The source for Rice sports news

Rice Football 2019 Game Preview: Week 8 vs UTSA

By

Rice Football is back from an off week and will hit the road to play UTSA. How to watch, stats to know, x-factor picks for both teams and more.

The last time each of these teams took the field they fell to UAB. Rice football was forced to weather multiple lightning delays, falling to the Blazers 35-20 in Birmingham. UTSA was protected from the elements, at home in a dome, and was defeated by UAB by the final score of 33-14.

Rice used the past week off to regroup. Still winless, the Owls hope to turn things around against the Roadrunners. Here’s what you need to know about both the opponent and Rice before their Week 8 contest.

Broadcast Info

Kickoff time | 5:00 PM CT
Venu | Alamodome – San Antonio, Tx
TV | ESPN3 (Streaming)
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio Preview

We’ll preview the UTSA game on Episode 12 of The Roost Podcast which will be released on Thursday. Find us on the podcast page or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. (And consider leaving us a 5-star review while you’re at it.)

Sizing up the contenders

UTSA’s Week 6 win over UTEP marked their first Conference USA victory since they beat Rice in Houston last October. The Owls also have won conference win since that game, a season-ending victory over Old Dominion. That was last season, though, and Rice football is still looking for that next elusive victory.

While the Owls have played several teams close, the Roadrunners have finished more games than their visiting opponents have thus far. UTSA also beat Incarnate Word in their season opener, giving them two wins to the Owls nil.

The pressure is cranking up on both head coaches in this matchup. Frank Wilson’s team has failed to improve since he took over in 2016 whereas Mike Bloomgren is seeking proof of his process in his second year at South Main. A win on Saturday would be big for both programs.

Series History

All Time | UTSA leads 4-3
Last Five | UTSA leads 4-1
Last Meeting | Home 2018, UTSA won 20-3

Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | Green – 52/98 (53.1 percent), 548 yards passing, 2 TD, 0 INT
Rushing | Walter – 92 carries, 395 yards (4.3 yards per carry), 4 TD
Receiving | Trammell – 28 receptions, 397 yards (14.2 yards per reception), 1 TD
Tackles | Alldredge – 53, Montero – 37, Chamberlain – 35
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Thornton – 5 PBU, Nyakwol/Chamberlain – 1 INT each

UTSA Football Stat Notables

Passing | Narcisse – 32/76 (42.1), 273 yards passing, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing | McCormick – 83 carries, 473 yards (5.7 yards per carry), 5 TD
Receiving | Strickland – 15 receptions, 129 yards (8.6 yards per reception), 1 TD
Tackles | Martel – 42, Austin 35, Harris – 24
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Grady/Mayfield Jr – 4 PBU each, Carter-McLin/Harris – 1 INT each

UTSA X-Factor | Quarterback play

The season-ending injury of quarterback Frank Harris put the breaks on any sort of optimism for the UTSA offense. Harris had played well against Incarnate Word and Army, holding up decently well against Baylor before being knocked out of the Roadrunners’ Week 4 game against North Texas. With Harris out, replacement Lowell Narcisse has floundered.

Starting with his relief appearance when Harris went down, Narcisse hasn’t completed 50 percent of his passes in a game this season. He’s thrown for more than 100 yards once (against North Texas) and that came with two interceptions.

Narcisse is much more dangerous on the ground, averaging 5.7 yards per carry with three touchdowns. As capable as the Rice defense has looked throughout this season, teams have been able to outscore the Owls. If Narcisse can be proficient enough through the air, he’ll keep the offense balanced and give his team its best chance to score. Otherwise, it’s going to be a tough day at the office for the UTSA offense.

Rice X-Factor | Front seven supremacy

UTSA has a one-dimensional offense. When the running game is snuffed out, the UTSA offense goes with it. The Roadrunners are averaging 6.4 yards per carry in their two wins this season and 3.6 yards per carry in their four losses.

Stopping the run plays into a strength of the Rice defense. Wake Forest was the only team to average more than five yards per carry against the Owls, but nearly half of their 201 rushing yards came on one explosive play. If the Owls had their pick, they’d prefer to match up with a run-first team like this.

