(07-23-2021 10:11 AM)elw4796 Wrote:  

(07-23-2021 10:05 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-23-2021 09:42 AM)elw4796 Wrote:  Jordan Majewski, who I consider to be by far the most knowledgeable mid-major basketball writer in America, predicts Rice to finish 8th in CUSA. Full predictions below:

https://staringatthefloorboards.wordpres...n-preview/

Essentially, he has the same picture that many of us do. We know Pera's offense will thrive, but we need evidence that he can coach a top-4 conference defense. I don't fully agree with some of what he writes. I don't agree, for example, that McBride is similar to Evee and Olivari. Around 30% of McBride's shots are 3s versus about 60-65% for Evee and Olivari. I'd imagine McBride will play more of an attacking role, which in turn will help us break down defenses that hug us tight on the perimeter (ideally so will Hutchins). He doesn't think Pierre's addition will be too impactful (which I can understand). No insight into either McDowell or Geron, not unsurprising considering they were not too heavily recruited.

I think Pierre will be the 6th or 7th player off the bench, to spell either Evee or Olivari. I can't see the three of them on the court at the same time. Will Pera go with a 4 guard rotation? Or have Abercrombe and/or Poteat developed sufficiently to be starting power forwards? (From a defensive perspective, we really need to hope this is the case.) Pera raved about McDowell's defensive ability at last night's 3-point Club zoom call. He and Mullins will likely be our two best perimeter defenders. I think we'll match up VERY well against small teams, but with us being so guard-heavy (Evee, Oliveri, Sheffield, McBride, Mullins, Lieppert), with Sheffield being the only one with height and length, we're going to be at a major disadvantage defensively unless Abercrombie and/or Poteat have improved significantly to earn starter minutes.

Having said all that, we have the depth this year to play much more aggressively on defense than we did last year, when we played much of the year with just 8 active players. And where I disagree with Majewski is that I think our inside - outside offense (with Fiedler's superior passing skills) will keep us in games against just about everyone (save for perhaps UH and UT).

BTW, in that Thanksgiving tournament, we drew Evansville in the first round. Pera said the final schedule should be release shortly (as he expect the last outstanding contract to be signed within a day or two).

Good to hear that the HS scouting about McDowell is true. With that being the case, it wouldn't shock me to see him take some minutes from Abercrombie and Sheffield.

Any other non-scheduling insight from the call?

I agree that it's possible that Pierre (and likely McBride) will be our 6th/7th men. But-what's not say that one of them replaces Mullins in the lineup. Elw-do you have any data on Pierre and McBride's defensive efficiency #'s as compared to Mullins?