Rice Owls
When: Wednesday November 22nd, 7:45 PM MT Tip-off
Line: KenPom, The Lobos are favored by 9 Points
The Owls Breakdown
Rice has made the jump from their longtime home in C-USA for new opportunities in the American. With the move, the Owls bring a squad with several key returners, top high school recruits & impact transfers. Seventh year head coach Scott Pera continues to put talented squads on the floor in Houston.
As the program posted many mid-standing finishes over the years in an evolving Conference-USA. Which ranked 10th in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency margin last season and proved to be an absolute dog fight in conference play. But with new horizons come new expectations and Scott Pera’s program is having growing pains in their first couple of weeks of the season.
As the Owls are 1-2 through three games, after falling to No. 19 Texas, 80-64, on the road last Wednesday in Austin. Currently being led by Gardner-Webb transfer Anthony Selden, who didn’t shy away from the lights in a Big 12 arena in that clash. Dropping 17 points on the Longhorns and leading the team in scoring with 13.0 PPG, while shooting 42.9% from deep, 83.3% from the line & 56.5% from the floor overall.
The Owls also did very well this offseason in keeping their roster together. Only losing leading scorer Quincy Olivari to the Big East, other than that all four remaining starters returned to Houston this offseason.
Along with super sophomore Makhi Mason, who had an impactful freshman season as a three-level scorer. Coach Pera also returned his floor general from last season in senior Travis Evee, who averaged 15.6 PPG last season but has struggled in the Owls’ first three games. Averaging 10.7 PPG, while shooting just 27.3% from the floor & an awful 20% from deep on five attempts a game. When Evee figures his shot out this season Rice is immediately a better team.
Though maybe the most important piece to the Owls’ offensive creation is 6’11 230 big man Max Fiedler. The senior forward leads his team with 5.3 APG, while posting only 2.0 turnovers a game. This while chipping in 12.0 PPG & grabbing 8.0 RPG (another team-high). The all-CUSA big man could be the difference maker for the Owls, given the Lobos’ track record of frontcourt defense of late.
Coach Pera has a Owl squad with plenty of size and length, an issue at times for New Mexico as they boast a small ball lineup. If Rice gets a bench boost from returning starter Cameron Sheffield, who missed the team’s first three games of the season with a foot injury. Defend the Lobos & knock down their three-point attempts, they can enjoy their Thanksgiving meal with the upset W.
Prediction: New Mexico 85, Rice 76
We’ll stick with the KenPom predicted 9 point advantage the Lobos have heading into this one on Wednesday. The Owls could prove tricky to handle for New Mexico, especially given the dangerous offensive weapon & catalyst Max Fiedler can be in the post.
This may be a closer contest but Rice hasn’t necessarily figured out their offensive attack thus far in the season. I see the Lobos with the scoring advantage at the moment and that could be enough to secure the win in day two of the Ball Dawgs Classic.
Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.