UTSA ranked 129th out of 130 FBSIf th team in scoring offense last season. They’ve improved slightly through the first half of 2019 to 121st, but the Roadrunner won’t win shootouts against most teams. If Rice can curtail the running game, UTSA will struggle to score.

Injury Report

Anthony Ekpe and Reagan Williams will be two names to keep an eye on this week. Williams has missed the last two games for Rice while Ekpe left the Owls’ last game against UAB early with an injury. At this time both are expected to miss Saturday’s game against UTSA.

Need More?

The Roost’s 2019 Rice Football Season Preview has four pages dedicated to every opponent the Owls face. There are depth chart, important new arrivals and depth chart breakdowns for each foe. Better yet, it’s not just speculation, each profile was created with insight from local experts who cover those teams day in and day out. Pick up your copy today and get four pages and more than 1,000 words on every foe.

Pick ‘Em Contest

If you haven’t yet, make sure you submit your entry for The Roost’s weekly pick’em challenge. Choose an answer to each of the six questions below and submit them on the forum thread to enter.

  1. Will either team score on defense or special teams?
    Yes / No
  2. Who has more tackles for Rice?
    Chamberlain / Alldredge (or tie)
  3. How many first downs will Rice have?
    Over 14.5 / Under 14.5
  4. Will UTSA score more than 16.5 points?
    Yes / No
  5. Which Rice pass catcher has the most receiving yards?
    Rozner / Trammell / Other
  6. Who wins?
    Rice / UAB

One Final Thing

Rice was favored in twice last season — at home against Prairie View A&M and at home against Old Dominion. They won both of those games. When lines opened for this game, Rice was listed as a road favorite against UTSA. If coaches are to be graded by winning games they’re “supposed to win”, there will be an added onus on Mike Bloomgren to lead his team to victory on Saturday.

The time for moral victories has long since come and gone. Rice hasn’t been out-athleted since conference play began but the wins have still eluded them. Both sides of the ball have shown flashes and revealed concerning gaps that the team had the open week to address. From the players to the coaches, the team that takes the field in San Antonio needs to find a way to win.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2019: Owls in the NFL Week 6 Update

By

Austin Walter played his first regular season snap and other Rice Football products made big plays. Here’s how the NFL Owls fared in Week 6.

There are former Rice football players are scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Week 6 results

Patriots 35 – Giants 14 (Walter)
Vikings 38 – Eagles 20 (Sendejo)
Jets 24 – Cowboys 22 (Covington)
Broncos 16 (Callahan, Anderson) – Titans 0
Seahawks 32 (Ellerbee, Willson) – Browns 28
Steelers 24 (Boswell, McDonald) – Chargers 17 
Texans 31 (Gaines) – Chiefs 24

Calvin Anderson, OT, Broncos

Anderson was recently signed from the Jets’ practice squad to the Broncos 53 man roster this week. He has been inactive for both of Denver’s games since he was signed, including Sunday’s shutout win over the Titans. The Broncos host the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football in Week 7.

Chris Boswell, K, Steelers

Boswell was only asked to attempt one field goal on Sunday. He knocked through the 20-yarder with ease, also converting each of three extra-point attempts. He remains perfect on the season with 11 successful field goals and 12 successful extra points. The Steelers are on bye in Week 7.

Bryce Callahan, CB, Broncos

Callahan was inactive for the Broncos’ Week 6 game against the Titans. He has yet to make an appearance for the team this season. The Broncos host the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football in Week 7.

Christian Covington, DE, Cowboys

Covington had one tackle in the Cowboys’ Week 6 loss to the Jets. The Cowboys host the Eagles on Sunday Night Football in Week 7.

Emmanuel Ellerbee, LB, Seahawks

Ellerbee was placed injured reserve prior to the start of the season. The Seahawks host the Ravens in Week 7.

Phillip Gaines, CB, Texans

Gaines had one pass defended and tied for the team lead with three solo tackles in the Texans’ Week 6 victory over the Chiefs. The Texans travel to the Colts in Week 7.

