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Rice Football: 2020 Defense leads nation in returning production

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The Rice Football defense was much improved in 2019, but the Owls could be one of the fiercest units in the nation in 2020.

On paper, the 2020 Rice football defense looks as formidable as it’s been in a long time. When Mike Bloomgren arrived at South Main, he spoke of Intellectual Brutality, of hitting so hard that others knew what was coming and shrank away.

Rice made a jump in 2019, elevating themselves from near the bottom of C-USA to No. 6 in scoring defense. At the same, they got stingier. The Owls finished fifth in the conference in three-and-out percentage and 57th in the nation in stop rate, better than Oklahoma, Texas, Stanford and Houston, among others.

We knew that defense was coming back, almost in its entirety. This week, Bill Connelly of ESPN put that into greater clarity. Not only will Rice have plenty of returning playmakers on defense next season, they’ll have the most returning production in the nation.

The only departing starter who played significant snaps for Rice last season was defensive tackle Myles Adams. Rice will replace him with De’Braylon Carroll, a rising star who was named to the Pro Football Focus all-freshman team as a rotation player behind Adams.

Anthony Ekpe will be missed as well, but injuries kept him off the field for much of 2019. In his place, guys like Kenneth Orji and other younger players got valuable reps.

Experience isn’t everything. Returning bad defensive players leads to bad defenses more often than not. But Rice has a host of talented defenders, with more help on the way. The 2020 Rice defense is going to be good and is already starting ahead of the game. For now, it’s one more reason to be optimistic about what the Owls can achieve next fall.

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Rice Basketball: Owls drop another heartbreaker, this time to UTSA

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Rice basketball made plenty of big shots, but missed their last attempt. That lead to a crushing last-second UTSA layup and the Owls’ fifth straight loss.

Trailing 13-5 after barely five minutes of game time had elapsed, Rice basketball was on the verge of another lopsided defeated. Not only did the Owls manage to avoid that pain, they thundered back from the eight-point deficit, outscoring UTSA 14-2 over the next five minutes to take a 19-15 lead. Game on.

The energy and strain Rice exuded in their narrow loss to UTEP on Thursday galvanized this team to keep fighting. They did not execute perfectly, but their will to battle through eight lead changes was noticeably different from where they’d been even a week ago.

It was Rice that jumped out to the double-digit lead in this one. Josh Parrish pushed the lead to 10 midway through the first half. Trey Murphy made it 11 with a three, one of a season-high 18 three-point baskets the Owls made during the contest. Rice hadn’t made that many threes in a game since November 29, 2013, an overtime loss to Rider.

Like the Rider game, the Owls’ hot hand eventually cooled. With the game tied at 88, Rice had the ball and a chance for the go-ahead bucket. Not only did they miss the shot, UTSA corralled the ball and dashed down the court for a layup of their own. A halfcourt heave fell short, dooming Rice to another strenuous defeat. Midway through C-USA play, Rice sits in last place.

Final Stats

Player of the Game – Ako Adams

Ako Adams had 21 points, 18 of which came from six three-pointers. The senior’s final trey pushed his career total to 201, officially the most in school history. His timely shots, three assists and four rebounds continued to will Rice back into the game. Thanks to Adams’ resolve, this was a slugfest that Rice very much could have won.

Up Next

Rice basketball will get a brief respite after playing five games in the last 10 games. They won’t play on Thursday, returning to the court for the next time on Saturday, Feb. 1 at Tudor Fieldhouse against North Texas.

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Rice Basketball 2020 Game Preview: Men and Women vs UTSA

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Both Rice Basketball squads are in the midst of streaks. The men hope to break off a losing rut against UTSA while the women aim for yet another C-USA win.

Rice Basketball

Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Tudor Fieldhouse
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: ESPN+ (If you don’t have ESPN+ you can access a free trial or subscribe here.)

