SFA had only returned 3 of its top 8 players from last year, and one of them (Ty Charles) hasn't played since the first game of the season so I'm assuming he's hurt. A lot of new JUCOs on the team.

I see where we're giving away Rice ugly sweater t-shirts away tonight but I can't get confirmation on whether this is officially ugly sweater night at Tudor. Just to be safe (and to give everyone fair warning) I am planning on wearing my new ugly sweater to the game.

Rice's current ratings/rankings:
Massey Composite: #94 (Texas Tech #30; TSU #143) (Pitt #61)
KenPom: #96 (Texas Tech #30; TSU #167) (Pitt #59)
Sagarin: #109 (Texas Tech #29; TSU #147) (Pitt #70)
RPIForecast: #156 (TSU #73; Texas Tech #77) (Pitt #45)

Vastly improved from last year (so far), but beating up a lot of bad teams can only take Rice so far. Be a great time for Rice to get a win against a decent team and would be a huge confidence booster heading toward a tough early slate of CUSA games. Rice's first 4 CUSA games are against teams currently ranked better than anyone Rice has beaten this season (@ODU, @Charlotte, v.MTSU, v.UAB).

(12-13-2016 11:04 AM)mrbig Wrote:  Rice's current ratings/rankings:
Massey Composite: #94 (Texas Tech #30; TSU #143) (Pitt #61)
KenPom: #96 (Texas Tech #30; TSU #167) (Pitt #59)
Sagarin: #109 (Texas Tech #29; TSU #147) (Pitt #70)
RPIForecast: #156 (TSU #73; Texas Tech #77) (Pitt #45)

Vastly improved from last year (so far), but beating up a lot of bad teams can only take Rice so far. Be a great time for Rice to get a win against a decent team and would be a huge confidence booster heading toward a tough early slate of CUSA games. Rice's first 4 CUSA games are against teams currently ranked better than anyone Rice has beaten this season (@ODU, @Charlotte, v.MTSU, v.UAB).

All true...but if not for the home-friendly officiating, we would have beaten Tech in Lubbock, which would indicate we can play with anyone ranked outside the Top 50 or so. I'm more concerned with Pitt, as they have historically been a big body, low post-oriented, strong rebounding team, which plays against our greatest vulnerability.

(12-13-2016 04:13 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-13-2016 11:04 AM)mrbig Wrote:  Rice's current ratings/rankings:
Massey Composite: #94 (Texas Tech #30; TSU #143) (Pitt #61)
KenPom: #96 (Texas Tech #30; TSU #167) (Pitt #59)
Sagarin: #109 (Texas Tech #29; TSU #147) (Pitt #70)
RPIForecast: #156 (TSU #73; Texas Tech #77) (Pitt #45)

Vastly improved from last year (so far), but beating up a lot of bad teams can only take Rice so far. Be a great time for Rice to get a win against a decent team and would be a huge confidence booster heading toward a tough early slate of CUSA games. Rice's first 4 CUSA games are against teams currently ranked better than anyone Rice has beaten this season (@ODU, @Charlotte, v.MTSU, v.UAB).

All true...but if not for the home-friendly officiating, we would have beaten Tech in Lubbock, which would indicate we can play with anyone ranked outside the Top 50 or so. I'm more concerned with Pitt, as they have historically been a big body, low post-oriented, strong rebounding team, which plays against our greatest vulnerability.

Quick glance at their roster shows them to be about the same size as us. 1 guy over 6'9".

(12-13-2016 11:04 AM)mrbig Wrote:  Rice's current ratings/rankings:
Massey Composite: #94 (Texas Tech #30; TSU #143) (Pitt #61)
KenPom: #96 (Texas Tech #30; TSU #167) (Pitt #59)
Sagarin: #109 (Texas Tech #29; TSU #147) (Pitt #70)
RPIForecast: #156 (TSU #73; Texas Tech #77) (Pitt #45)

Vastly improved from last year (so far), but beating up a lot of bad teams can only take Rice so far. Be a great time for Rice to get a win against a decent team and would be a huge confidence booster heading toward a tough early slate of CUSA games. Rice's first 4 CUSA games are against teams currently ranked better than anyone Rice has beaten this season (@ODU, @Charlotte, v.MTSU, v.UAB).

Yes, those first four conference games will tell us a lot about the improvements this season over last. It will be exciting to watch how our basketball players compete.

(12-13-2016 05:05 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(12-13-2016 04:13 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  [quote='mrbig' pid='13902300' dateline='1481645055']
Rice's current ratings/rankings:
Massey Composite: #94 (Texas Tech #30; TSU #143) (Pitt #61)
KenPom: #96 (Texas Tech #30; TSU #167) (Pitt #59)
Sagarin: #109 (Texas Tech #29; TSU #147) (Pitt #70)
RPIForecast: #156 (TSU #73; Texas Tech #77) (Pitt #45)

Vastly improved from last year (so far), but beating up a lot of bad teams can only take Rice so far. Be a great time for Rice to get a win against a decent team and would be a huge confidence booster heading toward a tough early slate of CUSA games. Rice's first 4 CUSA games are against teams currently ranked better than anyone Rice has beaten this season (@ODU, @Charlotte, v.MTSU, v.UAB).

