The source for Rice sports news

BREAKING: Rice Baseball to host 2023 Conference USA Tournament

By

BREAKING: Rice baseball will host the 2023 Conference USA Baseball Tournament as the tournament shifts from Biloxi to member campuses starting in 2021.

Scheduling is going to look different across the landscape of college sports in the wake of the COVID-19 financial crunch. Conference USA will not be immune from those changes, some of which have already been put into action. Cutting down travel expenses wherever possible has been at the forefront of conversations.

One of the initial changes impacts the Conference USA Baseball tournament, which has been hosted at MGM Park in Biloxi, MS from 2017 to 2019. The tournament was scheduled to be played their again in 2020 before COVID-19 forced the cancelation of the season. Instead of the neutral site, the tournament is moving to member campuses.

The Roost Podcast: Listen now to our Extended Offseason Interview Series

Rather than returning to Mississippi in 2021, the tournament will move to the newly renovated J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park. The home of the Louisiana State Bulldogs, Patterson Park was severely damaged in a tornado that passed through Ruston, LA in April of 2019. Southern Miss will host in 2022.

The Roost has confirmed Rice baseball will host in 2023. The Owls lasted hosted the conference tournament in 2013. Christian Stringer was named tournament MVP and the Owls punched their tickets to the postseason as tournament champions. Changing backdrops have been a good thing for Rice since then. Rice won the tournament when it shifted to Hattiesburg, MS in 2014 and again when it moved to Biloxi in 2017.

This is the first notable shift in scheduling that has come out in the wake of the pandemic. Further considerations including changes to Olympic sports and basketball scheduling could also be on the table. We will continue to provide updates on those as they come.

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

Recent Posts

Conference USA: Scheduling changes coming soon

By

Conference USA athletics scheduling changes are on their way with modifications to the upcoming fall sports calendar expected soon.

The extended offseason has been a busy one for Conference USA and its member institutions and conversations among league officials and athletic directors about the structure of future schedules have been at the forefront.

“I don’t think there’s any question that our geographic stretch is a challenge for us,” Rice Athletic Director Joe Karlgaard said. “Pre-pandemic it was something that we made work. I think post-pandemic it’s something that we are really looking closely at.”

Ideas have been tossed around from sources inside and outside of Conference USA. Basketball is expected to end bonus play and could consider moving to a divisional structure to reduce travel. Olympics sports, in particular, are taking a hard look at more regionalized scheduling.

Administrators are also keeping an eye on what’s happening across the nation. The MAC cut postseason tournaments in several sports. Those changes reflect the historical Ivy League model, which traditionally awarded regular-season champions with any relevant postseason bids.

What will those changes look like? Karlgaard said the scope was far-reaching. “All of that is on the table for us to evaluate going forward.”

The Roost Podcast: Listen now to our Extended Offseason Interview Series

This is not smoke and mirrors. Karlgaard has already been in discussion with Athletic Directors at schools in close geographic proximity. “They’re all interested [in regionalized scheduling],” he said. “What form and shape that takes, I think, is going to take longer for us to hash out.”

Long term scheduling adjustments will take time to play out, but changes to the upcoming seasons are imminent. Karlgaard indicated that he expects Conference USA to address fall scheduling as soon as this week, particularly with athletes now allowed to return to campus at several member schools. Rice had not yet set a timetable for the return of their own student-athletes.

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

Recent Posts

CFB Realignment: Evaluating merits of a Conference USA – Sun Belt merger

By

What’s next in the lifespan of Conference USA? A long-rumored merger with the Sun Belt Conference has merits, but it’s far from a sure thing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put college athletics travel costs, particularly in non-revenue sports, under the microscope. There are no “one-size fits all” solutions, but there are countless theories being circulated about what comes next.

One such concept is a Conference USA and Sun Belt merger. Is it feasible?

Why it makes sense

The geography of Conference USA and the Sun Belt conferences has a sizable overlap. Conference USA stretches from El Paso, TX (UTEP) to Virginia (Old Dominion). The Sun Belt runs as far west as San Marcos, TX (Texas State) and out to Coastal Carolina on the East Coast.

