(11-03-2017 07:39 AM)Kayjay Wrote:  The two graduate transfers that were brought in are likely to have marginal impact, not unlike Van Green did when he transferred to the Owls. Neither player was active during the 2016-2017 season.

I'm not sure that is a fair assessment. Neither Lapray or Jones was active due to injuries. If my memory serves correct, Van Green did not play at Columbia his last few years for reasons that were not injury-related.

Lapray averaged 11.4 mins/game in 2014-15 for #126 ranked Pepperdine (Kenpom) and 12.2 mins/game in 2015-16 when Pepperdine finished ranked #137. He was getting meaningful playing time on a decent team, but did not play in many games due to injuries. Lapray was also a very good recruit coming out of HS (ranked #317 nationally in 247sports' composite rankings). Jones did not play as much at Penn before his injuries started and he was not quite as high profile as Lapray coming out of HS (though he had some 3-star rankings). Both had decent lists of offers and were better-regarded recruits coming out of HS than Van Green.

That certainly does not guarantee that they will make a bigger impact at Rice than Van did in his season. But I think the evidence suggests that both guys have a higher floor and a higher ceiling than Van, assuming they can stay healthy.

(11-03-2017 07:39 AM)Kayjay Wrote:  During Rhoades time on South Main, he was never able to recruit enough of the type of players he needed to implement the type of pressing defense he wanted to run, making it difficult to fully implement the playbook he brought to Rice from his time at VCU. This year will continue to be a transitional one. I do not expect that Coach Pera will be able to run the full offense and defensive alignments this season. I am happy for Bishop Mency. He lost a great deal of playing time last year but did not complain and he remained loyal to Rice and continued to work hard. Still, I do not expect him to become an all conference player. He lost that playing time for a reason. The two graduate transfers that were brought in are likely to have marginal impact, not unlike Van Green did when he transferred to the Owls. Neither player was active during the 2016-2017 season. The real question will be how talented are the 3 Freshmen (Lester, Hunter, Osborne) and how much will they be able to contribute. It will also really help if Robert Martin and Tim Harrison show major improvement. They were both buried on the depth chart last year, so the transfers have given them a 2nd chance to have an impact on the court.

Rhoades' Rice playbook got more conventional and basic over the course of time. I'm unconvinced that's simply because he lacked player talent.

(11-03-2017 09:08 AM)mrbig Wrote:  

(11-03-2017 07:39 AM)Kayjay Wrote:  The two graduate transfers that were brought in are likely to have marginal impact, not unlike Van Green did when he transferred to the Owls. Neither player was active during the 2016-2017 season.

I'm not sure that is a fair assessment. Neither Lapray or Jones was active due to injuries. If my memory serves correct, Van Green did not play at Columbia his last few years for reasons that were not injury-related.

Lapray averaged 11.4 mins/game in 2014-15 for #126 ranked Pepperdine (Kenpom) and 12.2 mins/game in 2015-16 when Pepperdine finished ranked #137. He was getting meaningful playing time on a decent team, but did not play in many games due to injuries. Lapray was also a very good recruit coming out of HS (ranked #317 nationally in 247sports' composite rankings). Jones did not play as much at Penn before his injuries started and he was not quite as high profile as Lapray coming out of HS (though he had some 3-star rankings). Both had decent lists of offers and were better-regarded recruits coming out of HS than Van Green.

That certainly does not guarantee that they will make a bigger impact at Rice than Van did in his season. But I think the evidence suggests that both guys have a higher floor and a higher ceiling than Van, assuming they can stay healthy.

+1000. Not sure what to expect out of Jones, but I'm expecting Lapray to be a major contributor if he can stay healthy. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he works his way into a starting role. He's perfect for Pera's system-- good ball handler (from his HS days as PG), solid shooter-- including from down town, and long. Unlike Green, who not only hardly played on a poor Columbia team, but was a small forward who couldn't shoot, couldn't rebound and wasn't a particularly good ball handler.

(11-03-2017 10:01 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(11-03-2017 09:08 AM)mrbig Wrote:  

(11-03-2017 07:39 AM)Kayjay Wrote:  The two graduate transfers that were brought in are likely to have marginal impact, not unlike Van Green did when he transferred to the Owls. Neither player was active during the 2016-2017 season.

I'm not sure that is a fair assessment. Neither Lapray or Jones was active due to injuries. If my memory serves correct, Van Green did not play at Columbia his last few years for reasons that were not injury-related.