Vance McDonald, TE, Steelers

McDonald caught his lone target of the night against the Chargers for five yards. With backup quarterback Devlin Hodgers under center, no Steelers receiver other than running back James Connor caught more than two passes. The Steelers are on bye in Week 7.

Andrew Sendejo, Saf, Eagles

Sendejo had three tackles in the Eagles’ Week 6 loss to the Vikings. He also had one pass defended and this acrobatic interception.

The Eagles visit the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 7.

Austin Walter, RB, Giants

Promote from the practice squad prior to their Week 6 game against the Patriots, Walter saw his first regular season snap on Thursday Night Football. The Giants host the Cardinals in Week 7.

Luke Willson, TE, Seahawks

Willson had two receptions for 16 yards with a long of 11 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 6 victory over the Browns. The Seahawks host the Ravens in Week 7.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are others Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more detail on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Conference USA Football 2019: Week 7 C-USA roundup

By

Rice football was off, but Conference USA Football action was as entertaining as ever. Here’s the latest news from around the conference after Week 7.

Team Week 7 Result Week 8
Charlotte at FIU L, 48-23 at WKU
FAU vs MTSU W, 28-13 vs Marshall
FIU vs Charlotte W, 48-23 vs UTEP
LA Tech vs UMass W, 69-21 vs Southern Miss
Marshall vs Old Dominion W, 31-17 at FAU
MTSU at FAU L, 28-13 at North Texas
North Texas at Southern Miss L, 45-27 vs MTSU
Old Dominion at Marshall L, 31-17 at UAB
Rice — OFF —  — at UTSA
Southern Miss vs North Texas W, 45-27 at LA Tech
UAB at UTSA W, 33-14 vs Old Dominion
UTEP — OFF —  — at FIU
UTSA vs UAB L, 33-14 vs Rice
WKU vs Army W, 17-8 vs Charlotte

Notable Week 7 results – Standings

Stop sleeping on FAU

FAU never dropped out of the Conference USA Football title race, but two lopsided losses to start the season against two very good teams (Ohio State and UCF) made some forget about the Owls. Now at the midway point of the season, they’ve won four in a row and are 2-0 in conference play.

Oh no Old Dominion

A three-point win over Norfolk State was the only happy moment for the Monarchs and head coach Bobby Wilder who’s seat continues to warm after a loss to Marshall. Old Dominion hasn’t hired a coach other than Wilder since  Tommy Scott in 1930, but that could change if the Monarchs don’t turn things around quickly.

Not Fine, not Fine at all

The Week 7 tilt between Southern Miss and North Texas was billed as a battle of the West’s top two teams. The teams traded touchdowns in the first half before Southern Miss took control in the second half. Things took a turn for the worst for North Texas when star quarterback Mason Fine got hit hard on a short run and left the game. If Fine’s injury is serious, the Mean Green might be in big trouble.

Week 8 storylines

Can you beat someone other than UTEP?

UTSA knocked off UTEP in Week 6 as a slight underdog on the road. Rice has yet to win a game, but they haven’t played a team with a sub-.500 record yet this season. Can the Owls earn their first win of the season or will UTSA beat their first non-UTEP FBS opponent since they beat Rice last October?

Speaking of UTEP… Can FIU right the ship?

An 0-2 start to Conference USA action was a worst-case scenario for FIU, but the Panthers did what they could in Week 7 by disposing of a feisty Charlotte squad. A win over UTEP next weekend would put FIU back to .500 and back in the mix in the East.

Wild west showdown

Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech are the only remaining teams in the West with spotless records in conference play. They meet in Ruston in Week 8 in a game which could decide their half of the conference with matchups against UAB later in the season the biggest question mark remaining for whichever team leaves with the win.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

2019-2020 Rice Women’s Basketball Season Preview

By

The 2019-2020 Rice women’s basketball season is fast approaching. Here’s a rundown of the Owls’ squad bent on returning to the NCAA Tournament this season.

