The source for Rice sports news

Potential Rice Basketball head coaching candidates

By

Rice Basketball is in the market for a new head coach after moving on from Scott Pera. Who might the Owls target for the job?

Following an 11-21 season, Scott Pera is out as the head coach of Rice Basketball. This decision doesn’t come as a surprise to many and likely has been in the cards for some time now, giving athletic director Tommy McClelland ample time to begin mentally preparing a shortlist of potential targets. Who might the Owls tap to be the next head man on the court?

McClelland was adamant Rice basketball had a bright future ahead of it. “Talent is not an issue. We can get them here and we can win here,” he said, pointing toward recent successes like Quincy Olivari as well as NBA players who came from Rice like Trey Murphy and Drew Peterson. “I want to win,” he declared, making his intentions crystal clear.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.
Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2024 Spring Practice Notebook 1: Spring Intros

By

The 2024 Rice Football spring practices are officially underway. Here’s the latest on the roster and their plans this spring.

Rice football was back on the grass for the first week of spring practices this week. The Owls will have a short hiatus for spring break, then return to finish the final four weeks of camp and conclude with their spring game on April 13. That’s a short window to accomplish a lot. Stay tuned here for updates throughout the weeks ahead, starting right now with more on their starting point, some news faces, a notable position change and more.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

Quarterback-to-wideout conversion continues

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Baseball swept by Stanford

By

Rice baseball left Reckling Park without a win this weekend, falling in three straight games to Stanford.

FRIDAY | Stanford 6 – Rice 2

The home crowd exploded with cheers when Jack Riedel launched a seventh-inning pitch over the left field berm for a no-doubt, leadoff home run. While the blast was impressive, it also represented the Owls’ first hit of the night in a game they trailed 5-0 before that ball crossed over the fence.

Last Time Out: Rice Baseball drops midweek bout with LSU

Stanford starting pitcher Matt Scott had allowed just two base runners to that point, both on walks. Smith outdueled Rice ace Parker Smith who had labored through six innings, earning the loss. A late-inning rally would prove too little, too late.

SATURDAY | Stanford 8 – Rice 2

Following a spectacular complete game the weekend prior, Rice pitcher JD McCracken was not as fortunate this time out. He labored through 5.2 innings, leaving in a precarious spot in the sixth before two more runs were added to his ledger on a double surrendered by Jack Ben-Shoshan.

Trailing 8-0 with one hit of their own, Rice couldn’t mount a meaningful comeback. Jack Riedel gave the Owls their only offensive spark of the day, lifting a two-out home run over the wall to prevent a shutout. That salvaged some pride but had no impact on the Owls’ chances at a comeback.

SUNDAY | Stanford 4 – Rice 3

Although Stanford did strike first once again, things were much closer on Sunday in the series finale. After the Cardinal put up a two-spot in the first, Rice rallied to tie the game in the second inning. Treyton Rank delivered a key RBI double to even the score at 2-2.

The game would remain deadlocked there until the fifth inning when Stanford chased Rice start Ryland Urbanczyk from the game and moved ahead on a two-run homer off his successor, Tom Vincent. Rice got one back in the bottom half of the inning but wouldn’t score again.

Rice had a chance to break through in the eighth but stranded the bases loaded. Davion Hickson was a bright spot in the late innings, striking out five in 3.1 scoreless.

THREE FOR THE ROAD

Rice baseball wrapped up a rough week on the diamond with a weekend sweep at the hands of Stanford. Here are three takeaways from the series:

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

1. Missing my Guy

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?

ON DECK | vs PVAMU (Tues), at Hawaii (Fri-Mon)

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

Recent Posts

Biggest questions for Rice Football spring ball: February 2024 Q&A

By

With Rice football set to open spring practice at the beginning of March, this month’s Q&A gets a jump start on key questions for the spring.

Basketball season is winding down. Baseball season is starting up. For Rice football, though, something is going on year-round. The latter was the focus of this month’s Q&A, specifically what sort of questions and expectations we should have for the Owls before they take the gridiron again for spring ball next week.

Want to get your questions answered? Subscribe on Patreon for our monthly mailbag.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

Q: At the risk of getting too far ahead of myself, what are you most interested in for Rice football spring practices?

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Starting pitching propels Rice Baseball to series win over Louisiana

By

Rice Baseball picked up a much-needed series win, taking two of three from Louisiana on the road behind dominant starting pitching.

FRIDAY | Rice 2 – Louisiana 1

Following a bumpy start in the regular season opener, Parker Smith dazzled in start number two of the year. He delivered a fantastic seven-inning, one-run, four-hit performance that kept Louisiana at bay while the Rice offense managed to sneak across two singular runs, one in the first and another in the third.

More: Parker Smith’s journey to Rice baseball ace

“We had opportunities to really blow this game open,” head coach Jose Cruz Jr. said. “At the end of the day we have Parker Smith out there and Parker through a gem.”

Manny Garza was credited with both RBIs. Davion Hickson came through with a two-inning save, retiring six of the eight batters he faced to secure the Owls’ first win of the season.

SATURDAY | Rice 6 – Louisiana 1

The JD McCracken show started and ended the same way, with a strikeout. McCracken punched out 11 en route to the Owls’ first complete game since 2019 (thrown by Matt Canterino against FIU). The only run he allowed was scored on a wild pitch in the fourth inning.

On the other side, McCracken was aided by a two-run first inning to stake him to the lead, then a tricker of additional runs in the fourth and seventh. Nathan Becker broke the game open in the top of the ninth with a two-run double before McCracken walked back to the mound one more time to slam the door.

SUNDAY | Louisiana 3 – Rice 0

Unlike their previous games, Rice didn’t get the first inning lead they’ve grown accustomed to having. Instead, Louisiana scored first, putting up two runs in the third inning against Rice starter Ryland Urbanczyk. That would prove to be the lone blemish against him, but no run production whatsoever from the Owls would make it the decisive runs in the ballgame.

Rice managed just two hits, making Louisiana pitchers face two more than a minimum in an underwhelming offensive showing that netted them zero runs. The pitching staff held its own, but was still saddled with the loss.

THREE FOR THE ROAD

Rice baseball took its first series of the season and has won three of its last four games after being swept on opening weekend. Here are three takeaways from the weekend:

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

1. Starting pitching rebounds in a big way

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?

ON DECK | vs LSU (Wed), vs Stanford (Fri-Sun)

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

Recent Posts