The source for Rice sports news

  • Football
    • Recruiting
    • Offer Tracker
    • Roster
    • Schedule
    • NFL Owls
  • Premium
    • Patreon
    • Season Preview
    • Join / FAQ
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Store
    • News
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • About
    • Contact
  • Login

2024-2025 Rice Basketball Season Preview

October 23, 2024 By Matthew Bartlett

Rice Basketball embarks on a new era under head coach Rob Lanier this season. What will the new-look Owls be able to offer in his debut season on South Main?

Emotions are always high when you hire a new coach. A new day dawns and all the prior struggles and frustrations are momentarily thrust back into the depths. But the games will eventually start again and the neverending cycle of hope and tragedy that plagues all sports will soon return. New Rice basketball head coach Rob Lanier is responsible for ensuring those woes are shortlived and the Owl faithful see a product on the court that makes them proud.

Lanier didn’t shy away from those obligations when he first addressed Rice fans the day he was hired. “We’re gonna win. It ain’t a hope. It ain’t a dream. It’s a reality. So you can get prepared for that,” he said at the podium that afternoon. In a short time, those words will be put to the test.

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

For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Special features like this are reserved for our subscribers. Have questions? You can get those answered in our monthly Q&As and get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and features like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

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 Recruiting: WR David Kasemervisz commits to Owls
  • Hickson gem propels Rice Baseball to series win over Charlotte
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR Artis Cole commits to Owls
  • Rice Football Recruiting: Khary Crump’s path to the Owls

Filed Under: Archive, Basketball, Premium Tagged With: Aaron Powell, Alem Huseinovic, Andrew Akuchie, Caden Powell, Denver Anglin, Emory Lanier, George Perkins, Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, Jackson Peakes, Jacob Dar, Jalen Smith, Jimmy Oladokun Jr., Kellen Amos, Rice basketball, Season Preview, Trae Broadnax, Trey Patterson

Rice Basketball Recruiting: G Jalen Smith commits to Owls

May 1, 2024 By Matthew Bartlett

Another former SMU Mustang is making the journey south to Houston. Guard Jalen Smith is the newest member of the 2024 Rice Basketball recruiting class.

Head coach Rob Lanier continues to stockpile talent, pulling from the Transfer Portal to revamp his roster in a whirlwind of activity. The changes within collegiate athletics enabling more free flowing movement of players have aided in that cause, allowing him to bring several very familiar faces to South Main including his former player, Jalen Smith, an SMU transfer and the newest member of the 2024 Rice Basketball recruiting class.

Smith joins Emory Lanier and Denver Anglin, two of his former teammates at SMU who have since made the decision to follow their head coach from Dallas to Houston. If his usage at SMU is any indication, he’ll step right in as an important piece of the Owls roster very quickly.

Smith appeared in at least 29 games for SMU in each of the last three seasons, seeing a career-high 33 games of action last season, including four starts. He averaged 5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.8 steals, mostly off the bench, adding an impactful 38 percent shooting on three-pointers. He’s a reliable role player that Lanier trusts. His addition to the roster makes that crystal clear.

In addition to those three former Mustangs, Rice has now added eight new transfers to the roster since Lanier took over. The roster is coming together, with the potential for another piece or two before all is said and done.

More: Rice Basketball Roster Tracker

Beyond the defensive focus, Lanier did made a point during his introductory remarks that his team would find shooters. Smith can definitely knock down some shots from deep, but his overall athleticism makes him more than just a sharpshooting threat. He can fly too, just take a look at this impact play against Tulsa.

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

Recent Posts
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR David Kasemervisz commits to Owls
  • Hickson gem propels Rice Baseball to series win over Charlotte
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR Artis Cole commits to Owls
  • Rice Football Recruiting: Khary Crump’s path to the Owls

Filed Under: Basketball, Featured Tagged With: Jalen Smith, Rice basketball, Rice basketball recruiting

Rice Basketball 2024 Roster Tracker

March 31, 2024 By Matthew Bartlett

The Rice basketball roster is in the midst of complete retooling with the coaching staff changes. Stay tuned here for updates.

