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2021 Conference USA Basketball Tournament: Men’s and Women’s Previews

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The 2021 Conference USA Basketball Tournament tips off in Frisco, TX on Monday. Here’s a preview of the action.

Conference USA Basketball – Men’s Tournament

The Favorite: Western Kentucky

The No. 1 seed for a reason, Western Kentucky is the clear favorite to cut down the nets. Charles Bassey will be the best player on the court whenever the Tops play and the supporting cast is equally as impressive and experienced.

The Contender: Louisiana Tech

Although they received less fanfare than Western Kentucky along the way, Louisiana Tech won a divisional title as well. Kenneth Lofton and Isaiah Crawford, both of whom somehow were only named to the All-Conference Third Team and not higher, are a formidable tandom capable of taking down anyone — even WKU.

The Sleeper: North Texas

One of the best defensive teams in the conference, North Texas can win ugly. When they’re in a rhythm and Javion Hamlet is making his shots, they’re a tough out. If anyone’s making out of the “first round”, the Mean Green might have a decent shot.

Conference USA Basketball – Women’s Tournament

The Favorite: Rice

Rice has lost four conference games in their last three seasons. They’ve proven themselves to be mortal, but it’s hard to pick anyone to beat them outright. Led by Nancy Mulkey and a deep bench, the Owls’ defense has led them to three consecutive regular-season conference titles. They enter 2021 as the defending tournament champions after last season’s event was halted after the first round.

The Contender: Middle Tennessee

Despite the run of success from Rice, Middle Tennessee was picked to win the conference in the preseason polls. The two teams never met in the regular season. Could they meet in the Tournament? Led by 26.8 points per game from Anastasia Hayes, the Blue Raiders can run up the score quickly.

The Sleeper: Marshall

Marshall was far from the most consistent team this season, but they earned a unique distinction in the final weeks of the regular season. They won games against Rice and Middle Tennessee, something no other team in Conference USA can claim. Sometimes tournaments are all about getting hot at the right time. If Marshall can beat those two teams, they’ve got the ammo to beat just about anyone else.

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Rice Basketball: Owls ice cold in road sweep by Louisiana Tech

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Rice basketball dropped both games to Louisiana Tech this weekend, ending the regular season with a 6-10 record in Conference USA play.

It was a tough two-game stint for Rice basketball, who were swept by Louisiana Tech on the road this weekend. Rice has lost four in a row after sweeping Southern Miss at home to start the month.

On Friday night, the Owls came out cold. Louisiana Tech was red hot. Rice shot 29.0 percent from the field in the first half and 35.3 percent from the field in the second. Louisiana Tech shot 63.6 percent from the field in the first half, doubling the Owls efficiency — and their scoring.

Down 28 points entering the break, the hole proved too big to overcome. Rice shot marginally better down the stretch, but outside of Cameron Sheffield (17 points on 5-of-8 shooting) nobody had a particularly strong outing.

Louisiana Tech fell somewhat back to earth on Saturday, but Rice was unable to string together the consistency necessary to weather the Bulldogs’ runs. Rice led 21-15 in the first half, but watched that lead dissipate before the halftime buzzer. Not even Riley Abercombie’s strong day from deep (15 points on 5-for-8 from three) was enough to reinvigorate the Rice offense.

Player Spotlight | Max Fiedler

Fiedler’s importance to this team was demonstrated both on and off the court this weekend. Rice had no rhythm with him absent on Friday. On Saturday, Fiedler delivered a double-double, his tenth of the season. He overcame foul trouble and the challenges of playing with a facemask to give the Owls a chance.

Stat Corner | Ice cold

Sometimes it’s not your night. That was abundantly clear on Friday when the Owls seemingly couldn’t buy a bucket. 11 Owls attempted a field goal in the game. Just three — Sheffield, Quincy Olivari and Travis Evee — made more than one shot. Missing Max Fiedler, who left the game after getting hit in the face, compounded the shooting woes.

Listen: The Roost Podcast Offseason Interview Series

But Fiedler was on the court Saturday when the Owls shooting hit another rut. Rice had a lead over Louisiana Tech midway through the first half. Then the Bulldogs went on a 25-6 run over the final eight minutes. It didn’t matter which combination of players Rice had on the court, the shots weren’t falling.

Rice cut the deficit to four points in the second half. Louisiana Tech responded with a 16-2 run.

Even when considering the volume of shots Rice attempts from three, the Owls still average roughly a 45 percent clip from the floor this season. The Owls finished below 35 percent in both games over the weekend. That’s not going to cut it in the conference tournament.

Up Next

Unlike the women’s team, which has two more games left against North Texas, the men are scheduled to be off this coming weekend. Barring a last-minute game added to the slate, the Owls’ next action will come in Frisco at the conference tournament in March.

