And… Rice has its first 2024 commit. (G) Anthony Batson

(09-11-2023 11:16 AM)RiceParliament Wrote:  SG Anthony Batson is the first 2024 commit. He plays at Notre Dame Prep, originally from Scottsdale. Received a scholarship offer from Stanford in May and Harvard in July. Very interesting recruit for a couple reasons.

First thing that sticks out is his size. Not height (he's 6-4) or length, but build. His body looks college-ready, which makes the transition from HS ball a lot easier. Pretty decent athlete for his size, both vertically and laterally. Can play above the rim and finish through contact. Second big thing that sticks out is that he looks like a drive first, shoot second guard, which is a departure from the type of player that Pera usually looks for. Shot mechanics don't look bad, by any means. But adding a guy who firstly wants to attack off the dribble can be important in diversifying an offense. That said, his handle will probably need to get better at the next level. It's not loose, but college defenders are very different from the typical prep school defender.

(09-11-2023 05:51 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  And… Rice has its first 2024 commit. (G) Anthony Batson

(09-11-2023 11:16 AM)RiceParliament Wrote:  SG Anthony Batson is the first 2024 commit. He plays at Notre Dame Prep, originally from Scottsdale. Received a scholarship offer from Stanford in May and Harvard in July. Very interesting recruit for a couple reasons.

First thing that sticks out is his size. Not height (he's 6-4) or length, but build. His body looks college-ready, which makes the transition from HS ball a lot easier. Pretty decent athlete for his size, both vertically and laterally. Can play above the rim and finish through contact. Second big thing that sticks out is that he looks like a drive first, shoot second guard, which is a departure from the type of player that Pera usually looks for. Shot mechanics don't look bad, by any means. But adding a guy who firstly wants to attack off the dribble can be important in diversifying an offense. That said, his handle will probably need to get better at the next level. It's not loose, but college defenders are very different from the typical prep school defender.

That's great. We look forward to playing teams in our league that take their basketball seriously.

I removed DeAndre Williams and Mikey Williams from the active roster. I will add them later in the very unlikely event the NCAA removes its curse or the justice system favorably renders its verdict.

I welcome the publication of the rosters of other AAC schools along with notations.

Current Rice Roster, start of season is one month away…

(10-04-2023 08:46 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Current Rice Roster, start of season is one month away…

Who do you thinks starts and major rotation players?

Wichita State's roster is about an even split between return players and newcomers, and it is a bit uncertain as to starters for each position, especially with a new coach and new system. However, based on available information, here is a reasonable guess as to starters and player positions:

PG: Cortes, 6'2", Jr. transfer from Oklahoma/ Bell, 6'3" Jr./ Ighovodja 6'4" Fr
SG: Rogers, 6'4" Jr./ Ricks, 6'7" So./ (Ighovodja)/ (Beverly)/ (Bell)
SF: Beverly, 6'6", Jr. transfer from Miami/ Ridginal, 6'7" Gr. transfer/ (Ricks)
PF: Pohto, 6'11", Jr./ Abidde, 6'9" So./ (Ridginal)
C: Germany, 6'11", Gr transfer/ Ballard, 7' Jr./ (Pohto)

Also: DeGray, 6'6" Jr. transfer from Missouri who will undoubtedly have to sit out this year.
Bamba, 6'6" Fr., speculate he might redshirt.

Walk-ons: Thengvall, 6'6" redshirt Freshman; McBride, 6'1" redshirt Freshman

We've got good size and athleticism at every position as well as experience. If the coaching is an upgrade and the players gel by conference play they should finish top 5 or better. I'd guess 4th or perhaps 3rd.

(10-04-2023 11:17 AM)Shockdaminkey Wrote:  We've got good size and athleticism at every position as well as experience. If the coaching is an upgrade and the players gel by conference play they should finish top 5 or better. I'd guess 4th or perhaps 3rd.

Wichita has consistently had a good roster, but Isaac wasn't getting it done. How do you feel about the new coach thus far? I believe that will make all the difference, and we need the Shockers to be good.

(10-04-2023 11:20 AM)msu35 Wrote:  

(10-04-2023 11:17 AM)Shockdaminkey Wrote:  We've got good size and athleticism at every position as well as experience. If the coaching is an upgrade and the players gel by conference play they should finish top 5 or better. I'd guess 4th or perhaps 3rd.

Wichita has consistently had a good roster, but Isaac wasn't getting it done. How do you feel about the new coach thus far? I believe that will make all the difference, and we need the Shockers to be good.

I'm one of the more pessimistic ones but I've like some of the things I've seen recently. His history is a mixed bag. High highs (Sweet 16), but if you look at it in totality, he's never won a Q1 or Q2 game in the regular season last I checked. Hard to ignore that. His recruiting has been ok, but we are REALLY thin at the most important position (PG). This year is probably a throw away year, but hopefully builds into the next couple years. His style of play is definitely going to be different as he's much more about playing fast and shoots a lot of 3s (which historically those are the 2 exact opposite things that WSU does)

(10-04-2023 11:44 AM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  High highs (Sweet 16), but if you look at it in totality, he's never won a Q1 or Q2 game in the regular season last I checked.

