Quick Preview (sorry title should say Nov. 16):

Southern is 1-1. They beat Tulane (KP 145) and lost to Louisville by 12 (KP 51). Another iffy matchup for our offense, but a good one at this stage. Sean Woods's teams typically defend the three point line well, and his team this year has done just that. Tulane and Louisville combined shot just 25.5% from 3. But largely due to a lack of size, they've really struggled defending inside. So beyond just making our 3s, the key will be whether we can attack the paint and force their defense to collapse. Would not be a surprise if they're willing to let us try to beat them in the paint - they know that if we shoot sub-30% from 3, they can win regardless of what we do around the basket. On the offensive side, Woods's philosophy is counter to modern analytics in that his teams take a lot of 2PT jumpers. 31.3% of shots in 2019-20 (69th in the country), 35.2% of shots in 2020-2021 (27th in the country), 36.2% of shots so far in 2021-2022 (30th in the country). And while they don't shoot 2PT jumpers poorly, they probably don't shoot them well enough to justify the volume. His teams also typically play very fast in transition, although they haven't run as much this year as they usually do (quite possibly because it seems like they only have 6-7 playable bodies).

Starting lineup will likely be:

5 - Damien Sears (6-7, Senior)... 5.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5-17 FG, 6 TOs
4 - Tyrone Lyons (6-7, Junior)... 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds,
3 - Terrell Williams (6-6, Soph)... 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2-12 FG
2 - PJ Byrd (6-1, Junior)... 10.5 points, 5.0 assists, 4-7 3PT (very possibly somebody who could have ended up at Rice, because we recruited him and he committed to play for Mike Rhoades at VCU)
1 - Jayden Sadler (6-1, Senior)... 11.5 points, 7.5 assists

Really the only other notable contributor is Brion Whitley (also a former Rice target), who will come off the bench and try to shoot whenever he touches the ball. He's taken 21 shots, 15 of them from three, and has 0 assists.

I mentioned this on the conference board but Damien Sears is in his 6th year of college basketball and fifth team (two years at Jacksonville - one was a redshirt, then a year at Western Oklahoma State, a year at St. John's, and then a year at Nicholls State). That's college basketball for you these days.

Even if we don't have Mullins or Olivari (and we need to get him healthy instead of trotting him out if he's not 100 percent), we still need a 2-0 week. Louisville is definitely gettable right now as their head coach is serving a 6-game suspension, and they're having all sorts of issues with the NCAA. Furman beat Louisville in OT at their place, which was Louisville's first November home loss since 1972. Furman is a solid team, but still that's an indication Louisville is not playing great basketball yet. So even though Southern played them fairly tough, it's not necessarily saying that Southern is ready to challenge for a SWAC title.

Do they have alcohol at the bball games? I might go tonight, but wanna make sure I can get my drank on if I do lol

(11-16-2021 01:30 PM)BSWBRice Wrote:  Do they have alcohol at the bball games? I might go tonight, but wanna make sure I can get my drank on if I do lol

To my knowledge, only in the Trauber Suite, with door Nazis to prevent one from taking their beverage to the seats.

At most games in recent years, you’d be lucky to find an open concession stand.

The bottom floor concession stand (behind the east stands) has always been open to every game I've been to. The lines can be a bit long for some of the more well-attended games. Tonight shouldn't be a problem is my guess.

Yes, the 2nd floor concession stands aren't always open, but that's the only accurate thing you can say about closed stands.

eta - sorry got my directions confused. 1st floor concessions are on the east side. 2nd floor ones (there are 2 of them) are on the west side.

(11-16-2021 01:44 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 01:30 PM)BSWBRice Wrote:  Do they have alcohol at the bball games? I might go tonight, but wanna make sure I can get my drank on if I do lol

To my knowledge, only in the Trauber Suite, with door Nazis to prevent one from taking their beverage to the seats.

At most games in recent years, you’d be lucky to find an open concession stand.

The concession stands at Tudor/Autry have served beer during the past several seasons, starting the same time as the upgrade of the arena. I can’t vouch for the 2021/22 season.

They sell beer at all concessions.

Thanks for the replies!

I am looking forward to see the continued development of Cam Sheffield as he gets more playing time. I thought he and Max were the only bright spots in the UH game. I hope the earns 20 to 25 minutes tonight and plays well.

(11-16-2021 01:49 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  They sell beer at all concessions.

Have you bought beer there recently? The university has been using COVID as a lame excuse to stop beer sales at games. Have they started selling it again?

They had beer and wine at the football game I attended

Tonight is a must-win. With or without Olivari and Mullens. Gotta get this one.

(11-16-2021 01:47 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  The bottom floor concession stand (behind the west stands) has always been open to every game I've been to. The lines can be a bit long for some of the more well-attended games. Tonight shouldn't be a problem is my guess.

Yes, the 2nd floor concession stands aren't always open, but that's the only accurate thing you can say about closed stands.

Aren't always open = almost never open and if it was open, your choices consisted of soft drinks, water and stale popcorn, maybe. And I never cared to miss almost an entire half to walk to the other side of the building and stand in line because the concessions were under staffed in true Rice fashion.

What does the University have against those of us sitting on the west side of Tudor. Surely a task force should be established.

Mullins back in the starting lineup (no Olivari). Evee, Mullins, Pierre, Sheffield and Fiedler.

Olivari in street clothes - out indefinitely.

(11-16-2021 05:04 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(11-16-2021 01:47 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  The bottom floor concession stand (behind the west stands) has always been open to every game I've been to. The lines can be a bit long for some of the more well-attended games. Tonight shouldn't be a problem is my guess.

Yes, the 2nd floor concession stands aren't always open, but that's the only accurate thing you can say about closed stands.

Aren't always open = almost never open and if it was open, your choices consisted of soft drinks, water and stale popcorn, maybe. And I never cared to miss almost an entire half to walk to the other side of the building and stand in line because the concessions were under staffed in true Rice fashion.

What does the University have against those of us sitting on the west side of Tudor. Surely a task force should be established.

The west side has the upper concessions stand for most weekend games I’ve attended.

I haven’t purchased beer in the stadium this year so Covid rules might have changed things, but previous years you could buy and take it anywhere.

Fiedler needs to be stronger and more active down low. He's got three inches on any player Southern can guard him with. This should be a game in which he easily scores 15+.

Yeah, not impressed with Fiedler's start. Poteat can dominate inside too if he gets any minutes.

Owls up 11-6 at the 1st break thanks to 3 of 3 in 3-pointers. But they aren't playing super sharp.

11-6 Rice. Mostly good so far, but even in a game in which we're playing well, you can see why we struggled so much against Houston. Even Southern, not a bad defensive team but also not a good one, is smothering us when we get into the paint. Nobody who's driving is beating his man.

20-10 Rice at the 2nd break. Rice off to a very hot shooting start.

Not sure I agree with elw's last comment. Mullins had a nice drive and scoop for a score. Fiedler did score a few in the last 4 minute stretch. But Southern not shooting well. This game could be close if their shots start going in.

20-10 Rice. Even though we've still struggled driving the ball, Southern hasn't scrambled well enough on defense. They're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Either let Fielder beat you 1v1 in the paint or crush him, which allows him to pass, his best skill. They're just going to have to pray that we stop making shots.