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Rice Basketball blown away by Indiana State

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Rice basketball opened the Ball Dawgs Classic with a loss to Indiana State, losing the turnover battle and allowing too many long range shots.

Nothing seemed amiss in the early goings of the opening game for Rice basketball at the Ball Dawgs Classic in Las Vegas, NV. Rice and Indiana State traded early shots and were neck and neck through the first half of the opening frame. With the Owls leading 19-18 and the clock ticking under 12, it felt like a competitive game was about to unfold. That would not be the case.

Rice would go on to make just two shots in the next seven minutes of court time. During that period, Indiana State rained down six threes. The Owls simply could not keep up and their woes were further magnified by a season-high 18 turnovers.

That run took a close game and teetered it toward blowout territory. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, Rice trailed by 21. Travis Evee did his part, contributing a season-high 25 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the early hole. Rice cut the deficit to 13 in the final minute, but they never had a real chance to win this basketball game once they fell behind in the manner with which they did.

“We knew they were a really good team coming in. They are a good team,” head coach Scott Pera said. “They made 16 threes and you’re never going to lose when you do that.”

Final Box | Indiana State 103 – Rice 88

Key takeaway | Don’t Hand Away Your Margin

Rice basketball had committed 18 turnovers in their last two games combined and 23 total on the season. To turn the ball over 18 times was devastating for the Owls’ offensive flow and marked one of the sloppiest performances taking care of the basketball for this team in quite some time. They only had three games with more turnovers in all of last season.

Pera pointed directly toward that glaring deficiency when explaining the loss. “I think it was our inability to take care of the ball,” he said. “We gave them turnovers. We gave them some open looks. There was a lot of miscommunication on defense that gave them wide-open looks. And they didn’t miss them.”

Rice made 10 threes against Indiana State and shot the ball decently well. They scored 88 points. This was a game that might have been competitive if the Owls had done enough to keep the game within reach. This team can score, but that skill won’t pay dividends if the defense and ball handling aren’t strong enough to keep games within reach.

There’s only so much margin for error that can be accounted for in a basketball game. Rice handed away all that margin and then some. The best teams struggle to win when turning the ball over at the rate the Owls’ did on Tuesday. Rice has some work to do before they’re in that company.

Up Next: Ball Dawg’s Classic – Henderson, NV (New Mexico – Nov. 22)

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Rice Football 2023: FAU presser quotes and depth chart

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Rice football hosts FAU this week. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about the matchup at hand and a few depth chart notes.

Head coach Mike Bloomgren and a set of players met with the media for their customary weekly availability. They recapped the Charlotte game and looked ahead at their upcoming matchup with FAU.

Listen Now: The Roost Pod – Breaking down Rice Football vs Charlotte

We touch on those items, then dig into the Rice football depth chart and what the team looks like heading into the weekend. First, the quotes:

Press Conference Quotes

“All we did about by winning that game and taking care of business on Saturday is made this week much bigger, I told them that in the locker room after the game and it’s so true, we understand we’re in playoff mindset. We understand the degree of how important this last game, the last game of the regular season. We’re excited for it.”– Mike Bloomgren on the impact of the Charlotte game

“He had a good doctor’s appointment yesterday. He’s better every single day and nothing has changed from what I told you last week. The moment he can he feels like he can do this thing, we’re going to go with him.” – Mike Bloomgren on the status of JT Daniels

“He was on their team last year. And I vaguely remember him. Coach Alamar showed me some film today where he was the punt returner last year. But this year, you can’t turn on a single one of their films without noticing him. He is so exceptional. I think he does a great job.” – Mike Bloomgren on the status of FAU WR LaJohntay Wester

“We all know what’s at stake. I’m not having any trouble getting these guys to focus or be in the building. They’re sleeping here in the building, just like a coaches are. They’re around here all the time. It doesn’t matter if [FAU] scored 100 points last game or zero, or eight as they did, but whatever the case, our team is just ultra focused on this opponent and we’re certainly giving them the amount of respect that they deserve. We know that they’re very talented football team.” – Mike Bloomgren on the teams’ focus right now 

“To be completely honest, I haven’t put a whole lot of thought into it. Coach Smith has a great phrase, be where your feet are. I’ve really tried to just focus on prep for this week, focus on prep for last week, as well. Just get the offensive line, especially the guys that are kind of within my frame of control, just make sure we’re as prepared as possible…

I do think it’s going to be emotional during the game. This is my sixth year and this is the final home game. Going back all the way to 2018, there’s been a lot of ups, a lot of downs. A lot of good moments, a lot of bad moments in this stadium, but I’m so extremely blessed to to have been here for all six years and to have a guy like Coach Bloomgren sort of mentor me and coach me through through life as well as football.” – Offensive lineman Clay Servin on his final home game

“I think everybody is so proud of DJ, what he’s overcome in this program. What he’s battled through and how he was able to come out when his number was called…He’s out there recognizing things, recognizing plays. He’s a very instinctive player and it’s really been fun out there playing with him, communicating on the field, seeing things before they happen and watching him go run around and make the play.” – Linebacker Myron Morrison on teammate DJ Arkansas 

Depth Chart

Rice Football

Depth Chart Notes

Tight end Jack Bradley was a late scratch on Saturday against Charlotte and has been removed from the depth chart entirely this week. That typically portends to an absence on game day. That means Boden Groen and Elijah Mojarro would be the Owls’ primary tight ends with Bloomgren confirming Mojarro’s availability on Tuesday.

