(03-15-2021 10:53 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  Virginia, Florida and USC had many appearances on national TV, playing important games against top quality opposition. Next season, when fans return, those teams will play games in loud, boisterous, packed arenas.

Compare that with a Rice Thursday night home game against FIU - in front of 100s in a glorified high school gym. And, after the game, the players will have to go back to their apartments to study for hours because, at Rice, they actually have to take a legitimate course load.

It's not all about "winning".

I get those points. But I also think there is a pretty strong argument that Rice can draw better crowds with "winning" and the OOC schedule will improve some with "winning". Obviously we aren't going to create an environment similar to a competitive P-5 (or comparable) basketball program within the next few years. But driving this point home to some of the student athletes might help keep someone on campus. Probably not, but gotta try, right?!?