UTSA 9-11 (3-4), Last 5 (3-2)

  • 89-73 (W) vs LA Tech
  • 80-70 (W) vs Southern Miss
  • 80-70 OT (L) at UTEP
  • 86-70 (W) vs UTEP
  • 98-78 (L) at North Texas

Rice 9-12 (1-7), Last 5 (1-4)

  • 92-78 (W) vs FIU
  • 72-56 (L) at LA Tech
  • 81-68 (L) at Southern Miss
  • 79-59 (L) at North Texas
  • 72-64 (L) vs UTEP

UTSA statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Jhivvan Jackson – 26.4 per game
  • Rebounds | Byron Frohnen – 7.1 per game
  • Assists | Keaton Wallace – 3.3 per game
  • Steals | Keaton Wallace – 1.6 per game
  • Blocks | Jacob Germany – 1.0 per game

Rice keys to victory

The key to victory against UTEP was stopping star big man Bryson Williams. The Owls did that and found themselves in position to close out down the stretch. The formula will be similar on Saturday against C-USA leading scorer Jhivvan Jackson.

He’s a completely different kind of player than Williams, but Rice hadn’t really shut down a physical inside presence until they found a way to contain Williams. They also held UTEP at bay from distance. The bottom line remains clear: if Rice can play that level of defense, they’ll have a shot.

Rice Women's Basketball

Time: 2:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Convocation Center
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: ESPN+ (If you don’t have ESPN+ you can access a free trial or subscribe here.)

UTSA 6-11 (2-4), Last 5 (2-3)

  • 60-45 (W) vs FIU
  • 82-73 (W) at LA Tech
  • 82-65 (L) at Southern Miss
  • 94-54 (L) at UTEP
  • 79-55 (L) vs North Texas

Rice 11-6 (7-0), Last 5 (5-0)

  • 78-69 (W) at FAU
  • 68-47 (W) at FIU
  • 60-47 (W) vs Louisiana Tech
  • 75-64 (W) vs Southern Miss
  • 69-61 (W) at UTEP

UTSA statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Mikayla Woods – 14.8 per game
  • Rebounds | Timea Tooth – 6.4 per game
  • Assists | Karrington Donald – 2.6 per game
  • Steals | Mikayla Woods – 2.2 per game
  • Blocks | Timea Tooth – 1.1 per game

Rice keys to victory

The Rice women’s basketball defense has continued to be the anchor of their team. Erica Ogwumike’s return to the court on Thursday was a huge boost as well. UTSA ranks 11th in C-USA in scoring offense and would have trouble getting points on the board even without the like of Nancy Mulkey patrolling the paint. If the defense shows up, Rice should roll.

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Rice Basketball 2020: Late-game lapses cost Rice against UTEP

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With the result hanging in the balance, late-game miscues cost Rice basketball a shot at their second win in conference play.

There was a lot to like from Rice basketball in the Owls’ most recent outing against UTEP. They held C-USA No. 2 scorer Bryson Williams to three points, kept the Miners to a woeful 5-of-28 from three and led late into the second half. It was a competitive game from start to finish, but Rice couldn’t close it out, falling to 1-7 in C-USA play.

Both teams started slow, missing a combined seven consecutive shots from the field before the scoring started. They traded narrow leads throughout the first half with neither side leading by more than two possessions. Up four with three minutes to play prior to the break, Rice allowed UTEP to close the half on a 6-0 run, narrowly preventing their first halftime lead since January 11 at FIU, their only prior C-USA win.

Ako Adams knocked down a three to start the second half, continuing a back-and-forth which lasted until the final minutes. Rice had done the big things right, executing their gameplan almost flawlessly. But they didn’t do the small things. That’s what ultimately cost them a very winnable game. Rice had not one, but two instances in the final moments of the game in which they failed to rebound off a missed free throw.

The first miscue gave UTEP a free possession which ended in two successful free throws, a three-point swing after the initial free throw to start the sequence. The second lapse allowed UTEP guard Daryl Edwards to secure a rebound off the front end of a 1-and-1, finishing with a layup and two free points after failing to convert from the line.