Lapray averaged 11.4 mins/game in 2014-15 for #126 ranked Pepperdine (Kenpom) and 12.2 mins/game in 2015-16 when Pepperdine finished ranked #137. He was getting meaningful playing time on a decent team, but did not play in many games due to injuries. Lapray was also a very good recruit coming out of HS (ranked #317 nationally in 247sports' composite rankings). Jones did not play as much at Penn before his injuries started and he was not quite as high profile as Lapray coming out of HS (though he had some 3-star rankings). Both had decent lists of offers and were better-regarded recruits coming out of HS than Van Green.

That certainly does not guarantee that they will make a bigger impact at Rice than Van did in his season. But I think the evidence suggests that both guys have a higher floor and a higher ceiling than Van, assuming they can stay healthy.

+1000. Not sure what to expect out of Jones, but I'm expecting Lapray to be a major contributor if he can stay healthy. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he works his way into a starting role. He's perfect for Pera's system-- good ball handler (from his HS days as PG), solid shooter-- including from down town, and long. Unlike Green, who not only hardly played on a poor Columbia team, but was a small forward who couldn't shoot, couldn't rebound and wasn't a particularly good ball handler.

You do realize Green is on the staff now? Is it necessay to belittle his ability here?

(11-03-2017 11:47 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  You do realize Green is on the staff now? Is it necessary to belittle his ability here?

I had the same thought, and that was certainly not my intention. He was a fine role player in his season at Rice.

(11-01-2017 03:06 PM)RiceFight Wrote:  Interesting to note that MLE failed to academically qualify at Nevada. Perhaps his transfer out wasn't entirely due to basketball reasons.

http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/college/...769846001/

Relevant text:

Quote:Marquez Letcher-Ellis was the highest-ceiling transfer Nevada got this offseason but he didn't make the grades to join the team, which was a bummer. I wouldn't be overly optimistic he ever plays for Nevada but also wouldn't rule it out.

Nevada?? Then how the heck did he ever get in at Rice??

(11-03-2017 12:57 PM)Barney Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 03:06 PM)RiceFight Wrote:  Interesting to note that MLE failed to academically qualify at Nevada. Perhaps his transfer out wasn't entirely due to basketball reasons.

http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/college/...769846001/

Relevant text:

Quote:Marquez Letcher-Ellis was the highest-ceiling transfer Nevada got this offseason but he didn't make the grades to join the team, which was a bummer. I wouldn't be overly optimistic he ever plays for Nevada but also wouldn't rule it out.

Nevada?? Then how the heck did he ever get in at Rice??

*Some* of Rhoades’ recruits aren’t/weren’t the brightest bulbs if you haven’t figured that out yet.

To his credit/discredit (because maybe we’d be better if he recruited in a similar manner), Bailiff tends to take a higher caliber student than the absolute minimum that Rice requires. Maybe only a couple out of ~20 in a class will be really pushing that lower limit. Rhoades pushed that limit with the many (but not all) of his recruits from what I can tell (and noticed in my classes that I shared with them).

(11-03-2017 12:03 PM)mrbig Wrote:  

(11-03-2017 11:47 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  You do realize Green is on the staff now? Is it necessary to belittle his ability here?

I had the same thought, and that was certainly not my intention. He was a fine role player in his season at Rice.

dont think it was aimed at you

(11-03-2017 01:30 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(11-03-2017 12:57 PM)Barney Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 03:06 PM)RiceFight Wrote:  Interesting to note that MLE failed to academically qualify at Nevada. Perhaps his transfer out wasn't entirely due to basketball reasons.

http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/college/...769846001/

Relevant text:

Quote:Marquez Letcher-Ellis was the highest-ceiling transfer Nevada got this offseason but he didn't make the grades to join the team, which was a bummer. I wouldn't be overly optimistic he ever plays for Nevada but also wouldn't rule it out.

Nevada?? Then how the heck did he ever get in at Rice??

*Some* of Rhoades’ recruits aren’t/weren’t the brightest bulbs if you haven’t figured that out yet.

To his credit/discredit (because maybe we’d be better if he recruited in a similar manner), Bailiff tends to take a higher caliber student than the absolute minimum that Rice requires. Maybe only a couple out of ~20 in a class will be really pushing that lower limit. Rhoades pushed that limit with the many (but not all) of his recruits from what I can tell (and noticed in my classes that I shared with them).

Part of that is the nature of the sport, I think. Like at the same level of competition MBB players lag the average SAT score of the school the most; football is second, across the country.

(11-03-2017 02:50 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(11-03-2017 01:30 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(11-03-2017 12:57 PM)Barney Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 03:06 PM)RiceFight Wrote:  Interesting to note that MLE failed to academically qualify at Nevada. Perhaps his transfer out wasn't entirely due to basketball reasons.

http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/college/...769846001/

Relevant text:

Quote:Marquez Letcher-Ellis was the highest-ceiling transfer Nevada got this offseason but he didn't make the grades to join the team, which was a bummer. I wouldn't be overly optimistic he ever plays for Nevada but also wouldn't rule it out.

