"We Are Winning And We Are Still Here"

(03-28-2017 12:46 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  "We Are Winning And We Are Still Here"

It's probably more fun at this point to talk about the 2017-18 women's basketball team and who is returning for Rice (we hope).

Nicole Iademarco (6-1 JR), Wendy Knight (5-9 SR) and Shani Rainey (5-10 SR) will be returning starters. Lauren Grigsby (5-10 JR) and Lexie Ducat (6-1 JR) aren't returning starters but they both had big contributions at times this past season. Kendell Ellig (6-1 SO) was also in the top 8 rotation. The other returnees (Taylor Bennett, 5-7 SO; Gabrielle Stanton, 5-7 JR; Gabby Ozoude, 6-2 SO) didn't play as much but have potential. Ozoude is still learning the game, Stanton had some injuries she dealt with this past season and I think Bennett needs to regain her confidence.

Add in the two Ogwumike sisters. Erica is the younger sister and will be a starter for sure. She is a 5-9 sophomore who was 1st-team all-WCC as a freshman after leading Pepperdine in both scoring (18.4) and rebounding (7.5). Olivia is the taller sister (5-11) and will be a junior. Her numbers were also solid (9.3 points per game) but she missed some games her sophomore season at Pepperdine. My guess is she'll be coming off the bench for Rice?

They also have two incoming freshmen right now with two additional scholarships to give. Sydne Wiggins is a 5-11 guard from Atlanta who is a top-100 national recruit. She led her high school team to the Atlanta 6A state title game (where they lost by a point). Alexah Chapman is a 6-2 post player from Indiana.

The big question will be who starts at point. Wiggins might need to be that player. Knight and Iademarco can handle the ball in a pinch but neither are true point guards. With a point guard and slightly better inside play (possibly Ozoude if she keeps improving), I think they'll challenge for a conference title next year.

And by the way, Rice has a commitment from a junior point guard in Houston who was just named the Houston private school player of the year. So I'm pretty confident they're in solid shape for years to come.

(03-29-2017 07:29 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  It's probably more fun at this point to talk about the 2017-18 women's basketball team and who is returning for Rice (we hope).

Nicole Iademarco (6-1 JR), Wendy Knight (5-9 SR) and Shani Rainey (5-10 SR) will be returning starters. Lauren Grigsby (5-10 JR) and Lexie Ducat (6-1 JR) aren't returning starters but they both had big contributions at times this past season. Kendell Ellig (6-1 SO) was also in the top 8 rotation. The other returnees (Taylor Bennett, 5-7 SO; Gabrielle Stanton, 5-7 JR; Gabby Ozoude, 6-2 SO) didn't play as much but have potential. Ozoude is still learning the game, Stanton had some injuries she dealt with this past season and I think Bennett needs to regain her confidence.

Add in the two Ogwumike sisters. Erica is the younger sister and will be a starter for sure. She is a 5-9 sophomore who was 1st-team all-WCC as a freshman after leading Pepperdine in both scoring (18.4) and rebounding (7.5). Olivia is the taller sister (5-11) and will be a junior. Her numbers were also solid (9.3 points per game) but she missed some games her sophomore season at Pepperdine. My guess is she'll be coming off the bench for Rice?

They also have two incoming freshmen right now with two additional scholarships to give. Sydne Wiggins is a 5-11 guard from Atlanta who is a top-100 national recruit. She led her high school team to the Atlanta 6A state title game (where they lost by a point). Alexah Chapman is a 6-2 post player from Indiana.

The big question will be who starts at point. Wiggins might need to be that player. Knight and Iademarco can handle the ball in a pinch but neither are true point guards. With a point guard and slightly better inside play (possibly Ozoude if she keeps improving), I think they'll challenge for a conference title next year.

And by the way, Rice has a commitment from a junior point guard in Houston who was just named the Houston private school player of the year. So I'm pretty confident they're in solid shape for years to come.

Note -- Shani tore her ACL and MCL in the WBI championship game, so she will most likely be out for a good portion of the season.

Agree on the question of point guard. We looked pretty lost without Maya on the court this year. Hopefully Bennet can develop this off season. She will also definitely get better just by playing more next year. Another option is having Erica play PG at times. She is definitely more of a 2, but could maybe step into the role if necessary. Langley's system seems relatively position-less for the guards a lot of the time anyways.

Why isn't Lauren Grigsby not returning.

(03-29-2017 10:51 AM)OldOwl Wrote:  Why isn't Lauren Grigsby not returning.

She is, he just meant that she wasn't a starter.

(03-29-2017 10:46 AM)OwlWind Wrote:  

(03-29-2017 07:29 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  It's probably more fun at this point to talk about the 2017-18 women's basketball team and who is returning for Rice (we hope).

Nicole Iademarco (6-1 JR), Wendy Knight (5-9 SR) and Shani Rainey (5-10 SR) will be returning starters. Lauren Grigsby (5-10 JR) and Lexie Ducat (6-1 JR) aren't returning starters but they both had big contributions at times this past season. Kendell Ellig (6-1 SO) was also in the top 8 rotation. The other returnees (Taylor Bennett, 5-7 SO; Gabrielle Stanton, 5-7 JR; Gabby Ozoude, 6-2 SO) didn't play as much but have potential. Ozoude is still learning the game, Stanton had some injuries she dealt with this past season and I think Bennett needs to regain her confidence.

