry.

Would be nice to beat both of the Florida schools at home. I think less than that chalks up as a disappointment, though Sagarin would have FIU as a narrow favorite.

Reviewing current Sagarin, here are a random set of thoughts

1. All that matters or will matter as long as we are in CUSA is to get hot in March. This is a one bid league. Bracketology has Alabama as a bubble team--they are 69 in Sagarin. The best rating in CUSA, UAB, is 109

2. Great win at New Mexico. Lobos are 91 and would be (much?) higher if they had beaten us.

3. UTSA is close to worst team in the country. they have 3 wins, one of them against us.

4. The median CUSA team is Charlotte, who beat us by a bunch. we are 4-8 in a league where median Sagarin is 201.

5. Our second best win--by far--was most recent at ODU

6. The Southland is far weaker than CUSA--and we went 1-2 there.

My bottom line--New Mexico and ODU are a glimmer of what it would take to compete for CUSA title. Absent those two games, we are indistinguishable from the worst team in the country.

I hope another dozen or two fans show up. Lonely in here.

I cannot get radio stream to open

(02-18-2016 08:00 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  I hope another dozen or two fans show up. Lonely in here.

Definitely a sparse crowd thus far.

Strong start by Rice

Good start by the Good Owls. Good energy on both ends.

FAU bombing away with 3's. It's keeping them in the game.

Rice shooting has gone ice cold. Trailing by seven at 2:21.

8-13 from 3 after missing their first 3 attempts by FAU.

Score?

Wish I could be there but am out of town

66-63 Rice, 10:38

66-63 Rice with about 10:30 to play.

Rice has doubled up the other Owls in the second half (34-17). 74-66 good Owls with 7:30 to go.

8-3 run for Rice before FAU timeout. 74-66, 7:29

82-78 Rice with 3:03 to play.

84 all with 1:15 to play.

86-84 Rice with 0:55 to play.

Clutch FT's by Evans.