Andrew Awe is listed as the starter at Mike linebacker over DJ Arkansas. Both should play, regardless of how the depth chart reads. Gabe Taylor and Tyson Flowers share an or designation at safety this week. How that sorts out might depend on which packages the Owls run in which situation. It’ll be something we have updates on later in the week — make you subscribe on Patreon for the latest practice report.

The rest of the depth chart reads as it did last week. As for the quarterbacks, Bloomgren said AJ Padgett would be in line to start again, should Daniels not be cleared, and that no matter who starts, Chase Jenkins will get some time on the field to take advantage of his fourth game of playing time while retaining his redshirt status.

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The Roost Podcast | Ep 168 – Rice Football blasts Charlotte

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Rice football got back in the win column with an emphatic victory over Charlotte thanks to a dominant defense and an outstanding day from Dean Connors.

For the first time in the last four weeks, Rice football faced an opponent that was not unbeaten in league play and the Owls took out several weeks’ worth of frustration against the hapless Charlotte 49ers. This game wasn’t very close and Rice did what they needed to do to put it out of reach and then slam the door. We recap the win and talk about the true talent level of this team as the season winds down.

You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 168.

Episode Notes

DCTF

The Roost Podcast is now part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You’ll still get the same content with the same hosts, but now under the DCTF banner.

Homefield

We’re thrilled to partner with Homefield Apparel, the premier proprietor of college football clothing. First-time buyers can use the code ROOST for 15% off their order. The Owls hoodie is a personal favorite. So is the brand new Luv-Ya-Owls shirt. Shop the Rice collection or pick up something else (or both)!

Homefield

Patreon

Get exclusive insight on Patreon. Be the first to get the inside scoop on what’s going on with Rice football and stick around for even further analysis. That includes practice updates, analysis and more. Your support matters and makes The Roost better.

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Recapping Rice Football vs Charlotte

  • What a day from the Rice defense
  • What a day from Dean Connors
  • Rice corners Tre’shon Devones and Sean Fresch deliver again
  • What could this team’s record be against a more balanced AAC schedule?
  • DJ Arkansas shines
  • One big game left against FAU

Where can you find us?

The Roost Podcast is part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You can find this podcast and all of our partner podcasts on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.ri

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Rice Football 2023: NFL Owls Week 11 Roundup

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Rice Football is well represented on 2023 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 11.

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

Team NFL Owl(s) This Week Result Next Week
Denver Broncos Elijah Garcia (DL) vs Vikings (SNF) W, 21-20 vs Browns
Detroit Lions Jack Fox (P) vs Bears W, 31-26 vs Packers (Thr)
Indianapolis Colts Kylen Granson (TE)  — BYE —  — vs Bucs
Los Angeles Rams Austin Trammell (WR) vs Seahawks W, 17-16 at Chargers (SNF)
New England Patriots Calvin Anderson (OL) — BYE —  — at Giants
Pittsburgh Steelers Chris Boswell (PK) at Browns L, 13-10 at Bengals
Seattle Seahawks Myles Adams (DL) at Rams L, 17-16 vs 49ers (Thr)
Tampa Bay Bucs Nick Leverett (OL) at 49ers L, 27-14 at Colts

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Patriots

Anderson and the Patriots were on bye in Week 11.

Kylen Granson – TE, Colts

Granson and the Colts were on bye in Week 11.

Nick Leverett – OT, Buccaneers

Leverett was active for the Bucs’ Week 11 game against the 49ers  but did not play.

Austin Trammell – WR, Rams

Trammell turned in a career day for the Rams on Sunday, tallying a personal best three receptions for 23 yards on six targets. All three marks were career highs. Trammell finished second among all Rams’ wideouts in receptions.

Defense

Myles Adams – DL, Seahawks

Adams was inactive for the Seahawks’ Week 11 game against the Rams.

Elijah Garcia – DL, Broncos

Garcia was inactive for the Broncos’ Sunday Night Football contest against the Vikings.

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox punted twice on Sunday, delivering a pair of brilliant blasts, both of which were downed inside the 20 with the longest traveling 60 yards. Also, he wore this rather fantastic costume:

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell was only called to the field twice on Sunday. He converted a 28-yard field goal and drove through an extra point try.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are other 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.

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Rice Football 2023 Game Preview: FAU

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Rice football hosts FAU this week with bowl eligibility on the line. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

In a battle of Owls, Rice football enters the fray flying higher. The Owls won at Charlotte last weekend, preservering their bid at bowl eligibility. The visiting FAU Owls fell to Tulane, their seventh loss of the year. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup between Rice and FAU.

