(11-09-2026 10:17 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  Rice just can't defend the P&R right now. Especially when Townsend is setting the pick. If it keeps up like this, Stanford's going to score 80+.

Yep. Stanford's now up 80-59, with ... 5:51 left in the game (after an Owl 13-2 run). (Yale transfer Townsend has scored 27.)

Final: 73-91.

(FWIW, we outscored Stanford 27-15 over the final 8:34. ? )

I’ve been saying it for decades now, but what’s the point of having D1 athletics if Rice admin doesn’t care enough to get good coaching?

This is obviously much easier said than done, but the AD needs to find a way to get us competitive NIL for our upper G6 conference, and use that to entice good coaches to come. If we can’t compete with North Texas’ resources, it’s time to wrap it up.

(Yesterday 12:11 AM)sammyleadstheway Wrote:  I’ve been saying it for decades now, but what’s the point of having D1 athletics if Rice admin doesn’t care enough to get good coaching?

This is obviously much easier said than done, but the AD needs to find a way to get us competitive NIL for our upper G6 conference, and use that to entice good coaches to come. If we can’t compete with North Texas’ resources, it’s time to wrap it up.

There is only 1 thing they care about is plausible deniability. Death by starvation is still execution. We tried we really did. Every time there was a chance to say ok-we're going to do this, the default is less than real effort.

(Yesterday 08:00 AM)texowl2 Wrote:  

(Yesterday 12:11 AM)sammyleadstheway Wrote:  I’ve been saying it for decades now, but what’s the point of having D1 athletics if Rice admin doesn’t care enough to get good coaching?

This is obviously much easier said than done, but the AD needs to find a way to get us competitive NIL for our upper G6 conference, and use that to entice good coaches to come. If we can’t compete with North Texas’ resources, it’s time to wrap it up.

There is only 1 thing they care about is plausible deniability. Death by starvation is still execution. We tried we really did. Every time there was a chance to say ok-we're going to do this, the default is less than real effort.

I don't think Lanier is a bad coach, but has to be incredibly good to make Rice a top 50 team given our situation. A coach that good will be poached quickly.

The sad part is similarly situated schools - Duke (in football), Northwestern (mostly 1 private donor), etc have been making commitments to athletics Rice never has, and it's actually helped their academic prestige. We may not have as many fans as them but that is only part of the equation.

(Yesterday 01:04 PM)Buho00 Wrote:  

(Yesterday 08:00 AM)texowl2 Wrote:  

(Yesterday 12:11 AM)sammyleadstheway Wrote:  I’ve been saying it for decades now, but what’s the point of having D1 athletics if Rice admin doesn’t care enough to get good coaching?

This is obviously much easier said than done, but the AD needs to find a way to get us competitive NIL for our upper G6 conference, and use that to entice good coaches to come. If we can’t compete with North Texas’ resources, it’s time to wrap it up.

There is only 1 thing they care about is plausible deniability. Death by starvation is still execution. We tried we really did. Every time there was a chance to say ok-we're going to do this, the default is less than real effort.

I don't think Lanier is a bad coach, but has to be incredibly good to make Rice a top 50 team given our situation. A coach that good will be poached quickly.

The sad part is similarly situated schools - Duke (in football), Northwestern (mostly 1 private donor), etc have been making commitments to athletics Rice never has, and it's actually helped their academic prestige. We may not have as many fans as them but that is only part of the equation.

I don’t think any coach could make this roster a top 50 team.

Right now, Kenpom has us at #242. Stanford is at #77, right around Wichita State at #80, and other good but not elite G6 teams.

When I watch Rice playing in the big revenue sports of football and men’s basketball, it’s often worse than just watching overmatched athletes. We’re fouling three point shooters after they release the ball. In football, we are #137 out of 138 in fumbles lost, #133 out of 138 in turnover differential

If Rice is gonna do D1 sports, the athletes should have access to quality coaches, just like the students have access to quality professors. Whatever we’re doing in women’s basketball and volleyball to keep Edmonds and Volpe happy needs to be extended to the other sports.
Right now, Rice men’s basketball is probably a less attractive job than Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, unless further investment is promised.

I did not get to see the game but read the stat sheet and box score this morning. A few items raised some questions (and comments) in my mind....

Jacob Dar played only 12 minutes. Injury or Coach response to perceived lack of effort, mismatch or something else? Lanier's comments about he no longer has a starting line up and each game has to be "earned" is a bit concerning 3 games into the season.

Dallas Hobbs is remarkably consistent. 3 turnovers each for the first three games. Turnovers were a challenge for him last year when he wasn't injured.

The stats say the Owls exhibited horrible 3 point shooting in the first half and mediocre shooting in the 2nd half. Was it lack of open shots or just poor marksmanship?

Stanford was 20 for 21 from the Charity stripe while the Owls shot 77% (better than the game against ETAM - 70%, but the team needs to be at an 80% clip to mitigate against their other offensive deficiencies).

I don't have a handle on the team substitution pattern yet. That may change as the Owls get closer to Conference play. My guess is the rotation will get tighter.

Bodey Howell's shooting is stone cold so far this young season, below 19%. That should change because I believe he is a much better shooter than his current statistics show, but he and Eternity were both 1-8 from the field against the Cardinal. Bodey is averaging 13 minutes a game so he has to be a much stronger scorer when he is on the court.

Ben Braun used to say that there will be times when offense stagnates or your shots won't fall, but there is no excuse for not executing on defense because that is a matter of discipline and effort. I hope we are not seeing a lack of energy and effort on the defensive side of the ball.

I am not one to call for a Coach to lose their job if the team loses a number of games, but I really judge their performance on how the individual players and team improves during the course of the season and from year to year. Two years ago, Jacob Dar showed remarkable growth under the coaching staff but I have not seen many other players develop. I am really hoping to see growth in Eternity, Carroll, Thompson, Oladokun and Howell throughout 2026-2027 season. That is how I will end up judging coach Lanier/s performance.

Rice men's basketball is an almost impossible job, and I think that Lanier is doing as well as anyone could. Obstacles:

1. Rice historically is one of the worst men's basketball programs in the nation, having spent 56 seasons without a single trip to the NCAA Tournament;

2. Rice's facilities, especially for a program in a top-12 basketball conference, are appalling;

3. The academic requirements to get into Rice, and to stay academically eligible, are no joke;

4. The sparse attendance and visible lack of support from the student body take away a good portion of the "home court advantage"; and

5. The likely small amount of NIL funds make things almost impossible to garner and retain players who otherwise would come to Rice.

Changing coaches would be akin to rearranging chairs on the deck of the Titanic.