If he's never won a Q1/Q2 game in the regular season, it's amazing that he made it that far in the tourney. Not knowing much about your coach, that's difficult for me to reconcile. Was it a considered hire, unlike the knee jerk elevation of Brown?

(10-04-2023 11:44 AM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  His recruiting has been ok, but we are REALLY thin at the most important position (PG).

I'm not familiar with your roster. Who do you expect to start in that role? I'm assuming an upperclassman from the portal versus one of your freshman.

(10-04-2023 11:44 AM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  His style of play is definitely going to be different as he's much more about playing fast and shoots a lot of 3s (which historically those are the 2 exact opposite things that WSU does)

I wouldn't read too much into that. Marshall is gone and Brown wasn't able to capitalize on the talent he had available, so a dramatic change was warranted. Your new coach could very well turn things around, hopefully sooner than you think, but I tend to be an optimist by nature.

(10-04-2023 11:20 AM)msu35 Wrote:  

(10-04-2023 11:17 AM)Shockdaminkey Wrote:  We've got good size and athleticism at every position as well as experience. If the coaching is an upgrade and the players gel by conference play they should finish top 5 or better. I'd guess 4th or perhaps 3rd.

Wichita has consistently had a good roster, but Isaac wasn't getting it done. How do you feel about the new coach thus far? I believe that will make all the difference, and we need the Shockers to be good.

He seems to have a good rapport with the players and is also a lot higher energy than Brown. He is big on analytics and his uptempo style might be a better fit for this roster. I'm optimistic, but have to reserve judgement until I see the product. Mills does come from a good coaching tree, so all in all there is hope.

I imagine DeAndre Williams and his lawyer once denied will also perhaps seek a legal remedy to the NCAA's arbitrary, capricious, vindictive, and cruel decision. I encourage it assuming his case is as strong as reported.

(10-04-2023 08:46 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Current Rice Roster, start of season is one month away…

I’m not the expert as I follow more closely “in-season”, but we do have a touted incoming class.

Expect Fiedler (all-conference first team candidate), Evee, and Sheffield to start again, for sure. Huseinovich should get more quality minutes than he did last year. Would not surprise if one or two of the freshmen crack the starting lineup sooner rather than later.

I don’t think we’ll win the league (regular season or tourney) but I do think we have a shot at the third bid if the AAC earns 3-4 this year. It’s been a minute, so I’m not holding my breath, but this is on paper one of the two or three strongest Rice teams since our last NCAA trip.

(10-06-2023 12:14 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  I don’t think we’ll win the league (regular season or tourney) but I do think we have a shot at the third bid if the AAC earns 3-4 this year. It’s been a minute, so I’m not holding my breath, but this is on paper one of the two or three strongest Rice teams since our last NCAA trip.

As long as we get at least two bids this year, I won't be complaining. If we get three or four in the tournament this season, I'll be ecstatic. Let's hope it comes to fruition. I've always felt that AAC basketball was highly underrated prior to the shuffle.

Link to SMU’s roster:

https://smumustangs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster


No idea who starts or what the rotation might be.

There’s been some roster turnover with five new portal guys. Three returning starters are Phelps, Williamson and Jalen Smith.
Butler transfer Chuck Harris will most likely be a key piece.
Edwards (Tennessee) and Anglin (Georgetown) are sophs and future point guards who should get time this year even though the roster has four more experienced guards.

The bigs are deep as well… anyone’s guess as to who emerges between Njie (my guess) Ambrose -Hylton and Foster.

Williamson suffered all last season from a nagging wrist injury that really hurt his shooting. Hopefully he’s better.

Tyreek Smith (Okie St/Tx Tech) and Jaheim Hudson (Ga St) are bangers. Ricardo Wright is an under-utilized shooting guard…. His weak D limited his minutes last year.


Those 12 guys should see playing time.

The biggest question….. can Lanier actually coach. Last season was, for the most part, a total $h!tshow between the lines.

(10-04-2023 08:46 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Current Rice Roster, start of season is one month away…

A lot of tall fellas....

P.S. Is Fiedler still the starter? I remember our big, Goldin, dominated him

(10-06-2023 07:53 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

I imagine DeAndre Williams and his lawyer once denied will also perhaps seek a legal remedy to the NCAA's arbitrary, capricious, vindictive, and cruel decision. I encourage it assuming his case is as strong as reported.

Did he get his attorney from the back of his AARP catalog?

(10-07-2023 04:30 PM)goliath74 Wrote:  

(10-04-2023 08:46 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Current Rice Roster, start of season is one month away…

A lot of tall fellas....

P.S. Is Fiedler still the starter? I remember our big, Goldin, dominated him

Big credit to FAU, looked like they game-planned well to stop Fiedler and that was successful.
That was one of the few games he wasn’t really effective. If I remember, others on the team stepped up with all the focus on Max, but it was not enough.

Still probably a good strategy this year, but I think we are deeper, so “your mileage may vary”

Jalen Ricks, a 6-foot-5 wing, is no longer on the Shocker roster.

Penny left open the possibility of filling one or both of the open scholarships at the second semester (if available).


https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/s...gn=memphis