If cutting costs truly is a significant driver, splitting the two conferences down the middle would prevent UTEP from having to fly to West Virginia and App State from coming all the way to Texas for conference games. Just about any way you slice it, a merger of these two leagues drastically reduces the geographic footprint of each new conference.

The fan interest could see an uptick in the process. More regionalized scheduling would lead to more intra-state matchups. Seeing Louisiana Tech square off with ULM would spark more local interest than seeing the Bulldogs face Old Dominion. The same would be true for the Eastern contingent of schools. Stands would be packed if Charlotte and App State faced each other on a regular basis.

What stands in the way?

Television contracts are the obvious initial hurdle. There’s a reason that the decade long rumor of a Conference USA-Sun Belt merger has yet to materialize.

Conference USA’s TV deals span CBS Sports Network, ESPN3, Stadium, the NFL Network and various streaming arrangements. Most of those arrangements are set to expire by 2023. The Sun Belt is two years into an eight-year deal with ESPN.

Then there’s the inevitable bickering about who goes with who. What happens to teams like UAB and Troy who could arguably swing to either side of the geographic split? Both new conferences will surely want the Birmingham market.

The Roost Podcast: Listen now to our Extended Offseason Interview Series

Reaching a “fair” compromise that satiates 28 schools and four unique television partners seems … challenging, to say the least. That’s not to say it can’t happen, especially given these unprecedented times. But it does explain why a move that makes a lot of sense hasn’t yet gained meaningful traction.

And the people say…

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

Recent Posts

Coronavirus: A timeline of the past 72 hours in sports

By

Coronavirus concerns brought US sports to a screeching halt over the span of 72 hours. From the Ivies to the NCAA Tournament, here’s a timeline of events.

Things began to get rolling at the tail end of last week. South by Southwest music festival was canceled on Friday, March 6. Indian Wells tennis tournament followed suit on Sunday, March. 8. That prequel set up an exhausting three days in sports, and it’s not done yet.

Tuesday, March 10.

10:19 a.m. – The Ivy League cancels its conference tournament.

1:37 p.m. – Ohio Governer Mike Dewine recommends indoor sporting events have no spectators

4:08 p.m. – The SEC, ACC and others announce limited media access to locker rooms for conference tournaments

5:40 p.m. – The MAC bans all fans from attending their conference tournament

6:40 p.m. – College sports writer Dan Wolken urges the cancelation of the NCAA Tournament

9:49 p.m. – Washington Governor Jay Inslee restricts gatherings of more than 250 people, including sporting events

11:50 p.m. – The Seattle Mariners reportedly begin seeking out possibilities to open their season on the road

Wednesday, March 11

11:42 a.m. – The CBI Tournament is canceled

1:10 p.m. – The Golden State Warriors close games to fans, to go into effect on Thursday night against the Brooklyn Nets

1:44 p.m. – Fans officially barred from attending First Four games of NCAA Tournament in Ohio

2:00 p.m. – The Ivy League cancels all spring athletic seasons

3:31 p.m. – The NCAA announces it will limit attendance at the NCAA Tournament

4:24 p.m. – The Michigan Wolverines cancel their spring football game

5:00 p.m. – Juventus defender Daniele Rugani tests positive for coronavirus

5:35 p.m. – Big Ten announces it will not allow fans at their conference tournament, beginning on Thursday

6:58 p.m. – ACC announces it will limit fans from Thursday games

7:14 p.m. – The Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder leave the court minutes before tip-off. The game is delayed.

7:40 p.m. – The Jazz vs Thunder game is postponed. No reason was given.

8:27 p.m. – Jazz player Rudy Gobert tests positive for coronavirus

8:31 p.m. – The NBA suspends their season indefinitely

9:13 p.m. – Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg, who was coaching the game while fighting an illness, leaves the court before it finishes.

9:31 p.m. – Hoiberg is taken from the arena to the hosptial. Nebraska grants no interviews or media availability.

11:45 p.m. – Hoiberg is released from the hospital after being diagnosed with the flu.