The last time the Rice women’s basketball team took the court they left it with a sour taste in their mouths. The Owls led Marquette in a first round NCAA Tournament game by nine points with minutes left in regulation. Rather than advance to the next round, a rematch with the Texas A&M Aggies, the Owls faltered and saw their storybook season end in overtime.

There has been plenty of time for soul searching since that game. A new season is right around the corner, one which this team hopes will end much later in March than the last. Here’s a bit more on the coach, the players, the roster, and what to expect from this team in 2019 and beyond.

The Coach – Tina Langley

Upon the completion of last season, Rice signed Langley to a five-year extension. The reigning Conference USA coach of the year led the Owls to their first-ever ranking in the AP and Coaches Poll, a perfect regular season in conference play and set program records with 21 consecutive wins and 28 total victories in a season.

Rice women’s basketball has been on the upswing since Langley took over prior to the 2015-2016 season. The Owls have seen their overall win total and conference win totals increase each subsequent season, finishing last season with a sterling 28-4 record. As long as Langley is at the helm, the future for Rice women’s basketball remains extremely bright.

Last Season Snapshot

With center Nancy Mulkey sidelined by injury, Rice lost their first two games of the 2018-2019 season to No. 20 Texas A&M and No. 23 UCLA. Following their 0-2 start, the team won 28 of their next 29 games. A road loss to North Carolina in mid-December was their only blemish during the remainder of the regular season.

More: Rice Men’s Basketball Season Preview

Rice won all 16 of their conference games, only one of which was decided by less than 10 points. The Owls stayed perfect in three Conference USA Basketball Tournament games, rallying to take down Middle Tennessee to secure the Tournament Championship and punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, their first trip to the Big Dance in 14 years.

The Schedule

Rice Women’s Basketball Marquee Games and Key Dates

Nov. 5, 2019 – Season opener vs Nicholls State
Nov. 17, 2019 – Owls host Texas A&M at Tudor Fieldhouse
Nov. 23, 2019 – Owls visit Oklahoma State
Dec. 20-21, 2019 – 2019 Puerto Rico Classic vs Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech
Jan. 2, 2020 – Conference USA opener vs Marshall
Feb. 22, 2020 – Conference USA bonus play begins

You can find the complete 2019-2020 Rice basketball schedule here.

Projected Starters

PLAYER MP PTS TRB AST STL BLK
Erica Ogwumike 32.4 16.5 10.5 2.7 1.6 0.3
Nancy Mulkey 26.3 13.9 5.8 1.3 0.7 3.9
Sydne Wiggins 28.5 6.9 2.5 2.4 1.0 0.2
Jasmine Smith 27.5 6.1 2.3 2.3 0.9 0.3
Haylee Swayze 13.1 4.3 1.6 0.4 0.3 0.3

The Returning Players

No. 2 – Sydne Wiggins, Guard (Jr.)

5-foot-11

A returning starter and one of the Owls’ foremost returning outside shooters, Wiggins was one four different players to make more than 20 shots from beyond the arc. She finished second on the team in steals, proving to be as dangerous without the ball in her hands as she was when she was knocking down shots.

No. 10 – Jasmine Smith, Guard (So.)

5-foot-7

The only freshman to start every game for Rice last season, Smith was a shutdown defender. Her efforts on opposing shooters helped the lead Owls’ to the No. 1 scoring defense in the conference, allowing 52.8 points per game. She frequently turned her defensive efforts into offensive successes and tied Wiggins with 30 steals.

No. 11 – Haylee Swayze, Guard (So.)

5-foot-11

Swayze was a prominent member of a promising freshman class who saw some action in 28 of 32 games, averaging 13.1 minutes per contest. After the five starters and sixth woman Lauren Grigsby, Swayze was one of the more active bench players for Rice last season. When she was called upon, she made a difference from behind the three-point line with 22 long-range buckets.

No. 13 – Erica Ogwumike, Guard (Sr.)

5-foot-9

Conference USA Female Athlete of the Year Erica Ogwumike was the catalyst on both ends of the court for this team last season. Since transferring to Rice from Pepperdine following the 2015-2016 season, Ogwumike has been nearly unstoppable at South Main. She tallied a double-double (18 times) more often than she didn’t and led the conference in rebounds. Her leadership and talent have been instrumental in the Owls’ recent success.