Nevada?? Then how the heck did he ever get in at Rice??

*Some* of Rhoades’ recruits aren’t/weren’t the brightest bulbs if you haven’t figured that out yet.

To his credit/discredit (because maybe we’d be better if he recruited in a similar manner), Bailiff tends to take a higher caliber student than the absolute minimum that Rice requires. Maybe only a couple out of ~20 in a class will be really pushing that lower limit. Rhoades pushed that limit with the many (but not all) of his recruits from what I can tell (and noticed in my classes that I shared with them).

Part of that is the nature of the sport, I think. Like at the same level of competition MBB players lag the average SAT score of the school the most; football is second, across the country.

I'd bet having long sports commitments in fall and winter doesn't help.

Sent from my SM-G920V using CSNbbs mobile app

(11-03-2017 12:57 PM)Barney Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 03:06 PM)RiceFight Wrote:  Interesting to note that MLE failed to academically qualify at Nevada. Perhaps his transfer out wasn't entirely due to basketball reasons.

http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/college/...769846001/

Relevant text:

Quote:Marquez Letcher-Ellis was the highest-ceiling transfer Nevada got this offseason but he didn't make the grades to join the team, which was a bummer. I wouldn't be overly optimistic he ever plays for Nevada but also wouldn't rule it out.

Nevada?? Then how the heck did he ever get in at Rice??

You should read this as - he had grade problems from his classes at Rice that make him academically ineligible to play at Nevada. The only conclusion you can make is that he was good enough to get into Rice, but could not or did not put in the effort to do well enough academically there to remain eligible to play.

Any reports from last night's 3-Point Club meeting? I saw the team tweeting out pictures from the event.

I was talking with one of the players about Rice football players in the pros. I said I wished we had some in the NBA. He said he thought Josh Parrish might make the grade. Pretty high praise for someone who's only been around for a short time.

One thing that stood out is the quality of the people, from players, coaches, strength coach and other personnel. We have a lot to be proud of with the quality of people in Rice's program.

Talked with A.J. Lapray. He said he finished his paperwork for another season's eligibility and mailed it to the NCAA yesterday.

We're very young and inexperienced, but the players think we will surprise some people. We should improve as the season goes on and we find out exactly who can do what. Remember two years ago Marcus Evans wasn't even supposed to start until Chad Lott got hurt. Conner should be the leader, but it will be interesting to see who else steps up.

For those who watched last Saturday's exhibition game and wondered where are scoring would come from, I heard from two sources at last night's dinner that Connor Cashaw scored 25 points in the "secret" scrimmage against A&M CC a couple weeks back. I think he, Adams and Lapray will be our primary outside scorers, with a vastly more productive inside game with Meyers, Martin and Harrison.

Thanks for the update on Lapray’s possible 6th year of eligibility. Wonder how they will juggle scholarships if he can return?

(11-08-2017 01:06 PM)bobreinhold1 Wrote:  I was talking with one of the players about Rice football players in the pros. I said I wished we had some in the NBA. He said he thought Josh Parrish might make the grade. Pretty high praise for someone who's only been around for a short time.

One thing that stood out is the quality of the people, from players, coaches, strength coach and other personnel. We have a lot to be proud of with the quality of people in Rice's program.

Talked with A.J. Lapray. He said he finished his paperwork for another season's eligibility and mailed it to the NCAA yesterday.

We're very young and inexperienced, but the players think we will surprise some people. We should improve as the season goes on and we find out exactly who can do what. Remember two years ago Marcus Evans wasn't even supposed to start until Chad Lott got hurt. Conner should be the leader, but it will be interesting to see who else steps up.

Martin and Harrison need to keep developing but they have the size to play in the NBA at their respective positions (probably both would be small forwards - possibly Harrison could be a 4).

(11-08-2017 02:21 PM)mrbig Wrote:  Thanks for the update on Lapray’s possible 6th year of eligibility. Wonder how they will juggle scholarships if he can return?

I love the optimism that there would 0% attrition on an NCAA men's college basketball team in a given year, and therefore a lack of scholarships.

I guess we'll see.

I think there will usually be some attrition. There's only so much PT, and some players will get discouraged. Hopefully the best players will stick. All of the new recruits are very excited to get here. Even though they are from all over the country they have already bonded, sending emails and texts to each other.

I'm looking forward to the season. I'm glad all the players are gone who weren't committed to the team.