1) Rice (6-3 RPI 19)-SOS is off the charts and Harris is playing like a machine. SMU game was closer than anticipated but they held on in the end.

2) UTEP (9-2 RPI 81)-The first of the 4 or 5 WAC favorites to get a road win. Granted it was against Boise who has also lost to Idaho State and SE Louisiana at home but it still is always nice to get a road win.

3) Hawaii (8-2 RPI 42)-Tough to start the year with the Fresno/Nevada trip. Hawaii dominated both games until the final 10 minutes.

4) Nevada (8-3 RPI 66)-Held off Hawaii but did not look pretty doing it. The guard play is going to haunt the Pack all year.

5) Fresno St (7-3 RPI 121)-Showed a lot of guts to come back and beat Hawaii and then beat a pesky SJSU team

6) SMU (5-4 RPI 147)-Took Rice to OT in overtime in Houston and then beat Tulsa in Tulsa. Very dangerous team.

7) LaTech (6-5 RPI 180)-Also split the Tulsa/Rice trip. Got throttled by Rice.

8) SJSU (3-8 RPI 264)-Not in last based on the fact that they haven't lost a conference home game yet. Didn't fare too well on the Fresno/Nevada trip but not many teams will.

9) Tulsa (2-8 RPI 271)-Didn't get a win but actually looked improved this week. Held a 2nd half lead on Oklahoma and took SMU to OT.

10) Boise St (5-6 RPI 304)-Do they have any football players they can bring in to patrol the paint now that Ellis is out for a while? Could be a long year in Boise.

:D

It's still wa-a-ay too early for anything but cautious optimism (for Rice fans, it's usually a question of *when*, not if, the big ol' pratfall will happen). But this is sure nice while it lasts!

I'd like nothing more than for Rice to make the tourney and rack up a couple-few NCAA credits. I think it'd be a fine going-away present, don't you?

Of course, like I said, this is borderline crazy-talk for an Owl fan. :laugh:

:D

:cuss:

:mad:

:bang:

Well, maybe last night's large kick in the pants will inspire the Owls to get their road act together. Don't think I'll be holding my breath on that one, though.

Congrats on the win, DFWMINER.

Thanks!

The only thing is, I know UTEP still has to play in Houston and remember (I was there last year) how bad WE looked at Rice last time! :eek:

Yeah, well. :crying:

Seriously, it should be a good game when y'all come to Houston... I know some Owls are looking to show off Autry's nifty acoustics for your announcers! I do hope Rice can get our stuff together, though. The pattern of road collapse is not encouraging... seems like we held tighter with U. Conn & Syracuse than with y'all.

Of course, there's also the possibility that y'all turn out to be better than either of those teams, and are simply underrated. That'd work too. :D Well, as long as y'all flop out a little at Rice. :laugh: I hope the WAC gets multiple bids this year -- whether or not the Owls are one of 'em, though of course I'm especially hoping we are.