Kickoff time | 12:00 PM CT
Venue | Historic Rice Stadium – Houston, TX
TV | ESPN+ (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs FAU on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Wednesday at Noon on the Rice Athletics YouTube channel. Look for a recap of the game on the site afterward as well as on The Roost Podcast, which should be released early next week.

Sizing up the contenders

Rice football could technically have an outside shot at bowl eligibility as a five-win team, but they’d rather avoid stressing about that situation for a second year in a row. A win on Saturday would also ensure another year of improvement in the win column for head coach Mike Bloomgren, with the possibility of a seventh win in the bowl game. Rice hasn’t won seven games since 2014.

On the other sideline, FAU isn’t playing for anything, which makes them dangerous. Every win counts for a coach in his first year at a new school and rest assured Tom Herman won’t go easy on Rice when he makes his return to campus.

Series History

All Time | Rice leads, 2-1
Last Five | Rice leads, 2-1
Last Meeting | Away 2022, FAU won 17-14

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Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | Daniels – 121/287 (63.1 percent), 2443 yards, 21 TD, 7 INT
Rushing | Connors – 92 carries, 662 yards (6.9 yards per carry), 5 TD / Otoviano – 70 carries, 241 yards (3.4 yards per carry), 4 TD
Receiving | McCaffrey – 56 receptions, 822 yards (14.7 yds/rec), 11 TDs / Connors – 38 receptions, 384 yards (10.1 yds/rec), 3 TD
Tackles | Wyatt – 70 / Morrison – 66 / Conti, Taylor – 53
Pass Breakups | Devones – 10 / Fresch – 7 / Wyatt, Taylor – 6
Interceptions | Taylor, Devones – 2 / Conti – 1

FAU Stat Notables

Passing | Richardson – 200/309 (64.7 percent), 1908 yards, 12 TD, 10 INT
Rushing | McCammon – 146 carries, 675 yards (4.6 yards per carry), 5 TD / Lewis – 77 carries, 324 yards (4.2 ypc), 2 TD
Receiving | Wester – 104 receptions, 1125 yards (10.9 yards per reception), 8 TD / Johnson – 35 receptions, 362 yards (10.3 yds/rec), 3 TD 
Tackles | Morris – 75 / Ambush – 73 / Tisdol – 67
Pass Breakups | Morris – 5 / McClendon, Mungin, Antoine – 3 
Interceptions | Morris – 3 / Six others tied with one each

FAU X-Factor | Make every trip count

In league play, Rice football leads the AAC in red zone defense. They’ve allowed 13 touchdowns on 27 trips. Forcing opponents to settle for three rather than getting six has helped keep them in games and nearly scored them upsets against Tulane and SMU.

Meanwhile, the FAU offense has stalled out entirely. The Owls have scored 15 points in their last eight quarters. Relying on home run plays by LaJohntay Wester isn’t a sustainable scoring solution so when FAU does get the ball within striking distance, they absolutely must capitalize.

The Rice defense has played better as of late and is coming off one of their best performances of the season. FAU has converted 60 percent of their field goal tries on the season and has made 3-of-7 from 30+ yards out. They simply have to put the ball in the box when they get their opportunities. 

Rice X-Factor | Run the dang ball

It’s hard to believe it’s possible, but Rice football might not have run the ball enough last time out against Charlotte, despite Dean Connors having a career day. The running game also helped cover some offensive miscues and mishaps that took place with a backup quarterback at the helm.

No matter who takes the snaps for Rice this week, a potent running game makes this offense even more potent.

FAU won’t make it easy. No team in the AAC has allowed fewer touchdowns in league play than the Owls. Yet, Charlotte’s run defense looked solid enough on paper before Connors showed up and gashed them. If Connors can do it again, it’s hard to see the Rice offense stalling out that often, which would force FAU into catch-up mode. That’s not something the’ve proven they can do.

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One Final Thing

“We understand what’s at play this week and how big of a deal this game’s going to be. It’s huge,” Bloomgren said on Saturday afternoon, noting the significance of the upcoming game against FAU because Rice found a way to take care of business against Charlotte. And quite frankly, huge might be an understatement. This game is massive. 

A win against FAU would ensure Rice a .500 record in league play. Here are the AAC programs currently guaranteed to be at least .500 in league play this season: Tulane, SMU, UTSA, Memphis and Navy. That’s good company to keep.

For further comfort, three of the Owls’ four AAC losses came to that collection of teams with the lone exception belonging to USF which could clinch a bowl berth this weekend. Tack on a win over Houston — still the only Power 5 win by the conference this year — and you get a sturdy season against a tough schedule with a marquee rivalry win under your belt.

Even though much of that would be true with a loss, a sub-.500 season doesn’t carry with it the same power. No, this game matters because of it can solidify this 2023 Rice Football team as one that hung with the big boys in the league, had one hiccup against UConn, and otherwise represented the university well.

Plus, this team wants to go bowling again. This time the “right” way, if that even is an appropriate designation. 

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