(03-23-2017 03:10 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Marcus Jackson looks pretty happy too. Although I recall Sean Obi being at Mike Rhoades' press conference only to announce days later he was leaving.

I'd love for Marcus to stay, but IMO, the key is keeping the Soph quartet (Evans, Quez, Cashaw, Lott), along with, hopefully, Meyers &/or Douglas. Also, if Egor has not already made up his mind to leave, the hiring of Pera was probably our only shot at having him come back.

(03-23-2017 03:10 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Marcus Jackson looks pretty happy too. Although I recall Sean Obi being at Mike Rhoades' press conference only to announce days later he was leaving.

Go back and re-watch the MR presser if it's still available. Obi was there, but, IIRC, looked like he would rather have been anywhere else.

(03-23-2017 03:07 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 03:05 PM)07owl Wrote:  It's official: https://twitter.com/RiceAthletics/status...5642466304 . Team seems pretty happy, especially Egor

Team appears overjoyed. That's a very positive development. Kuddos for Dr. K for acting quickly in an effort to mitigate the potential losses.

+1000!

(03-23-2017 03:10 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Marcus Jackson looks pretty happy too. Although I recall Sean Obi being at Mike Rhoades' press conference only to announce days later he was leaving.

Have to give JK serious kudos for his actions here. Faced with the issue threatening a nascent program, he acted in a seriously aggressive fashion to shore up the levee in an efficient, decisive, and (hopefully) productive manner.

If there had been hesitation or a 'wtf was that decision', then I would have even more seriously concerned over the other two men's marquee programs undergoing the very serious issues that now face them.

(03-23-2017 03:35 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 03:10 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Marcus Jackson looks pretty happy too. Although I recall Sean Obi being at Mike Rhoades' press conference only to announce days later he was leaving.

Go back and re-watch the MR presser if it's still available. Obi was there, but, IIRC, looked like he would rather have been anywhere else.

Obi was far from a happy camper that day.

Obi said he left because of the coaching change. He liked Braun, and didn't know what would happen to the program when he left.

(03-23-2017 03:51 PM)bobreinhold1 Wrote:  Obi said he left because of the coaching change. He liked Braun, and didn't know what would happen to the program when he left.

It got better....given what Rhoades did with Seth and Dan if Obi had stayed and worked he would have played more than 15 mins of basketball for a season.
But he didn't want to stay and that was fine with me.

(03-23-2017 04:22 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 03:51 PM)bobreinhold1 Wrote:  Obi said he left because of the coaching change. He liked Braun, and didn't know what would happen to the program when he left.

It got better....given what Rhoades did with Seth and Dan if Obi had stayed and worked he would have played more than 15 mins of basketball for a season.
But he didn't want to stay and that was fine with me.

I think he was not thrilled with the thought of a Mike Rhoades boot camp.

(03-23-2017 03:36 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 03:07 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 03:05 PM)07owl Wrote:  It's official: https://twitter.com/RiceAthletics/status...5642466304 . Team seems pretty happy, especially Egor

Team appears overjoyed. That's a very positive development. Kuddos for Dr. K for acting quickly in an effort to mitigate the potential losses.

+1000!

Very definitely looks like they got their choice!

Loved that video.

(03-23-2017 09:26 PM)Barrett Wrote:  Loved that video.

oh man, that video brings back my confidence.

Will Evans stay or nobody knows yet? How does VCU compare academically to Rice?

(03-23-2017 09:26 PM)Barrett Wrote:  Loved that video.

(03-23-2017 11:35 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  Will Evans stay or nobody knows yet? How does VCU compare academically to Rice?

(03-23-2017 09:26 PM)Barrett Wrote:  Loved that video.

It doesn't.

VCU ranked #164

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/ran...iversities

(03-24-2017 05:18 AM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:35 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  Will Evans stay or nobody knows yet? How does VCU compare academically to Rice?

(03-23-2017 09:26 PM)Barrett Wrote:  Loved that video.

It doesn't.

Be careful with generalizatons. As a whole, like the rating above, it's not comparable. Most of the students do just fine, but VCU knows it's not an Ivy-wannabe and doesn't try to be. (Although it is certainly trying to grow its profile and reputation.)

But do you want to study Fine Arts? Probably the #1 or #2 4-year (and graduate) program in the nation. Do you want to get into advertising? Best graduate-level advertising program in the nation, with an undergrad track to boot.

Lots of their programs are top 10 in the nation (several in medical field, with their own med school). So depending on what I want to study, or set myself up for the future (unless I really believe I'm going to the NBA), it's not a dead end.

(03-24-2017 07:53 AM)gsloth Wrote:  

(03-24-2017 05:18 AM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:35 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  ... How does VCU compare academically to Rice?

It doesn't.

Be careful with generalizatons. As a whole, like the rating above, it's not comparable. Most of the students do just fine, but VCU knows it's not an Ivy-wannabe and doesn't try to be. (Although it is certainly trying to grow its profile and reputation.)

But do you want to study Fine Arts? Probably the #1 or #2 4-year (and graduate) program in the nation. Do you want to get into advertising? Best graduate-level advertising program in the nation, with an undergrad track to boot.

Lots of their programs are top 10 in the nation (several in medical field, with their own med school). So depending on what I want to study, or set myself up for the future (unless I really believe I'm going to the NBA), it's not a dead end.

VCU's list of rankings & recognitions: http://news.vcu.edu/latest/rankings-and-recognition.aspx

VCU serves an important educational purpose that's very similar to UH's role, but I would rank at least three other public universities clearly ahead of VCU in Virginia (UVA, VT, and W&M). GMU is probably also better due to its proximity to DC. VCU has some niche specializations, and US News ranked their med school at #80. The school serves an important public function for the Richmond area, but I can clearly see why some players' families would want to see their sons graduate with a Rice degree rather than a VCU degree.

VCU made the Tournament this year, but they were promptly bounced out by St. Mary's. St. Mary's recent basketball success is actually a model for Rice.

The quick hiring of Scott Pera is a great move. It maintains continuity and should keep most of the players on the roster. I think Pera can better play up the James Harden connection in Houston area recruiting now that he's the head coach. Similar to Rhoades' background, Pera has coached championship teams. Winning championships at any level tells me that you know how to put it all together. My greatest criticism of long-tenured Rice coaches like Bailiff and Wilson is that they were too complacent with mediocrity at best. Coaches should have that championship mentality.

(03-24-2017 01:54 PM)Bay Area Owl Wrote:  VCU serves an important educational purpose that's very similar to UH's role, but I would rank at least three other public universities clearly ahead of VCU in Virginia (UVA, VT, and W&M). GMU is probably also better due to its proximity to DC. VCU has some niche specializations, and US News ranked their med school at #80. The school serves an important public function for the Richmond area, but I can clearly see why some players' families would want to see their sons graduate with a Rice degree rather than a VCU degree.

I think you've got it right. VCU was largely a commuter school that's trying to upgrade its profile (like UH). It's found some niches it can be great at, but due to its size (now the largest public university in VA), it's still a commuter school at heart. I would put GMU ahead of VCU on the academic pecking order (and not just because I've got a degree from it), and the 3 you mention are always going to be ahead of GMU and VCU in academic surveys (on a general level, though there are always programs that will excel at any school).

But I also wanted to warn others on here who may not be familiar with it that there are things that getting a VCU degree probably would be a good thing. And as I quoted from the local column earlier, there's a breadth of study opportunities/options at VCU that could appeal to getting some athletes to VCU.