Interesting game. UAB easily looks like the best team in CUSA, but they're not (at least on paper) as bad of a matchup for us as North Texas was. UNT's MO was stopping the 3. They were 30th in the country in 3PT defense but 327th in rim defense. Meanwhile, UAB is only 184th in 3PT defense. While they're not as good defensively on the perimeter, UAB is much better defending the paint and better defending in transition. While we won't be able to run on UAB, and their length will be super disruptive, theoretically we should get more open looks today.

We're still going to need a miracle to win this one, though. UAB should score 80+ on us with ease.

I think we match up better with ANY team after having had a full week to recover from Covid.

5-4 Rice at the U16. Need more aggression from Fiedler. Him being this timid inside makes us even more perimeter-oriented, which we can't afford. 2-3 opportunities early for him to go back up with the ball, but he never even looked at the basket. UAB doing well to smother us on the perimeter, but the looks we've missed from 3 (Mullins, Evee, and Olivari) were better than what we got against UNT. On the other side, we need to be tighter. UAB's gotten a few open looks that they've just missed.

13-12 UAB at the U12. Really good energy. Still way too many uncontested UAB looks, but we look better on the offensive end. Concerted effort to get Poteat involved (especially with Jemison on the bench), which is pretty interesting considering that Fiedler was exclusively a conduit in his 5 minutes.

Two fouls now on Poteat.

Fiedler has to protect the ball better. We look much better overall though, need some of our 3s to fall to steal this one.

The game is free on YouTube for anyone to watch.

https://twitter.com/stadium/status/14799...56037?s=21

25-20 UAB. Dangerous game we're playing. UAB wants to live in the midrange and we're giving them way too much space there. On the flip side, we just don't look as good with Fiedler on the floor. I feel like I'm picking on him, but everything just looked much smoother with Poteat. Kind of moot for the time being, because Poteat has 2 fouls, but Fiedler needs to assert himself more on offense.

UAB briefly into a 2-1-2 zone. Don't understand that from them. Our personnel is much better suited to attack zones.

29-27 UAB. Interestingly, Pera going back to Poteat with 2 fouls. Not necessarily the wrong move, but Pera has always struck me as a fan of the "two foul autobench."

Elw: thank you for your constant love and attention given to Rice hoops. These game threads don't bring the same controversy as other topics so I imagine you might feel lonely, but know that I and others appreciate the insight that you provide. Kayjay too - you guys rock!

Ditto

Halftime. 39-34 UAB.

Kind of disheartening to think that we didn't look terrible defensively and UAB is still on pace for 78. On the flip side, considering we haven't shot it too well, being down 5 is probably fine. Good job by Fiedler a couple times that half attacking Jemison. Need that from him. I know we need Olivari to score the ball, but he's pressing too hard and hasn't improved his midrange and paint scoring enough to be effective when the 3s aren't falling. Once again pleasantly surprised by Pierre's touch from inside the arc (both driving and in the midrange). His reputation was as a shooter, but he's probably the guy whose hands the ball should be in when the shot clock is winding down.

Also, should be noted, UAB's transition defense is hilariously good. Awesome mix of sprinting back, communication, and staying disciplined.

Following Rice basketball would be almost impossible without elw4796.

Some of the breakdowns from this team are unbelievable. Jemison has the ball 15 feet from the basket backing down Fiedler (not even in the paint), and somebody (I didn't see a number) helps (late) leaving Buffen under the basket with nobody within 5 feet. UAB came out in a 1-3-1 zone but abandoned it after one possession. Two open 3s missed by Evee and Pierre. Not a disastrous start to the half, but it's a 7-point game when it could be a 3-point game.

43-36 UAB.

You gotta bench Fiedler. He's a negative in every facet of the game right now. Can't defend Jemison, isn't scoring enough, and just isn't making winning plays. Looks like he's playing with zero confidence.

Rice TO. 48-38 UAB. Really sloppy start to the 2nd half on both ends.

UAB 50-40. Poteat at the line for 2 FTs after the break. We're slowly falling apart defensively. I really think Sheffield should get 12+ minutes this half. Not like we're getting super stellar guard play from anybody on the court right now. At the very least, Sheffield's length might be more challenging to UAB's wings.

Love the offensive execution. But we can't quite seem to string together enough stops. 55-49 UAB after a sweet Pierre spin and floater.

57-53 UAB at the U12. UAB at the line for a FT out of the TO. Considering the opponent, easily one of the best stretches of execution on offense of the season. Night and day difference with Poteat in the game.

Buffen is such a mismatch. Stronger and/or bigger than everybody who we can guard him with. Don't know why UAB isn't going to him more.