Add in the two Ogwumike sisters. Erica is the younger sister and will be a starter for sure. She is a 5-9 sophomore who was 1st-team all-WCC as a freshman after leading Pepperdine in both scoring (18.4) and rebounding (7.5). Olivia is the taller sister (5-11) and will be a junior. Her numbers were also solid (9.3 points per game) but she missed some games her sophomore season at Pepperdine. My guess is she'll be coming off the bench for Rice?

They also have two incoming freshmen right now with two additional scholarships to give. Sydne Wiggins is a 5-11 guard from Atlanta who is a top-100 national recruit. She led her high school team to the Atlanta 6A state title game (where they lost by a point). Alexah Chapman is a 6-2 post player from Indiana.

The big question will be who starts at point. Wiggins might need to be that player. Knight and Iademarco can handle the ball in a pinch but neither are true point guards. With a point guard and slightly better inside play (possibly Ozoude if she keeps improving), I think they'll challenge for a conference title next year.

And by the way, Rice has a commitment from a junior point guard in Houston who was just named the Houston private school player of the year. So I'm pretty confident they're in solid shape for years to come.

Note -- Shani tore her ACL and MCL in the WBI championship game, so she will most likely be out for a good portion of the season.

Agree on the question of point guard. We looked pretty lost without Maya on the court this year. Hopefully Bennet can develop this off season. She will also definitely get better just by playing more next year. Another option is having Erica play PG at times. She is definitely more of a 2, but could maybe step into the role if necessary. Langley's system seems relatively position-less for the guards a lot of the time anyways.

Thanks for the info on Shani. I would think Taylor will regain her confidence with more PT, but like with Adams on the MBB sometimes limiting the minutes she plays by putting her on the court in segments might be helpful.

(03-29-2017 10:51 AM)OldOwl Wrote:  Why isn't Lauren Grigsby not returning.

Hope her omission was just an error. She definitely improved during the second half of the year and really played well both inside and outside.

I didn't omit Grigsby. She was in my post all along.

Tough news on Rainey but not unexpected either based on seeing the injury live. She probably will be a redshirt candidate now, which actually should open the door for Grigsby to start next season in Rainey's spot. Grigsby really was improving a ton at the end of the season, and held the Rice post-season single game scoring record (24) for one game until Hawkins beat her by scoring 25 against Idaho.

I'll predict a starting 5 of Wiggins, Grigsby, Erica Ogwumike, Iademarco, and either Knight (if we go to a smaller lineup) or Ozoude/Ducat (if we need a taller lineup).

I would keep Knight as a starter...she is the definition of a gym rat. Nothing flashy but solid in all areas. Her game has changed during her time at Rice as the needs of the team have changed.

Is Adaeze Obinnah coming back?

(03-29-2017 07:46 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  I would keep Knight as a starter...she is the definition of a gym rat. Nothing flashy but solid in all areas. Her game has changed during her time at Rice as the needs of the team have changed.

(03-29-2017 07:46 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  I would keep Knight as a starter...she is the definition of a gym rat. Nothing flashy but solid in all areas. Her game has changed during her time at Rice as the needs of the team have changed.

I agree with Knight as a starter. She is a sneaky good rebounder and defender, makes enough 3s to be a legitimate outside threat, and generally just seems to make us bette when she's on the court.

Grigsby is pretty interesting. She reminded me a bit of a Manu Ginobli this year coming off the bench. If she gets rolling she can really be a strong scoring threat in a game. She also seems to make a ton of plays on defense, steals and rebounding wise. It will be interesting to see if she steps into a starting role.

I think starting 5 will probably be (Wiggins, Bennet, or Stanton), Knight, Iademarco, Erica Ogwumike, Ducat. Grigsby off the bench again unless she really takes a huge step forward. It's also a bit harder to predict recruit performance for women's in my opinion so it's hard to be sure about Wiggins.

I'm still extremely excited to see Ozoude's development. She clearly is an athletic freak (don't know if y'all saw but she dunked after a practice this year; it was on the RiceWBasketball twitter). If Langley and company can continue to get her develop as a basketball player she can be downright special as an upperclassman.

I really like Grigsby. She is a real fighter and won't back down against anyone. She could be a great defensive player and driving to the basket.

(03-30-2017 08:35 PM)OwlWind Wrote:  

(03-29-2017 07:46 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  I would keep Knight as a starter...she is the definition of a gym rat. Nothing flashy but solid in all areas. Her game has changed during her time at Rice as the needs of the team have changed.

I agree with Knight as a starter. She is a sneaky good rebounder and defender, makes enough 3s to be a legitimate outside threat, and generally just seems to make us bette when she's on the court.

Grigsby is pretty interesting. She reminded me a bit of a Manu Ginobli this year coming off the bench. If she gets rolling she can really be a strong scoring threat in a game. She also seems to make a ton of plays on defense, steals and rebounding wise. It will be interesting to see if she steps into a starting role.

I think starting 5 will probably be (Wiggins, Bennet, or Stanton), Knight, Iademarco, Erica Ogwumike, Ducat. Grigsby off the bench again unless she really takes a huge step forward. It's also a bit harder to predict recruit performance for women's in my opinion so it's hard to be sure about Wiggins.

I'm still extremely excited to see Ozoude's development. She clearly is an athletic freak (don't know if y'all saw but she dunked after a practice this year; it was on the RiceWBasketball twitter). If Langley and company can continue to get her develop as a basketball player she can be downright special as an upperclassman.