Thursday, March 12

8:28 a.m. – ACC commissioner John Swofford says the ACC Tournament will be played as scheduled

9:32 a.m. – ATP suspends tour for six weeks

9:49 a.m. – Jazz star Donovan Mitchell tests positive for coronavirus

9:58 a.m. – The MLS suspends it season

10:25 a.m. –  The Washington Redskins become first NFL team to suspend all travel

10:30 p.m. – The National Lacross League suspends play

10:42 a.m. – The AAC Tournament is canceled

10:43 a.m. – The Big Ten Tournament is canceled

10:47 a.m. – The SEC Tournament is canceled

10:59 a.m. – The Big 12 Tournament is canceled

11:00 a.m. – The Conference USA Tournament is canceled

11:03 a.m. – Notre Dame announces the halt of all recruiting activities and spring football practice

11:17 a.m. – The Pac-12 Tournament is canceled and the conference’s athletic competitions are suspended

11:57 a.m. – The Big East cancels its tournament at halftime. It is the last major conference tournament to be canceled.

12:01 p.m. – Conference USA suspends all spring sports

12:15 p.m. – Jeff Passan reports the MLB will suspend operations

12:35 p.m. – The NHL suspends its season

12:37 p.m. – La Liga season suspended two weeks as Real Madrid players are quarantined

12:41 p.m. – USC postpones spring football practices

12:49 p.m. – Duke suspends all athletic activities

12:54 p.m. – Kansas suspends all athletic activities and travel

12:59 p.m. – Arizona suspends all athletic activities

1:29 p.m. – WVU suspends all athletic activities

2:00 p.m. – The ACC suspends all athletic activities

2:09 p.m. – MLB opening day delayed two weeks.

2:31 p.m. – WTA cancels Miami Open and Volvo Car Open

3:16 p.m. – NCAA Tournament canceled

5:28 p.m. – Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta tests positive for coronavirus

6:08 p.m. – Formula 1 cancels Australian Grand Prix

6:16 p.m. – XFL suspends season, announces players will be paid.

9:03 p.m. – PGA Tour suspends THE PLAYERS Championship, including the Valero Texas Open.

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

Recent Posts

Rice Basketball: Owls’ season ends with C-USA Tournament loss to FIU

By

The 2019-2020 Rice basketball season came to an end on Wednesday. The Owls fell to FIU in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament in Frisco.

Rice basketball had a much better spring than they did winter. The Owls had won six of their last nine games entering the Conference USA Tournament. One those wins was over the same FIU team that took the court opposite them in Frisco. All things considered, things were looking up.

In the prior matchup with FIU, Rice won behind a dazzling shooting performance. The Owls started hot but cooled off quickly. Rice made a trio of three-pointers in the first four minutes, jumping out to a 14-7 lead. FIU battled back. Things would eventually be tied 24-all and 28-all in the first half then 46-all and 48-all in the second half. Then things started to slide.

Around the 10-minute mark of the second half, FIU went on a 10-0 run, forcing Rice to play from behind. The Owls cut the deficit to seven before a pivotal sequence.

With just under seven minutes to play, FIU appeared to commit a half court violation. There was no foul called on the play and Scott Pera was furious. He was handed a technical foul with Rice trailing 63-56. FIU made both foul shots and scored on the ensuing possession to take an 11-point lead, their largest of the game.

Rice started the game 4-of-6 from three, finished 4-of-14 for a final clip of 40 percent from deep. They shot 53.4 percent from the field as a team. Shooting well was a must. Rice did that, but was unable handle the FIU offensive attack. FIU defeated Rice 85-76. That was the most they’ve scored in a victory since Jan. 16, a 93-68 win over UAB.

Rice basketball ends the season 15-17, a modest improvement from a 13-19 campaign the season prior and significantly improved from a 7-24 finish in Scott Pera’s first season beginning in 2017.

Final Stats

Player of the Game

Drew Peterson picked the perfect time to have one of the best games of his career. Unfortunately for No. 23, the massive effort could not hold off FIU’s torrid offensive attack. Peterson scored a career-best 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting with five rebounds and three assists. He was the conduit for the Rice offense, rarely leaving the court. His development should be marked as a bright spot in an up-and-down season. On Wednesday, he gave Rice everything he had.

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

Recent Posts