(10-17-2021 12:23 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Agreed. As I've said previously, despite the upbeat words coming out of Edmonds and the coaching staff, I just don't see the women winning more than 10 games this year, and even that may be a stretch. Really disappointed in the lack of effort in bringing in immediate reinforcements through the portal. We not only lack proven returning talent, but we are once again undermanned with a short bench. Rather, it appears the coaching staff has focused all it's recruiting efforts on the classes of 2022 and '23.

I hope they prove me wrong. We'll get our first glimpse on Wednesday, when the team is hosting a practice and dinner for their SIG (Assist Club).

How did that glimpse look, Walt?

(10-26-2021 11:36 AM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(10-17-2021 12:23 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Agreed. As I've said previously, despite the upbeat words coming out of Edmonds and the coaching staff, I just don't see the women winning more than 10 games this year, and even that may be a stretch. Really disappointed in the lack of effort in bringing in immediate reinforcements through the portal. We not only lack proven returning talent, but we are once again undermanned with a short bench. Rather, it appears the coaching staff has focused all it's recruiting efforts on the classes of 2022 and '23.

I hope they prove me wrong. We'll get our first glimpse on Wednesday, when the team is hosting a practice and dinner for their SIG (Assist Club).

How did that glimpse look, Walt?

Couldn't really tell from one practice, especially one in which the 3 primary returnees (Crosthwait, Swayze and McCurry) were all sitting it out for the most part with minor injuries. I thought Austin was the best player on the court; vastly improved over her Freshman season when she saw very limited action. Of the newcomers, Fisher impressed me more than Gooden. She's particularly active on defense.

Edmonds was upbeat. I asked why they didn't work the transfer portal harder, and her response explanation was due to fit, culture and wanting to maximize the flexibility in her 2022 and '23 recruiting classes. Of course, that doesn't explain why we didn't go after 2 - 3 additional senior or grad transfers who would have provided much needed reinforcement and bench strength to this year's squad.

Non Rice related but Gary Blair announced his retirement today (but he will coach the 2021-22 season at TAMU). There are two obvious candidates to replace him - Kelly Bond-White if they stay within, but they may also go hard after Vic Schaeffer (the UT head coach, but he is an A&M graduate and used to coach there).

Don't know when but some point today MBB will scrimmage SFA. It sounds like they beat Troy (KP #232) in their first scrimmage a week ago, though I haven't been able to find any stats. Highly doubt we'll get anything more than a few posts on SFA's forum that give an indication how the game went (unless anybody here has great sources).

Anyone know how the women's secret scrimmage against HBU went earlier this week?

(10-30-2021 09:07 AM)elw4796 Wrote:  Don't know when but some point today MBB will scrimmage SFA. It sounds like they beat Troy (KP #232) in their first scrimmage a week ago, though I haven't been able to find any stats. Highly doubt we'll get anything more than a few posts on SFA's forum that give an indication how the game went (unless anybody here has great sources).

SFA beat Troy or Rice beat Troy?

(10-30-2021 12:48 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(10-30-2021 09:07 AM)elw4796 Wrote:  Don't know when but some point today MBB will scrimmage SFA. It sounds like they beat Troy (KP #232) in their first scrimmage a week ago, though I haven't been able to find any stats. Highly doubt we'll get anything more than a few posts on SFA's forum that give an indication how the game went (unless anybody here has great sources).

SFA beat Troy or Rice beat Troy?

SFA beat Troy.

Some good news:

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/...6613861381

Secret scrimmages mean nothing. Final four teams have lost to non-D1 teams in these types of scrimmages. But early in the season we need to see signs of an average defense (I'd love above average but we basically need to just not be bad). Allowing 68 points in a scrimmage is much preferred to allowing 80.

Some more info: https://twitter.com/SeanPaulCBB/status/1...7387639817

And some more: https://twitter.com/SeanPaulCBB/status/1...4128983040

Two years ago, we tied SFA 88-88 at a secret scrimmage up there. Supposedly, we had two FT's (by Josh Parrish) to win it at the end and he missed them both. And then both coaches decided to call it a tie and end it at that point.

Of course as you say, secret scrimmages don't mean much. Two years ago, SFA was 29-3 and beat #1 Duke on the road. I don't know if this year's SFA team is as highly regarded but they will have a solid team again this year.

https://twitter.com/chris_keith12/status...46435?s=21

Thought these were some interesting texts assuming they’re legit.

Can’t blame Pera though.. He has to schedule for the team Rice had/has, not the team he wishes he has… And SFA still agreed to a scrimmage with us, so maybe the blood isn’t that bad!

(10-30-2021 06:13 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  https://twitter.com/chris_keith12/status...46435?s=21

Thought these were some interesting texts assuming they’re legit.

Can’t blame Pera though.. He has to schedule for the team Rice had/has, not the team he wishes he has… And SFA still agreed to a scrimmage with us, so maybe the blood isn’t that bad!

There are so many weird elements to this. Setting aside anything substantive...who cares enough about Rice basketball to keep four-year old texts about scheduling? Like I'd get it if you thought TCU or Houston or Texas was running scared from you...but Rice? And then to still have the texts? And then to care enough about a coach leaking a secret scrimmage score (which happens with close to every secret scrimmage) that you post about it on Twitter? Entire thing is really funny

(10-31-2021 09:46 AM)elw4796 Wrote:  

(10-30-2021 06:13 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  https://twitter.com/chris_keith12/status...46435?s=21

Thought these were some interesting texts assuming they’re legit.

Can’t blame Pera though.. He has to schedule for the team Rice had/has, not the team he wishes he has… And SFA still agreed to a scrimmage with us, so maybe the blood isn’t that bad!

There are so many weird elements to this. Setting aside anything substantive...who cares enough about Rice basketball to keep four-year old texts about scheduling? Like I'd get it if you thought TCU or Houston or Texas was running scared from you...but Rice? And then to still have the texts? And then to care enough about a coach leaking a secret scrimmage score (which happens with close to every secret scrimmage) that you post about it on Twitter? Entire thing is really funny

+100

In other exhibition news, our opening day opponent...https://pepperdinewaves.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2021-22/point-loma-nazarene-exhibition-/boxscore/11516

Quick observations from looking at the box score. Obioha, Polk, and Zidek didn't play. No clue if they're nursing injuries but they represent 54.6% of Pepperdine's returning minutes. 75 minutes for their heralded recruiting class. Pepperdine is clearly not going to be as good as they have been, but I wouldn't put too much stock in this result.

This is not a comment about Tina Langley, per se, but because I was interested I looked at the boxscore of their opener yesterday and I needed to share it. Look at the turnover columns for both teams. I'm not quite sure I've ever seen a boxscore like it, on the men's or women's side. Four (4) of Washington's starters turned it over more than five times. And what makes it funnier? Just a couple days ago I stumbled on the boxscore from the Washington men's team's opener...and it is equally, if not more, ridiculous. That's the second link. The men's team took 27 more shots than NIU, because of 27 offensive rebounds and 20 NIU TOs. And lost by 7!!! How can you take 75 shots to an opponent's 48 and lose by 7?

https://gohuskies.com/sports/womens-bask...core/20162

https://gohuskies.com/sports/mens-basket...core/20065