All true...but if not for the home-friendly officiating, we would have beaten Tech in Lubbock, which would indicate we can play with anyone ranked outside the Top 50 or so. I'm more concerned with Pitt, as they have historically been a big body, low post-oriented, strong rebounding team, which plays against our greatest vulnerability.

Quick glance at their roster shows them to be about the same size as us. 1 guy over 6'9".

Actually they are very big. Their best player, Young, is 6-9, 235 and he averages 23.5 and is 44% from 3. Their other four starters are 6-7, 215; 6-8, 210; 6-6, 215; and 6-8, 230. I think we'll use our quickness to combat their size.

Anyone know what's up with the 11:45 a.m. start time for St. Edwards?

(12-14-2016 09:32 PM)NYNightOwl Wrote:  Anyone know what's up with the 11:45 a.m. start time for St. Edwards?

Annual invite the local elementary schools day. Tudor will be full and very loud. Ear plugs recommended.

(12-14-2016 09:41 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 09:32 PM)NYNightOwl Wrote:  Anyone know what's up with the 11:45 a.m. start time for St. Edwards?

Annual invite the local elementary schools day. Tudor will be full and very loud. Ear plugs recommended.

I'll have extras available

(12-14-2016 09:46 PM)Da.Owl Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 09:41 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 09:32 PM)NYNightOwl Wrote:  Anyone know what's up with the 11:45 a.m. start time for St. Edwards?

Annual invite the local elementary schools day. Tudor will be full and very loud. Ear plugs recommended.

I'll have extras available

I'm in Asia this week and expect I'll be able to hear it.

Random note: Former Rice PG Jordan Reed, now at UNH, is the starting PG for a 7-3 Wildcat team.

(12-16-2016 10:21 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Random note: Former Rice PG Jordan Reed, now at UNH, is the starting PG for a 7-3 Wildcat team.

Also Maurice Rivers, who played briefly for us 2 years ago, is playing 19 minutes a game for Jackson State.

Another terrific article by John Royal, with quotes from Coach Rhoades and Egor...

http://www.houstonpress.com/news/a-revam...er-9032622

(12-16-2016 11:59 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Another terrific article by John Royal, with quotes from Coach Rhoades and Egor...

http://www.houstonpress.com/news/a-revam...er-9032622

John Royal's articles crush Adam Coleman's articles. Royal's articles remind me of MK's work. Good grief, I still miss MK's coverage (both with the Chron and at Rice)!

I still wonder why there isn't a business model that would allow MK or Royal to be full-time independent journalists who Rice pays to cover all sporting events. Then they contract their work to the Chron and other Texas-based media for publishing (even if it is just electronic publishing). That gives local media online content, it gives Rice increased coverage, and it gives an excellent journalist a (presumably) good job.

(12-16-2016 11:59 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Another terrific article by John Royal, with quotes from Coach Rhoades and Egor...

http://www.houstonpress.com/news/a-revam...er-9032622

Always happy to see others recognizing the success and trajectory of the basketball programs.

(12-14-2016 09:41 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 09:32 PM)NYNightOwl Wrote:  Anyone know what's up with the 11:45 a.m. start time for St. Edwards?

Annual invite the local elementary schools day. Tudor will be full and very loud. Ear plugs recommended.

I love anything that fills the place. Great move

The other game to watch tonight (figuratively): Middle Tennessee @ VCU.

(12-17-2016 02:12 AM)mrbig Wrote:  I still wonder why there isn't a business model that would allow MK or Royal to be full-time independent journalists who Rice pays to cover all sporting events. Then they contract their work to the Chron and other Texas-based media for publishing (even if it is just electronic publishing). That gives local media online content, it gives Rice increased coverage, and it gives an excellent journalist a (presumably) good job.

Doesn't work that way, big fella.

Because you said the magic words "Rice pays...."

Just posted on twitter by ESPN college basketball analyst, Mark Adams..

Quote:Mark Adams ‏@EnthusiAdams 4h4 hours ago
@Conference_USA OOC Summary
Best wins: Stephen F Austin, @ Nebraska-Omaha
Top Players: Egor Koulechov, Marcus Evans, Marcus Jackson

Mark Adams ‏@EnthusiAdams 4h4 hours ago
@Conference_USA OOC Summary
Rice: This dynamic trio Egor Koulechov, Marcus Evans, Marcus Jackson makes the Owls contenders!
OOC Record: 10-3

Mark Adams ‏@EnthusiAdams 4h4 hours ago
@Conference_USA Summary
Rice National Ranks:
49.4%FG #23 NCAA
85.0 PPG #21 NCAA
9.5 3PTM #39 NCAA
39.9% 3PT #T27
#1 Egor Koulechov 60% 3PT

Pretty impressive national ranks-- even if against mostly weak competition. Time to prove we're for real.