No. 21 – Arianna McCurry, Center (So.)

6-foot-6

McCurry saw most of her action before the Owls got into the heart of Conference USA action. She played a career-high 10 minutes against McNeese State and scored six points in five minutes against FAU, a game in which she also tallied a pair of blocks and three rebounds.

No. 23 – Alexah Chrisman, Center (Jr.)

6-foot-2

Chrisman saw most of her action as the primary backup to starting center Nancy Mulkey. Seven inches shorter than Mulkey, Chrisman wasn’t the same caliber shot blocker, but she provided a physical presence in the paint and was a trustworthy conduit for the offense and defense when Mulkey needed a breather.

No. 24 – Temi Alao, Center (So.)

5-foot-10

Injuries kept Alao from seeing the court as a true freshman, but she played in 18 games as a redshirt sophomore in the 2018-2019 campaign. The bulk of her involvement came at the beginning of the season, including a career-high 24 minutes against Texas A&M. She had three or more rebounds in nine appearances.

No. 25 – Kendall Ellig, Forward (Jr.)

6-foot-1

Ellig played a reserve role for the Owls last season, seeing a few minutes here and there throughout conference play. She played in 13 C-USA games, but never tallied more than nine minutes, playing less than three minutes seven times in those contests. She scored in four games and had a career-best four rebounds against FAU.

No. 32 – Nancy Mulkey, Center (Jr.)

6-foot-9

Mulkey is the tallest player in women’s college basketball. Every time she takes the court she gives Rice a mismatch no other team in the country can counteract. When healthy, Mulkey is the difference-maker that separates Rice from their competition, leading the NCAA in blocks per game and setting the school record with 94 blocked shots last season.

The New Additions

Rice signed five players in their 2019 recruiting class, which ranked first in Conference USA.

No. 3 – Katelyn Crosthwait, Guard (Fr.)

5-foot-10

Crosthwait averaged 24 points per game as a junior, one year removed from being named a Gatorade Player of the Year finalist. She can shoot from close range and from distance and create opportunities for others with the basketball.

No. 5 – Destiny Jackson, Guard (Fr.)

5-foot-9

The only native Texan in the class, Jackson hails from Mansfield Texas. She was named to the 2018 UIL All-Tournament team following her senior season.

No. 12 – India Bellamy, Forward (Fr.)

6-foot-1

A small forward out of McDonough, Georgia, Bellamy is can score from the wing and play great defense. She was the GACA South Junior All-Star MVP.

No. 15 – Lauren Schwartz, Forward (Fr.)

5-foot-11

Scwartz led her school to their first regional championship in program history, finishing the year with 29 victories. The MVP of Kentucky’s 9th region, Schwartz is an elite scorer with more than enough athleticism to win on the boards.

No. 22 – Ashlee Austin, Forward (Fr.)

6-foot-0

Austin averaged 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in her senior season. From Johns Creek, Georgia, she was the 2017-2018 Region 7-6A Player of the Year and an AJC First Team All-State selection.

Enjoy The Roost? Consider supporting our coverage of the Owls and Rice women’s basketball through a purchase at The Roost Shop or making a one-time donation.


Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

2019-2020 Rice Basketball Season Preview

By

The 2019-2020 Rice basketball season is fast approaching. Here’s a rundown of the Owls’ squad which looks to take a step forward this coming season.

You’ll hear the word consistency thrown around a lot at Tudor Fieldhouse this season. This new incarnation of Rice basketball will look to fix that nagging thorn from a year ago and take the next step in their quest for Conference USA Basketball supremacy.

The group tasked with taking that next step is a year wiser and a year more experienced. Ako Adams and Chis Mullins will be the heartbeat, with weapons like Trey Murphy to pick teams apart from long range and Robert Martin to patrol the paint. The bench is deep and should be more action this season. Here’s a bit more on the coach, the players, the roster, and what to expect from this team in 2019 and beyond.

