I thought I'd do an in-depth preview of the Texas Tech game since it will be an interesting barometer of where we are as a basketball team.

Rice (6-1) at Texas Tech (6-1), Saturday, December 3, Lubbock, 1 pm (Fox Sports Southwest)

Probable starting lineups

Rice
Marcus Evans, 6-2, SO (22.6 PPG, 5.0 APG)
Marcus Jackson, 6-3, JR (14.0 PPG)
Connor Cashaw, 6-5, SO (8.7 PPG)
Egor Koulechov, 6-5, JR (18.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG)
Corey Douglas, 6-8, FR (5.1 PPG)
Key Reserves
Marquez Letcher-Ellis, 6-7, SO (6.0 PPG)
Chad Lott, 6-3 FR (4.4 PPG)

Texas Tech
Devon Thomas, 6-0, SR (4.9 PPG, 3.0 APG)
Justin Gray, 6-6, JR (9.9 PPG)
Keenan Evans, 6-3, JR (12.6 PPG)
Zach Smith, 6-8, JR (11.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.0 BPG)
Anthony Livingston, 6-8, SR (11.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG)
Key Reserves
Shadell Millinghaus, 6-2, JR (9.0 PPG)
Niem Stevenson, 6-5, JR (6.8 PPG)

Aaron Ross (a 6-8 forward) is actually their leading scorer at 14.8 PPG but has missed their last 3 games with a leg injury. They have another big guy (6-9 Norense Odiase) who hasn't played at all this year due to an injury. Even without their two big guys, they're still a formidable team who can shoot the ball (52 pct in 2 pointers, 40 pct in 3 pointers) and a solid rebounding team (+10 rebounding edge a game).

Schedule-wise, Tech has played a tougher slate than Rice in getting to a 6-1 mark. But they haven't played a killer schedule either. They have a 2-point loss vs Auburn (neutral court) and impressive 27 and 24 point wins vs. North Texas and Utah State.

Rice hasn't played Texas Tech in 20 years (since the break-up of the SWC) and should be playing on the road in a hostile environment in front of at least 6-7,000 fans. Due to the homecourt advantage and a big edge in experience (Tech's top 7 are all juniors and seniors), I'd expect about a 10-point Texas Tech win (without Ross - perhaps a few more if he plays).

But if Rice can limit its unforced turnovers and continue to shoot the ball well on the road (they're actually shooting better on the road this year than at home - 52.5 pct in 2 pointers and an astonishing 54.7 pct in 3 pointers), then I give Rice a fighter's chance at a big road upset.

Prediction - Texas Tech 82, Rice 73

Owls 85 Raiders 79

Thanks for the info, I'm feeling a pretty tight game if we shoot like we have been. I think their experience and home court advantage let them pull it out by 6-8 in the end.

Owls have played well on the road but our turnover margin is bad, and Tech's is pretty good. If we can have a reasonably clean game I think it'll be close.

Agree that Rice needs to take care of the ball to make it a game. Would love to see more press after made baskets as well to keep defensive pressure up on Tech. Tech has not played on the road yet, though they played 2 neutral games in Cancun. Tech's results (and opponent KenPom ranking):
HBU (297): +26
N. Texas (299): +27
E. Kentucky (224): +19
Auburn (114): -2
Utah St (127): +24
Idaho St (269): +33
Incarnate Word (288): +21
Rice (108): ???

So they have done a more impressive job than Rice of beating bad teams. But they lost to Auburn, who at least in the KenPom rankings is very close to where Rice is. That was a neutral-site game though, so Rice will really have to bring it tomorrow. I'm not sure what Auburn did to win that game, as Auburn was out-rebounded by Tech and did not shoot particularly well from anywhere. They won the turnover/steal battle, but it was not super lopsided.

Because I'm a fan and not a player, I'm going to indulge in some chicken-counting before the eggs have hatched. If Rice upsets Tech and can beat Stephen F. Austin the following Saturday, the team might start garnering some interest in the rankings heading into Pitt into the week they play Pitt.

My pick to click is Connor Cashaw. He's a career 38.8% 3-pt shooter at Rice. We know tech will focus a lot on Evans, Koulechov, and Jackson. Would love to see Connor unleash 10-12 3-pt attempts and see what happens.

We will not get any interest from the rankings unless we don't lose a game between now and February....

