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Rice Football 2023 Spring Practice Notebook 8: Spring Game

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The 2023 Rice Football spring game marked the conclusion of spring practices and several individuals made their marks on Saturday night.

The 2023 RiceFootball Blue and Grey Game was won by the offense, 38-11, and played out in much the same way the spring itself did: a slow start followed by successive improvements. JT Daniels led four scoring drives, three of which came against the first team defense to help set the tone for the offseason. More on Daniels, the offense, the defense and where Rice goes from here.

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JT Joyride

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Rice Basketball Recruiting: Vanderbilt transfer Noah Shelby commits to Owls

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The transfer portal continues to be kind to Rice Basketball. Vanderbilt transfer Noah Shelby has committed to the Owls.

It’s been an extremely productive week for Rice basketball recruiting. Days removed from landing a commitment from Cal transfer forward Sam Alajiki, the Owls have beefed up their guard play with an SEC addition. Former Vanderbilt guard Noah Shelby has committed to the Owls.

A 2022 McDonald’s All-American Game Nominee, Shelby is a former 4-star recruit in the 2022 class and the No. 121 player in the country. He spent last season with Commodores coming off the bench but shot 31.1 percent from three and tied a career-best 12 points against Tennessee in January.

A Texas native, Shelby made the decision to enter the portal this offseason and Rice was the first program to come calling. Shelby would eventually end up choosing the Owls over several other Power 5 programs. “I made Rice a priority because they made me a priority,” Shelby told The Roost.

As for skills on the court, Shelby fills an immediate need for Rice basketball, who lost guard Quincy Olivari to the Transfer Portal this offseason. Shelby is a ball handler and a shooter, part of what naturally drew him and the Owls together. Pairing his willingness to shoot with the Owls’ Green Light U mantra makes a lot of sense.

Shelby will be part of the Owls’ inaugural AAC squad, something he says he looks forward to. As for what he brings to Rice, Shelby was emphatic and direct. “I’m committed to winning and I am going to produce on the court,” he said. If he can make shots in bunches like this, he’ll fit right in.

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Rice Football 2023 Spring Practice Notebook 7: Big picture questions

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The last practice before the 2023 Rice Football spring game has wrapped up and there are several questions that still need answering as spring ball ends.

All eyes were focused on the arrival of transfer quarterback JT Daniels, who took the field for the first time this spring. Would he live up to expectations? Early returns have been superb. But with quarterback (thankfully) solved, there are other outstanding questions that Rice football hasn’t found the answers to just yet and spring is rapidly drawing to a close.

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The roster is strong, but is the depth there?

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Bullpen roulette bites Rice Baseball against McNeese State

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Rice baseball got hits from eight of nine starters, but bullpen woes ultimately cost them a winnable game against McNeese State.

When Tom Vincent managed to record just four outs during the second-midweek game of the week, things had the potential to go south quickly for a Rice baseball squad with limited pitching depth against a McNeese State team that entered the game 21-11 on the season. Jack Ben-Shoshan limited the damage to just three runs and Blake Brogdon followed with a fantastic 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.

No longer spiraling, it seemed like the pitching staff was going to give this team a chance. Aaron Smigelski got Rice on the board with an RBI double in the third. Guy Garibay and Connor Walsh delivered back-to-back RBI singles in the fifth, driving in three to put Rice ahead 4-3. The Owls had battled back.

Last Time Out: Rice Baseball rallies past Lamar

Matthew Linskey surrendered the lead in the top of the sixth, but Ben Royo took it right back in the bottom of the frame. Tyler Hamilton got Rice to the ninth up by two, but Garret Zaskoda scuttled the save, allowing three runs in the ninth. The Owls would get the tying run to third base but Walsh’s last-ditch liner fell a few shy of the fence, a loud fly out to end a disappointing game.

What it means | Bullpen Roulette

The lack of depth on the pitching side has been an issue for Rice baseball all year and it reared its ugly head again on Wednesday. Of the seven pitchers Rice called upon in the game, Vincent, Linskey and Zaskoda each had bad outings. Mark Perkins, the seventh arm, was only called upon after Zaskoda blew a two-run lead in the ninth.

It wouldn’t be fair to expect every reliever to bring his A-game on every night, particularly not in a midweek game when teams are typically reaching further down their staff. Still, having a fifty-fifty chance of a disastrous inning won’t work either.

The Owls might have to seriously consider changing their strategy on the mound. If Brogdon is dealing through 2.2 innings, leave him in. If Tyler Hamilton has allowed one hit in two innings, leave him in. The alternative is spinning the wheel again and the odds aren’t looking very good right now.

ON DECK | vs Charlotte (Fri-Sun)

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Young arms, timely bats lift Rice baseball past Lamar

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Rice baseball road a pair of young arms and an explosive seventh inning rally from the bats to a midweek win against Lamar on Tuesday.

Making his first career start, Garrett Stratton tossed a scoreless first inning before falling behind in the second on a sacrifice fly. The deficit wouldn’t last for long, though, with Paul Smith tying the game in the bottom half of the inning and Connor Walsh putting Rice in front in the third.

Leading 2-1, head coach Jose Cruz Jr. turned to Ryland Urbanczyk who delivered a masterful four-inning, two-hit performance to keep Lamar off the scoreboard. His replacement, Cristian Cienfuegos, was not as fortunate, allowing the visitors to tie the game in the top of the event before Krishna Raj came in to stem the bleeding.

Last Time Out: Rice Baseball drops water-logged series to Louisiana Tech

Locked at three runs apiece, Rice loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning. Guy Garibay walked to put Rice in front. Two batters later, Walsh singled in two more. It was Jack Riedel who delivered the extra cherry on top, taking home on a double steal to put Rice in front 7-3, the game’s final score.

What it means | The future on the mound?

Garrett Stratton and Ryalnd Urbanczyk were two of the most heralded freshman additions to the pitching staff this offseason. Injuries cost Stratton time early in the season and Urbanczyk was limited to just five appearances coming into Tuesday night. That tandem produced one of the better piggyback midweek performances the Owls have had in a game this season.

The pitching staff has been an adventure at times behind Parker Smith. Stratton and Urbanczyk might not be able to become firemen out of the pen quite yet this season, but the future is bright. Tuesday was just a glimpse.

ON DECK | vs LA Tech (Thr-Sat)

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