The Coach – Scott Pera

This upcoming season will be the third for Scott Pera as the head coach of Rice basketball and his sixth season at South Main — Pera was an assistant with the Owls from 2014 to 2017 before being promoted to the head chair prior to the 2017-2018 season.

Pera’s first season was a reboot as the team worked to rebuild a roster. He went from 7-24 that year to 13-19 last year improving from 4-14 in Conference USA play to 8-10 this past season. Now he’ll be tasked with taking one more step with a roster which returns most of its key players, with the exception of departed senior Jack Williams and transferee Quentin Millora-Brown.

Last Season Snapshot

After weathering a fairly challenging nonconference slate which included games at Houston, BYU and Wichita State, the Owls were more or less a .500 club the rest of the way. Rice was fourth in the conference in scoring (74.0 points per game) but 12th in scoring defense (77.5).

More: Rice Women’s Basketball Season Preview

The Owls relied on the third-best clip from three-point range among C-USA teams (34.8 percent) but did not do a good job protecting the basketball. Their -2.34 turnover margin ranked 11th in the conference. Much of the turnover issues seemed to stem from young players learning on the job, something Rice hopes to improve with a full year of experience under the belts of their most important contributors.

The Schedule

Rice Basketball Marquee Games and Key Dates

Oct. 31, 2019 – Exhibition vs St Edwards
Nov. 5, 2019 – Season opener at Arkansas
Nov. 9, 2019 – Home opener vs Penn
Nov. 19, 2019 – Owls host Houston at Tudor Fieldhouse
Nov. 22, 2019 – 2019 Islands of the Bahamas Showcase
Jan. 2, 2020 – Conference USA opener at Marshall
Jan. 9, 2020 – Conference USA home opener vs FAU
Feb. 22, 2020 – Conference USA bonus play begins

You can find the complete 2019-2020 Rice basketball schedule here.

Projected Starters

PLAYER MP PTS TRB AST STL BLK
Ako Adams 27.3 11.2 2.6 2.6 0.6 0
Chris Mullins 28.8 12 2.8 2.7 1.2 0.1
Trey Murphy III 20.6 8.4 2.6 0.7 0.5 0.5
Robert Martin 25.6 12.2 6.2 1.7 0.9 0.3
Josh Parrish 19.8 6.3 2.8 1.1 0.7 0.5

The Returning Players

No. 0 – Payton Moore, Guard (So.)

6-foot-4, 205 pounds

Moore was a rotation player for the Owls last season who averaged 11 minutes per game. He appeared in all but one contest, doing well on the glass when he was on the court, averaging a little more than three rebounds per appearance.

No. 1 – Josh Parrish, Guard (R-Jr.)

6-foot-4, 215 pounds

Parrish alternated between being the team’s sixth man and a starting role last season. He leads all returning players in field goal percentage (.504) and was accurate from an impressive 61.3 percent of his two-point shots. His role could increase this season considering the minutes vacated by Jack Williams.

No. 2 – Trey Murphy III, Guard (So.)

6-foot-8, 200 pounds

The Owls are excited about the growth of sophomore sharpshooter Trey Murphy. He attempted and made at least one three-point shot in 29 of 32 games, knocking down three or more on 12 separate occasions including five of seven at home against UAB last January.

No. 3 – Ako Adams, Guard (Sr.)

6-foot-3, 175 pounds

A senior leader for this relatively young team, Ako Adams is going to be one of the two players trusted to handle the ball on the majority of Rice possessions. Adams is a career .359 three point shooter who started to heat up during conference play last year where he hit  40 percent of his shots from distance. He finished one shy of Chris Mullins for the team lead in assists.

No. 5 – Addison Owen, Guard (Sr.)

6-foot-5, 195 pounds

Owen made two appearances off the bench for Rice last season and has appeared in nine games during his three-year career with the Owls. He was one of two players on the team named to the NABC Honors Court which honors academic achievements for student athletes. He is expected to hold a similarly limited role this coming season.

No. 10 – Robert Martin, Forward (Sr.)

