(03-04-2023 05:33 PM)WIowl Wrote:  Only 14-14 in Division 1 games.

3-7 at home in conference play, too. Yuck.

My most lasting impression of the game was Olivari being visibly moved to tears in his pregame senior day honors. What a great kid and ambassador to Rice. I thanked his dad for four wonderful years and wished him well in his future endeavors.

#thinkingaboutthethingsthatmatter

(03-05-2023 09:04 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  My most lasting impression of the game was Olivari being visibly moved to tears in his pregame senior day honors. What a great kid and ambassador to Rice. I thanked his dad for four wonderful years and wished him well in his future endeavors.

#thinkingaboutthethingsthatmatter

He has another year of eligibility, correct? Is he going to try to play overseas or headed to the portal?

(03-05-2023 09:04 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  My most lasting impression of the game was Olivari being visibly moved to tears in his pregame senior day honors. What a great kid and ambassador to Rice. I thanked his dad for four wonderful years and wished him well in his future endeavors.

#thinkingaboutthethingsthatmatter

Yeah, one of the suckier things about this team stagnating is that these are guys who you wish could see some postseason magic. Olivari puts all of his heart into every game and at least outwardly cares more about Rice than Rice probably deserves (also a good student). Evee decided to play at Rice when he undoubtedly had high-major offers after his first season at VMI and has hit some ridiculous shots in his career. Fiedler is everything that Rice wants in a student-athlete.

(03-05-2023 09:10 AM)RiceOwls2019 Wrote:  

(03-05-2023 09:04 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  My most lasting impression of the game was Olivari being visibly moved to tears in his pregame senior day honors. What a great kid and ambassador to Rice. I thanked his dad for four wonderful years and wished him well in his future endeavors.

#thinkingaboutthethingsthatmatter

He has another year of eligibility, correct? Is he going to try to play overseas or headed to the portal?

I get the sense he will play one more year somewhere else. But he will always consider himself a Rice basketball player - as he should.

Evee and Fiedler should return for a 5th year. Depending on whether Lewis comes back, we currently have 1 (or maybe) 2 open scholarships.

Q is getting contacted (illegally) by a lot of schools to transfer in. I wish/hope he will stay as maybe next year could be the year...

Realistically, is there a reason for Olivari to stay? He stayed four years and got a degree, which is what Rice fans hope for most recruits. He likely has an opportunity to play a role for a high-major (however diminished), which means a greater likelihood of making the tournament (basically every college player's dream).

If I'm advising somebody like Olivari, and I'm being objective rather than a Rice homer, I'm telling him to give it a last shot somewhere else unless he truly believes that we'll be a contender next year. Heck, even as a Rice fan, I want to see guys like him rewarded. Ideally that's in a Rice uniform, but if not, someplace else. That's especially true for somebody like Olivari who embraced Rice for what it is.

(03-06-2023 11:29 AM)elw4796 Wrote:  I'm telling him to give it a last shot somewhere else unless he truly believes that we'll be a contender next year.

This is why we can’t have nice things

Its worked for some, but just some. Peterson, Murphy, Arsalan. Not so for Cashew-man that one killed me-goes to play as the 8th man on Creighton? QMB, Marquis Letcher-Ellis, Obi-not so much. Marcus Evans couldn't stay healthy.

Every time I think about all those transfers and what could have been....

I'm not sure any of those guys are comparable to Olivari, though, because none of them spent four years at Rice. Cashaw is most similar and I agree that it didn't work out for him. But he also chose to stick it out after Rhoades left (despite all of his classmates Evans, Letcher-Ellis, and Lott transferring), went through an awful first year under Pera, and didn't have the luxury of a COVID 5th year. It was either stay for another rebuilding year or try his luck elsewhere. Again, through non-Rice-tinted glasses, as easy a choice as you can get.

Drew Peterson was just named first team all-Pac12.

I actually watched a USC game last week where the commentators predicted he would by PAC-12 Player of the Year???? I couldn't believe it!!!

Do not be shocked if Peterson plays an NBA game at some point. He's completely revamped his shooting motion and between that, his size, and his playmaking ability, there will likely be a team that gives him a look.

(03-07-2023 05:12 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  Do not be shocked if Peterson plays an NBA game at some point. He's completely revamped his shooting motion and between that, his size, and his playmaking ability, there will likely be a team that gives him a look.

Good defender, as well. A better shooting Ben Simmons.

That feels unfair to Simmons, who coming out of college was an elite defender, an elite passer, and had a plus plus handle for his size. I think a better comp might be Austin Reaves in his current form? Decent wing size, good shooter, good defender, and can run the offense.