Head Coach Scott Pera was almost at a loss for words. “Those are plays you count on,” he said. That adds up.” UTEP’s largest lead of the day — 8 points — came with eight seconds to play in regulation. Most, if not all of that differential, can be explained by mental lapses from the Owls.

“They made winning plays,” Pera said. An apt summary of a game Rice basketball watched get away from them on their home court.

Final Stats

Player of the Game – Robert Martin

Robert Martin hadn’t played since January 4 against Western Kentucky. He was the catalyst Rice needed off the bench in his return to action. He made his first four shots, including three from distance. “I thought he kickstarted us in the first half,” Pera said. “We were kind of stale with the offense and he made some buckets to get us going. It’s good to have him back on the court.”

Martin finished with a team-high 20 points, adding five rebounds and two assists.

Up Next

Rice basketball hosts UTSA on Saturday, January 25 and doesn’t play against until February. They’ll have one more at home on February 1 against North Texas before returning to the road.

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Rice Basketball 2020 Game Preview: Men and Women vs UTEP

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Rice Basketball is nearly a month into conference play. The women are undefeated and the men have one just once. Both teams take on UTEP next.

Rice Basketball

Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Tudor Fieldhouse
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: ESPN+ (If you don’t have ESPN+ you can access a free trial or subscribe here.)

UTEP 11-8 (2-4), Last 5 (2-3)

  • 59-56 (L) at FAU
  • 76-64 (W) vs Southern Miss
  • 64-61 (L) vs Louisiana Tech
  • 80-77 OT (W) vs UTSA
  • 86-70 (L) at UTSA

Rice 9-11 (1-6), Last 5 (1-4)

  • 81-76 (L) vs FAU
  • 92-78 (W) vs FIU
  • 72-56 (L) at LA Tech
  • 81-68 (L) at Southern Miss
  • 79-59 (L) at North Texas

UTEP statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Bryson Williams – 19.4 per game
  • Rebounds | Bryson Williams – 6.9 per game
  • Assists | Jordan Lathon – 2.5 per game
  • Steals | Nigel Hawkins – 1.2 per game
  • Blocks | Bryson Williams – 0.9 per game

Rice keys to victory

In many ways, UTEP lives and dies at the hand of Bryson Williams. He’s second in the conference in scoring, averaging just below 20 points per game. When his shots are falling, everything seems to work itself out. UTEP is 9-3 when he shoots better than 50 percent from the field and 2-5 when he’s off the mark at least half the time. Rice hasn’t defended well in recent weeks. Focusing in on one player should give them a boost.

Rice Women's Basketball

Time: 8:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Don Haskins Center
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: CUSA TV

UTEP 11-4 (4-1), Last 5 (4-1)

  • 64-34 (W) vs FIU
  • 96-65 (W) vs FAU
  • 89-72 (W) at Southern Miss
  • 87-80 (L) at Louisiana Tech
  • 94-54 (W) vs UTSA

Rice 11-6 (6-0), Last 5 (5-0)

  • 73-65 (W) vs WKU
  • 78-69 (W) at FAU
  • 68-47 (W) at FIU
  • 60-47 (W) vs Louisiana Tech
  • 75-64 (W) vs Southern Miss

UTEP statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Katrina Zec – 13.3 per game
  • Rebounds | Ariona Gill – 8.2 per game
  • Assists | Katia Gallegos – 5.0 per game
  • Steals | Katia Gallegos – 1.6 per game
  • Blocks | Ariona Gill – 0.5 per game

Rice keys to victory

This will be by far the toughest test for Rice women’s basketball in conference play this season. The biggest question mark prior to this game is the status of Erica Ogwumike, which remains up in the air. She’s missed the past two games with an injury. If she’s back, her presence on the defensive glass and facilitating the offense will be huge. If she’s not, another big game from Nancy Mulkey or Sydne Wiggins would make a big difference on the road.

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