Unlike us, their players can actually dribble and run at the same time

Evans lay-up blocked and they score.

83 - 77 with 52.0 left.

(03-20-2017 08:49 PM)Da.Owl Wrote:  Evans lay-up blocked and they score.

83 - 77 with 52.0 left.

Not a smart offfensive play. We stopped the perimeter passing which is usually our strength. Instead, we've been playing 1-on-1 ball ever since the first 5 minutes of the game.

Rice ball MLE turn-over.

Rice fouls and fouls again on inbounds.

It's over folks.

It's always really tough being a Rice fan. Our defense is absolutely WOEFUL!

UV hits 2.

Rice wasting time trying to find a shot.

Evans fouled. Rice ball out of bounds.

Rice loses it to UV and fouls.

Well, crappy end to the season

UV misses both.

Egor hits a deuce. 85 - 79 with 4.1 left.

God knows, I hate hearing the opposing fans celebrating in our house.

UV ball under our basket. Game over.

85 - 79 UV.

Turn out the lights, the party's over.

Terrific season, but need to work on defense especially, and better ball handling. If we're going to get to the next level, we have got to cut turnovers down to no more than 12 - 13 per game on average and we have to vastly improve our half-court defense. Way too many wide-open 3s all season long, and it bit us badly tonight. IMO, Adams is not the answer at point as he's just not that good a ball handler and his decision-making needs work.

Not a pretty showing against a mediocre team to end the year. Still, another step forward for the program. Someone talk Egor into coming back. Someone talk either the team or the coaching staff into not just making our offense the Evans & Egor show. Someone step up as a reliable PG. Get a decent recruit. Ready for the NCAA's in 2017-18!

(03-20-2017 08:55 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Terrific season, but need to work on defense especially, and better ball handling. If we're going to get to the next level, we have got to cut turnovers down to no more than 12 - 13 per game on average. IMO, Adams is not the answer at point as he's just not that good a ball handler and his decision-making needs work.

Agree on the turnovers. We were around that for most of the 2nd half of the season. I think the jury is still out on Adams as PG. Entirely possible he takes a nice step forward after his freshman year. But I wouldn't shy away from signing a true PG if the staff feels like the right guy is available as a recruit. I feel OK about Rice's size, with Douglas, Meyer, Harrison, and Letcher-Ellis all coming back.

(03-20-2017 08:57 PM)mrbig Wrote:  Not a pretty showing against a mediocre team to end the year. Still, another step forward for the program. Someone talk Egor into coming back. Someone talk either the team or the coaching staff into not just making our offense the Evans & Egor show. Someone step up as a reliable PG. Get a decent recruit. Ready for the NCAA's in 2017-18!

Well, we are also , by definition, a mediocre team. All-in-all this season gave us the progress we needed to see

UVU runs an offense closer to what Rice should be running, especially with the limited post presence Rice has. Lots of motion, picks and slipped picks, with an option to dump into the post. And UVU really didn't run a lot of variations on it - just run it until there is a breakdown in covering the three-point line or there's a lane to the hoop. But it generates multiple opportunities for an open shot during a possession, instead of Rice's 1 or 2 half-court sets that they get off in 30 seconds.

As other notes, the ball handling needs to be better, but that problem is usually when trying to penetrate, and most of UVU's ball handling was outside the 3-point line. That constant motion also wore out Rice's shooters at the end of both halves.

Solid season, but the team needs to build more on this. Hopefully, Jackson and Lott come back a lot stronger (second season after ligament replacement surgery usually is), and the rest of the guys (particularly MLE - he's got loads of potential still to tap) get better.

(03-20-2017 08:55 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Terrific season, but need to work on defense especially, and better ball handling. If we're going to get to the next level, we have got to cut turnovers down to no more than 12 - 13 per game on average. IMO, Adams is not the answer at point as he's just not that good a ball handler and his decision-making needs work.

We try and barrel down the court very frequently for some reason - it's like we're all trying to be James Harden. Need to get another big guy and need to figure out how to space better on defense. Too often we get caught way out of position by over committing to the ball handler, when we don't force enough double team turnovers to justify it. But that ties into our perimeter defense, which has been poor since the Braun days. But, it was a great season and beggars can't be choosers, considering how our football and baseball programs have regressed.

Jon Rothstein reporting that LSU is hiring VCU Coach Will Wade.

Have to think the Rams will again have Coach Rhoades on their radar

Disappointing finish to the season but tonight's team was the type of team we struggled against all year - teams with size and while they didn't have the athleticism of a MTSU or UTEP, they weren't slugs either. The one knock on our coaching staff I think is that we don't defend well against certain types of offenses - like the weave that both Utah Valley and USM ran. This also was the type of game that screamed for us to press as UVU did not handle the ball well at all under defensive pressure.

Give UVU credit, they made their key shots down the stretch and played well. And our main two guys - Evans and Egor - did not play well. The play of the game could have been Egor's open 3 from the corner after we had taken a 4 point lead. But he clanked it off the side of the rim and I think UVU went on like a 7-0 or 8-0 run after that.

Crowd was legitimately 1500 and loud. I'd like to know why the refs kicked out their one student. Now we'll have an interesting offseason to go through. We have the makings of a truly special 2017-18 season, or it could be we have to start all over again.

Generally a nice and satisfactory (but not awesome) season. Lousy night tonight handling the ball-just too many turnovers. Should they have won? Probably. BUT let's not forget where this team was 4 or 5 years ago. I can see a major step forward with this group under the assumption that most of the team returns. Yes, tonight and other games could have been better, but let's not forget as recent as three years ago, we had rotation players who were walkon's and joined the team AFTER the season started.

I think the future is bright and I can't wait for next year. Does anyone share that sentiment about FB or the rest of the season at Reckling?

Everything hangs in the balance next week or so. If Coach stays and Egor decides to come back, we are loaded for bear and CUSA title contender. If we lose just Egor it's a blow but recoverable esp with talent in the wings and more shots for Jackson. If we lose Rhoades to VCU or other then all bets are off since we haven't established ourselves in higher echelon yet. Please Mike give Rice at least a few more seasons!! We respect and appreciate you!

They hit the 3s and we didnt. I keep hearing Igor may leave. Not sure why unless he is looking for different academics somewhere else. Rhoades has taught him a lot but his defense needs improving and his shooting is not consistent. He should stay at Rice since he knows the system. The only question I have of the game is why Drone did not play more in the final minutes. He set some great screens because of his wide body and help clear ther lane for the shooters.

texowl2 dateli.ne='1490064875' Wrote:  Generally a nice and satisfactory (but not awesome) season. Lousy night tonight handling the ball-just too many turnovers. Should they have won? Probably. BUT let's not forget where this team was 4 or 5 years ago. I can see a major step forward with this group under the assumption that most of the team returns. Yes, tonight and other games could have been better, but let's not forget as recent as three years ago, we had rotation players who were walkon's and joined the team AFTER the season started.

I think the future is bright and I can't wait for next year. Does anyone share that sentiment about FB or the rest of the season at Reckling?