Headed up to Lubbock for the game with Mrs. Greyowl tomorrow if the weather cooperates. Supposed to be in the 30's with a lot of rain.
Tech has a very nice and very big basketball venue and they have a lot of campus and city-wide support for their team this year. I'll bet they have a BIG crowd tomorrow... football is over, the students are still on campus and the game is on TV. Their coach is very popular, much like Coach Rhoades, and the feeling is that he's capable of getting the program to the NCAA tournament in the next few seasons.
I'm guessing our team and coaches will be totally up for playing in that type of environment. A chance to get some attention.

(12-02-2016 03:33 PM)mrbig Wrote:  I'm not sure what Auburn did to win that game, as Auburn was out-rebounded by Tech and did not shoot particularly well from anywhere. They won the turnover/steal battle, but it was not super lopsided.

Below are some links to game stories and a YouTube highlight reel and interview with the Auburn coach. Basically, Tech started out very cold and Auburn had a lead of up to 19 early in the 2nd half. The Raiders then caught fire and almost won -- a game-tying close-in shot was blocked by Auburn's 6-8 forward LaRon Smith to seal the win.

http://www.texastech.com/news/2016/11/22...67-65.aspx

https://www.seccountry.com/auburn/auburn...texas-tech

http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-...ve-updates

http://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/index...ll_14.html

Thanks for the preview. Your score prediction makes sense. However, I see this team as being hungrier and playing with more confidence on the road this year - versus past seasons. Everybody on the team and coaching staff knows this game will be the toughest and most highly visible contest we have played so far. The homer in me thinks we are going to see very high energy from the team - maybe playing our best game of the year. I would not say that if we had not had those earlier road successes. Because of those, and the fact we do have some exciting young talent on this team, I give us a puncher's shot at the upset. I'm going Rice 84-82.

Rice with the shocker, playing a complete game under pressure in front of a hostile crowd. 77-63.

(12-03-2016 01:28 PM)Minnewaska Owl Wrote:  Thanks for the preview. Your score prediction makes sense. However, I see this team as being hungrier and playing with more confidence on the road this year - versus past seasons. Everybody on the team and coaching staff knows this game will be the toughest and most highly visible contest we have played so far. The homer in me thinks we are going to see very high energy from the team - maybe playing our best game of the year. I would not say that if we had not had those earlier road successes. Because of those, and the fact we do have some exciting young talent on this team, I give us a puncher's shot at the upset. I'm going Rice 84-82.

Um, you were only off by 3 seconds.

(12-02-2016 03:33 PM)mrbig Wrote:  My pick to click is Connor Cashaw. He's a career 38.8% 3-pt shooter at Rice. We know tech will focus a lot on Evans, Koulechov, and Jackson. Would love to see Connor unleash 10-12 3-pt attempts and see what happens.

mea culpa! My click to pick with probably his worst shooting game of the season, only 1/5 from beyond the arc and an extremely critical 0/2 on FT's!

(12-03-2016 09:12 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  

(12-03-2016 01:28 PM)Minnewaska Owl Wrote:  Thanks for the preview. Your score prediction makes sense. However, I see this team as being hungrier and playing with more confidence on the road this year - versus past seasons. Everybody on the team and coaching staff knows this game will be the toughest and most highly visible contest we have played so far. The homer in me thinks we are going to see very high energy from the team - maybe playing our best game of the year. I would not say that if we had not had those earlier road successes. Because of those, and the fact we do have some exciting young talent on this team, I give us a puncher's shot at the upset. I'm going Rice 84-82.

Um, you were only off by 3 seconds.

I know, I was thinking about that final score prediction during the last few minutes of the game. If only we had not fouled on that final shot, I would have become a Parliament legend!

(12-04-2016 08:23 PM)Minnewaska Owl Wrote:  

(12-03-2016 09:12 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  

(12-03-2016 01:28 PM)Minnewaska Owl Wrote:  Thanks for the preview. Your score prediction makes sense. However, I see this team as being hungrier and playing with more confidence on the road this year - versus past seasons. Everybody on the team and coaching staff knows this game will be the toughest and most highly visible contest we have played so far. The homer in me thinks we are going to see very high energy from the team - maybe playing our best game of the year. I would not say that if we had not had those earlier road successes. Because of those, and the fact we do have some exciting young talent on this team, I give us a puncher's shot at the upset. I'm going Rice 84-82.

Um, you were only off by 3 seconds.

I know, I was thinking about that final score prediction during the last few minutes of the game. If only we had not fouled on that final shot, I would have become a Parliament legend!