Roster churn has become a part of college sports as we know and Rice basketball is not immune to the ebb and flow of players coming in and out. With the 2023-2024 season in the books, this page will serve as a running tracker regarding the roster for the upcoming season as it currently stands. The last official roster is available here.

More: What is Rice basketball getting in coach Rob Lanier?

Feel free to bookmark it and refer back to it from time to time as players announce their intentions throughout the offseason.

Coaching Changes

Rob Lanier was formally introduced as the next head coach for Rice Basketball on March 26. A week later he has named three men to his coaching staff, all of whom are following Lanier from his staff at SMU: Chris Kreider, Josten Crow and Andre Owens.

Departing with Eligibility (9)

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?

Rice Basketball News

Rice Basketball, Rice Basketball recruiting, Eternity Eguagie

Rice Basketball Recruiting: F Eternity Eguagie commits to Owls

Posted: April 23, 2025

A dynamic JUCO hooper is joining the 2025 Rice basketball recruiting class. Forward Eternity Eguagie has committed to the Owls. Since he arrived at South Main, head coach Rob Lanier has made it abundantly clear he’ll look everywhere for talented playmakers to add to his roster. The most recent addition to the 2025 Rice Basketball […]

Rice Basketball, Rice Basketball recruiting, Dallas Hobbs

Rice Basketball Recruiting: G Dallas Hobbs commits to Owls

Posted: April 22, 2025

The Transfer Portal remains kind to Rice basketball recruiting efforts. Mount St. Mary’s guard Dallas Hobbs has committed to the Owls. A high-scoring point guard with NCAA Tournament experience is heading to South Main as the most recent addition to the 2025 Rice Basketball recruiting class. Mount St. Mary’s guard Dallas Hobbs has committed to […]

Rice Basketball, Rice Basketball recruiting, Nick Anderson

Rice Basketball Recruiting: G Nick Anderson commits to Owls

Posted: April 19, 2025

Another Transfer Portal addition to the Rice basketball recruiting class has been announced. Prairie View A&M guard Nick Anderson committed to the Owls. Days after the Transfer Portal has opened the 2025 Rice Basketball recruiting class has grown by two. Following the commitment of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi center Stephen Giwa on Thursday, the Owls have […]

Rice Basketball

Rice Basketball 2025 Roster Tracker

Posted: April 17, 2025

The Rice basketball roster is going through its usual offseason permutations. Stay tuned here for updates as the Transfer Portal turns. Roster churn has become a part of college sports as we know and Rice basketball is not immune to the ebb and flow of players coming in and out. With the 2024-2025 season in […]

Rice Basketball, Rice Basketball recruiting, Stephen Giwa

Rice Basketball Recruiting: C Stephen Giwa commits to Owls

Posted: April 17, 2025

The first Transfer Portal addition of the incoming Rice basketball recruiting class is on board. Texas A&M Corpus Christi center Stephen Giwa has committed to the Owls. Transfer Portal season is upon us, which means new faces for the incoming Rice basketball recruiting class. A few players have already announced their intentions to leave South […]

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

Recent Posts
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR David Kasemervisz commits to Owls
  • Hickson gem propels Rice Baseball to series win over Charlotte
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR Artis Cole commits to Owls
  • Rice Football Recruiting: Khary Crump’s path to the Owls

Filed Under: Archive, Basketball, Premium Tagged With: Aaron Powell, Alem Huseinovic, Andrew Akuchie, Caden Powell, Damion McDowell, Denver Anglin, Emory Lanier, George Perkins, Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, Jackson Peakes, Jalen Smith, Jimmy Oladokun Jr., Kellen Amos, PJ Carter, Rice basketball, Sam Alajiki, Trae Broadnax, Trey Patterson

  1. Item 1
  2. Item 2
  3. Item 3
  4. Item 4
  5. Item 5
  • Rice Football
  • Rice Basketball
  • Rice Baseball, David Pierce
  • Rice Football
  • “He’s a Bulldog”: Parker Smith’s Journey to Rice Baseball Ace
Become a patron at Patreon!
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter