ODU up 74 - 69 with 1:47 left in OT

In OT, Rice is 0-4 from the field with 2 turnovers.

At least the Owls finally scored in OT. It was looking like they might not.

Was afraid this would happen in OT

It's refreshing to be slightly upset at a game I thought we could've won. Those two shots at the end of regulation by Ako were ballsy as hell. Team played really hard and I think it was our best total game of the season. Shot 41.7% from 3 and executed really well on offense against the 31st ranked D in the country. Turned it over 10 times against a D that ranks 43rd in TO%. This is something we can build on.

(01-04-2018 09:58 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  It's refreshing to be slightly upset at a game I thought we could've won. Those two shots at the end of regulation by Ako were ballsy as hell. Team played really hard and I think it was our best total game of the season. Shot 41.7% from 3 and executed really well on offense against the 31st ranked D in the country. Turned it over 10 times against a D that ranks 43rd in TO%. This is something we can build on.

No question this was our best game of the year, and we did it against a very talented ODU team, and with AJ sitting it out again. Turnovers were close to a season low, and our downtown shooting was the best it's been. Defense also tightened up considerably in the second half. ODU's defense was exceptional-- they collapsed on any drive to the basket, and were very aggressive outside. My only complaint was that we tended to run the 30 second clock down to single digits before actively looking for a shot. Love the fight. Let's use this as a stepping stone.

(01-04-2018 09:48 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  And we've reverted back to our pre-game form in overtime. Forced shots and TOs. Down 5 w/ under 2 minutes left.

??? Actually, Connor had 3 wide open looks and wasn't even close on any of them. Picked the wrong time to go stone cold.

Solid effort - just no legs at the end of the game (especially Connor). I think he was under the weather too so that probably didn't help matters.

An effort like this Saturday and we will beat Charlotte.

This isn't a 3-win team. There is more talent on the team than that.

(01-04-2018 10:38 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-04-2018 09:48 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  And we've reverted back to our pre-game form in overtime. Forced shots and TOs. Down 5 w/ under 2 minutes left.

??? Actually, Connor had 3 wide open looks and wasn't even close on any of them. Picked the wrong time to go stone cold.

Don't think they were wide open (could be wrong). Weren't necessarily bad looks, just I thought with the way we'd been running our offense that we could've gotten better ones.

Pera went with a very limited rotation tonight. I think only 8 hit the floor. Kinda reminded me
Of the team two years ago going to overtime. Just didn’t get the win this time.

Quote:Scott Pera
‏@RiceCoachPera
6h6 hours ago
More
Oldest cliche in the book. No such thing as “moral victories”. Losing stinks and will not be acceptable. But really excited about our approach. Our growth. Our “all in” mentality. We will break through. Not if. But WHEN! Proud of my guys.

I really like how Coach Pera shortened the rotation for this game. This was a game where A.J.'s lack of quickness would have really been a liability on the court. R. Martin and T. Harrison played well and are earning their additional court time. This was clearly Ako Adams best game of the season, as well. Trey Porter is an excellent post player and really made Rice pay for any defensive lapses down low. If the team plays the rest of the season like they did against ODU, I will be happy, even if they don't reach my expected benchmark for the season of 7 wins.

(01-05-2018 11:01 AM)Kayjay Wrote:  I really like how Coach Pera shortened the rotation for this game. This was a game where A.J.'s lack of quickness would have really been a liability on the court. R. Martin and T. Harrison played well and are earning their additional court time. This was clearly Ako Adams best game of the season, as well. Trey Porter is an excellent post player and really made Rice pay for any defensive lapses down low. If the team plays the rest of the season like they did against ODU, I will be happy, even if they don't reach my expected benchmark for the season of 7 wins.

??? AJ did not play because he was still feeling side effects from his concussion. It was not the coach's decision not to play him.

(01-05-2018 11:15 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-05-2018 11:01 AM)Kayjay Wrote:  I really like how Coach Pera shortened the rotation for this game. This was a game where A.J.'s lack of quickness would have really been a liability on the court. R. Martin and T. Harrison played well and are earning their additional court time. This was clearly Ako Adams best game of the season, as well. Trey Porter is an excellent post player and really made Rice pay for any defensive lapses down low. If the team plays the rest of the season like they did against ODU, I will be happy, even if they don't reach my expected benchmark for the season of 7 wins.

??? AJ did not play because he was still feeling side effects from his concussion. It was not the coach's decision not to play him.

I recognize that A.J. is still not playing due to his earlier injury. I was alluding to an observation that ODU's overall quickness would have made it difficult for A.J. to be effective on the court for this game. My comment on shortening the bench was in relation to the lack of minutes for Jones and Meyer.