50-46 SHSU. Less good. 24 pts for SHSU's Nutall on 10-15.

After taking a 46-41 lead, the Owls are taking the next several minutes off. 50-46 SHSt.

55-46 SHSU. Less, less good. Comedic defending. 1.32 PPP for SHSU in the second half.

Look, SHSU has played exclusively good teams this year, which is why they're winless against D1 teams and haven't come within 16 points. But this is a disgraceful second half defensive performance. SHSU is at *1.48* PPP. 14-19 on FGs, 6-7 on 3PTs.

67-53 with 7:42 left and I'm not seeing enough execution on offense for us to come back.

3+ minute siesta by the Owls. These have been way too common over the last several seasons.

SHSU scoring on every...single...possession. Now up to *1.50* PPP in the second half.

74-61 SHSU with 5:19 left. SHSU at 17-24, 7-10 in the second half.

77-63 SHSU at the under 4 TO. I've been complimentary of Olivari all year, but he cannot have 0 assists in a game. He's become our biggest offensive weapon which means teams are paying him extra attention. That means he HAS to sometimes be willing to make an extra pass.

Sam Houston State was #298 in Pomeroy.

82-69 SHSU final. SHSU isn't good, but they're probably better than their KenPom rank. Their schedule has been the second hardest in the country, so they've seen much better teams than we have.

Honestly, just too many times we've seen this kind of defensive performance from a Pera team. I'll give him more of a pass with this one just because there has been a tiny bit of promise earlier on. But a couple more defensive performances like this and we're gonna have to ask the questions again.

Massey had Rice losing by 1 (75-74). RealTimeRPI had Rice losing by 27 (86-59).

(12-19-2020 04:49 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  82-69 SHSU final. SHSU isn't good, but they're probably better than their KenPom rank. Their schedule has been the second hardest in the country, so they've seen much better teams than we have.

Honestly, just too many times we've seen this kind of defensive performance from a Pera team. I'll give him more of a pass with this one just because there has been a tiny bit of promise earlier on. But a couple more defensive performances like this and we're gonna have to ask the questions again.

If you don't have overwhelming talent, good defense relies on effort and playing as a cohesive unit. Effort can be encouraged but is difficult to create without willingness. But, playing as a cohesive unit takes more than a few games - to produce results, it often takes more than one season. With Rice's basketball program being little more than a minor league feeder, it is almost impossible to establish any kind of continuity. That's an issue far beyond the control of one coach.

Interesting information here

SHSU started the game with just eight players as six players & four staff literally got cleared from COVID protocols during the game

https://twitter.com/philforte13/status/1...68707?s=21

(12-20-2020 01:15 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  Interesting information here

SHSU started the game with just eight players as six players & four staff literally got cleared from COVID protocols during the game

https://twitter.com/philforte13/status/1...68707?s=21

That explains the end of game. I noted on the stat tracker that SHSU was still playing its starters in the last minute or so when the game was basically over. So difficult to know these days whether coaches are just trying to get as many reps as possible or if kids just aren't available because of COVID.

Owls have not done well against teams with limited rosters due to Covid. See football - UAB and men’s basketball - SHSt.