6-foot-6, 220 pounds

Coach Pera has identified Martin as a key leader on the team alongside Ako Adams. Although Martin only started one game last season, his presence was felt in almost every contest. He led the team in total scoring. His 25.6 minutes played per game were third-most among returning players and he topped all returning Owls with 197 rebounds (4.8 per game).

No. 23 – Drew Peterson, Guard/Forward (So.)

6-foot-8, 185 pounds

Peterson was another player who saw his time wax back and forth between starter and key reserve last season. No matter the role, he served as a rebound presence for the Owls when he was on the court. He grabbed 106 boards and had a keen eye on what to do with the ball when he got it in his hands, racking up 49 assists along the way.

No. 24 – Chris Mullins, Guard (So.)

6-foot-3, 190 pounds

The complement to Ako Adams, Mullins’ role grew significantly as last season progressed. Mullins was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team, just the sixth Rice player to ever receive that designation. He’s an excellent facilitator and someone the Owls will rely on to coordinate their efforts on the offensive side of the court this season.

No. 35 – Tim Harrison, Forward (Sr.)

6-foot-8, 220 pounds

Harrison appeared in 14 games last season, averaging just shy of a point per game. Alongside Addison Owen, Harrison was also named to the NABC Honors Court. He’ll continue to be a reserve player for this team going forward

The New Additions

No. 13 – Tommy McCarthy, Guard (Gr.)

6-foot-1, 175 pounds

Joining the Owls by way of Harvard, McCarthy hopes to be the next grad transfer to make a name for himself at South Main. Jack Williams, who came to Rice from Pacific, became a fixture in the Owls’ lineup in his lone season at Rice. Williams started every game, averaging 9.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest. McCarthy started 26 games in three healthy seasons with the Crimson, highlighted by a strong freshman season in which he averaged 24.8 minutes and 8.8 points per game.

No. 15 – Max Fiedler, Forward (Fr.)

6-foot-10, 235 pounds

The tallest man on the roster eligible to play this season, Fiedler committed to the Owls in the fall. With Quentin Millora-Brown transferring to Vanderbilt in the offseason, Fiedler could carve out a role of some sort based on his athletic profile alone.

No. 20 – Zach Crisler, Forward (Fr.)

6-foot-9, 215 pounds

Another member of the 2019 signing class, Crisler is an intriguing stretch forward who could wear a number of hats for the Owls. Rice beat out prominent programs like Penn State and TCU to secure his services. Crisler is continuing to get bigger and stronger, both aspects which will help him find a way to contribute.

No. 4 – Quincy Olivari, Guard (Fr.)

6-foot-2, 190 pounds

Olivari, Crisler and Fiedler were all Top 500 recruits with Olivari checking in nearest the top of the ranks as the No. 430 prospect in the nation and the N0. 23 player in the state of Georgia. This combo guard is going to help Rice push the pace on both ends and is dangerous when he does decide to spot up and shoot.

No. 12 – Ben Moffat, Forward (Fr.)

6-foot-8, 225 pounds

Moffat is a priority walk-on excited for his opportunity to be a part of the team. “Every player has to work hard,” he says, “but as a  walk-on, I’ll need to work harder than anybody else. I need to be the first one at practice and the last one to leave, and that’s something I’m prepared to do.”

No. 14 – Reed Myers, Guard (Fr.)

6-foot-0, 180 pounds

A First Team 2A All-State selection and Metro Region First Team Offensive Player of the Year out of Scottsdale Christian Academy in Arizona, Myers is going to bring some offensive punch to the team. Myers excelled at a small school and will be ready to take on a new challenge with the Owls this season.

Malik Ondigo, Forward (Jr.)

6-foot-10, 215 pounds

Ondigo signed with the Owls in June after spending the last two seasons at Texas Tech. He appeared in 14 games as a freshman, setting season highs in points (six) and rebounds (four) against Iowa State. He had an increased role in 2018, playing in 18 games for the Red Raiders who advanced to the Final Four and the National Championship Game. His best outing last year came against Mississippi Valley State where he scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds.

Enjoy The Roost? Consider supporting our coverage of the Owls and Rice basketball through a purchase at The Roost Shop or making a one-time donation.


Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts