(10-20-2026 11:46 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  We got two votes in the preseason top 25 AP poll, which I guess ties us for 36th overall. Rice and Fairfield (also 2 votes) were the only non P5 conference teams to receive a vote (I include the Big East along with the SEC, Big 10, Acc and Big 12 as power conferences in women’s basketball).

The Big East is anything but a power conference in WBB. There's UConn and nobody else.

Villanova got 5 votes

(10-20-2026 11:46 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  We got two votes in the preseason top 25 AP poll, which I guess ties us for 36th overall. Rice and Fairfield (also 2 votes) were the only non P5 conference teams to receive a vote (I include the Big East along with the SEC, Big 10, Acc and Big 12 as power conferences in women’s basketball).

I saw the ESPN alert that the top 25 was out.

I can’t believe that ESPN (for all sports) doesn’t report “also receiving votes” for any of their top 25 college poll reports they put out (for any sports) this year.

Thank you for posting that we got some votes!

(10-15-2026 05:45 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-09-2026 04:23 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Have you heard Hazelton is starting for sure? I’ve heard there is a lot of competition for the one starting spot (with Adams and Alexis), we could go smaller with the fifth starter.

I’m fine with the all conference first team. Turner was like 2nd in the conference in scoring and I guess they wanted to have someone from USF there. I would have put USF ahead of UTSA (who has lost one of their best transfers already to a season ending injury. USF brought in a ton of big time transfers.

lol I meant Hilbreth (the Swedish transfer). If Hazelton is starting or getting the lions share of minutes we're not going to be as good as we expect to be. She cannot defend the post without fouling and she doesn't have good hands. She did improve as last season progressed, but she's simply a backup giving our starter a breather, IMO.

Anything to read between the lines as to why we stuck with 14 players instead of filling that last roster spot this year?

I’m sure we tried. We probably just couldn’t close the door on any players we wanted.

It won’t matter if we stay healthy. But that’s not always easy to do.

At the half, Rice up 48-20 vs Eastern New Mexico.

(10-27-2026 07:43 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  At the half, Rice up 48-20 vs Eastern New Mexico.

85-43 final.

Pretty solid effort (although ENMU wasn’t that good and only suited up seven players). Everyone who played looked good.

The standouts to me were Alexis, Battison and the Alabama transfer Douglas.

We started our normal four and then Hazelton at center (unfortunately the Iowa State transfer is now injured and was wearing a boot so she’s out for a few games at least). Douglas will possibly start if we don’t go with Hazelton as a trio of Douglas, Alexis and Adams gives us plenty of size.

The only negative was rebounding

Rebounding is going to be a major issue. Other than that, the defense, especially with our starting four and Blackmon, is absolutely tenacious. Douglas certainly can shoot, but her defense was lacking. IMO, Hazelton is a waste of time. Lindsey gave her significant playing time yesterday, but same old, same old. She can't play defense without fouling and she has no hands whatsoever. Trying to pass the ball in to her almost always results in a turnover...and she can't rebound despite her height. I also wasn't particularly impressed with Guinn, who also got considerable playing time (much more than Blackmon).

(10-28-2026 06:26 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Rebounding is going to be a major issue. Other than that, the defense, especially with our starting four and Blackmon, is absolutely tenacious. Douglas certainly can shoot, but her defense was lacking. IMO, Hazelton is a waste of time. Lindsey gave her significant playing time yesterday, but same old, same old. She can't play defense without fouling and she has no hands whatsoever. Trying to pass the ball in to her almost always results in a turnover...and she can't rebound despite her height. I also wasn't particularly impressed with Guinn, who also got considerable playing time (much more than Blackmon).

I assume you have already told Myah your opinion to her face. That she is "a waste of time." Hopefully when you told her you made sure her parents were standing beside her so they could hear what you said to her. Also, hopefully Coach Edmonds was there to hear it.

Let's just say that the comments about "waste of time" have been noticed...good news though, it's not the first time.

I know it's a double header but I wish the women's opener didn't start so late.

Is the Swedish player going to play this year?

(10-29-2026 10:25 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Is the Swedish player going to play this year?

Still recovering from February surgery. However, the transfer from Iowa State, who's currently wearing a boot, will hopefully be available shortly.

(10-29-2026 10:27 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-29-2026 10:25 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Is the Swedish player going to play this year?

Still recovering from February surgery. However, the transfer from Iowa State, who's currently wearing a boot, will hopefully be available shortly.

Thanks, Walt.

(10-29-2026 10:25 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Is the Swedish player going to play this year?

She said that she is ready to play but she is still waiting on clearance.

(10-29-2026 09:17 AM)Houston Owl 2 Wrote:  Let's just say that the comments about "waste of time" have been noticed...good news though, it's not the first time.

I've got to say, I sure am glad social media wasn't around when I was college-aged or younger.

(10-30-2026 07:12 AM)ArmChairOwl Wrote:  

(10-29-2026 09:17 AM)Houston Owl 2 Wrote:  Let's just say that the comments about "waste of time" have been noticed...good news though, it's not the first time.

I've got to say, I sure am glad social media wasn't around when I was college-aged or younger.

As some of you already know, it is quite challenging being a student-athlete at Rice trying to balance Rice academics with time outside the classroom preparing for games. Indeed, it is difficult enough without having someone label you as "a waste of time."

Please take some time and "like" Myah's happy birthday message.

Link: https://x.com/RiceWBB/status/21169187965...oGQ_g&s=20

We can be critical of Walt's framing...but the opinion isn't necessarily wrong. We're trying to be a top-25 team and our front court is a massive question mark. Hazelton hasn't consistently shown that she can defend without fouling or do much on offense outside of catching and trying to score. I don't think the world is falling if somebody acknowledges that and questions whether we can be as good a team as we want with her getting 20+ minutes a game. At the same time, all of her critics (including me) are hoping we're dead wrong.

(11-01-2026 01:12 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  We can be critical of Walt's framing...but the opinion isn't necessarily wrong. We're trying to be a top-25 team and our front court is a massive question mark. Hazelton hasn't consistently shown that she can defend without fouling or do much on offense outside of catching and trying to score. I don't think the world is falling if somebody acknowledges that and questions whether we can be as good a team as we want with her getting 20+ minutes a game. At the same time, all of her critics (including me) are hoping we're dead wrong.

Correct. Good way of putting it.