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Rice Basketball Preview: Owls vs Louisiana Tech

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The Rice basketball has both teams back in action last week, taking on Louisiana Tech as the regular season winds down.

Rice Basketball

Time: Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. CT and Feb. 27 at 1:00 p.m.
Venue: Thomas Assembly Center
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: Friday – CUSAtv / Saturday – CBS Sports Network

Louisiana Tech 17-6 (10-4), Last 5 (4-1)

  • 65-62 (W) vs Southern Miss
  • 68-63 (W) at North Texas
  • 55-57 (L) at North Texas
  • 70-58 (W) vs UAB
  • 69-64 (W) vs UAB

Louisiana Tech statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Isaiah Crawford – 11.5 per game
  • Rebounds | Kenneth Lofton – 7.3 per game
  • Assists | Cobe Williams – 3.1 per game
  • Steals | Cobe Williams – 3.1 per game
  • Blocks | Isaiah Crawford – 0.6 per game

Rice 12-10 (6-8), Last 5 (2-3)

  • 53-79 (L) at North Texas
  • 88-62 (W) vs Southern Miss
  • 76-68 (W) vs Southern Miss
  • 71-77 (L) at Western Kentucky
  • 66-89 (L) at Western Kentucky

Rice statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Quincy Olivari – 15.9 per game
  • Rebounds | Max Fiedler – 8.8 per game
  • Assists | Max Fiedler – 3.9 per game
  • Steals | Travis Evee – 1.2 per game
  • Blocks | Max Fiedler – 1.0 per game

What’s at stake

Conference USA made the curious, late-in-the-season decision to expand the conference tournament field this past week. Rather than limit the tournament to the top 12 teams as has been the custom in the past, every team will receive an invite this year.

At 6-8, Rice is in the middle of the pack among the overall conference standings, but only two games out of the bottom spot in the West. They won’t have any worries about missing the tournament now, making the opportunity to climb in the seedings and face a team that might just barely originally snuck in all the more appealing.

Rice Women's Basketball

Time: Feb. 26 at 2:00 p.m. CT and Feb. 27 at 4:00 p.m.
Venue: Tudor Fieldhouse
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: Friday – CUSAtv / Saturday – CUSAtv

Louisiana Tech 13-7 (8-6), Last 5 (3-2)

  •  44-57 (L) at Southern Miss
  • 60-55 (W) vs North Texas
  • 58-63 (L) vs North Texas
  • 77-51 (W) at UAB
  • 83-61 (W) at UAB

Louisiana Tech statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Keiunna Walker – 16.6 per game
  • Rebounds | Anna Larr Roberson – 6.8 per game
  • Assists | Amber Dixon – 3.3 per game
  • Steals | Raizel Guinto – 1.5 per game
  • Blocks | Anna Larr Roberson – 0.7 per game

Rice 13-2 (9-1), Last 5 (4-1)

  • 67-59 (W) at Old Dominion
  • 64-55 (W) vs Western Kentucky
  • 77-74 (W) vs Western Kentucky
  • 54-48 (W) at Marshall
  • 56-68 (L) at Marshall

Rice statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Nancy Mulkey – 16.3 per game
  • Rebounds | Nancy Mulkey – 7.5 per game
  • Assists | Jasmine Smith – 4.3 per game
  • Steals | Jasmine Smith and Sydne Wiggins – 1.3 per game
  • Blocks | Nancy Mulkey – 3.2 per game

Whats’s at stake

Rice women’s basketball faded in the fourth quarter in rather uncharacteristic fashion last time out against Marshall. One loss in 10 tries is stomachable, but the Owls wiggle room was less forgiving. North Texas (8-2) and Middle Tennessee (10-2) sit within percentage points of Rice for the best record in the conference. The pressure is now on Rice to take care of business, otherwise they might lose the top spot in the conference tournament to someone else.

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Rice Women’s Basketball 2021 Game Previews: Owls vs Marshall

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The Rice basketball had both teams in action last week, but only the women remain on schedule to play Marshall this weekend.

Rice Women's Basketball

Time: Feb. 20 at 11:00 a.m. CT and Feb. 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Venue: Cam Henderson Center
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
TV: Feb. 20 – CUSAtv / Feb. 21 – CUSAtv

Originally scheduled for Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 (Friday / Saturday), the series was delayed one day. The teams will now play on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21 (Saturday / Sunday).

Marshall 5-7 (4-6), Last 5 (2-3)

  • 60-69 (L) at Western Kentucky
  • 60-75 (L) vs FIU
  • 65-56 (W) vs FIU
  • 70-80 (L) vs Old Dominion
  • 73-68 OT (W) vs Old Dominion

Marshall statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Savannah Wheeler – 18.0 per game
  • Rebounds | Alexis Johnson – 7.3 per game
  • Assists | Ksenija Mitric – 3.0 per game
  • Steals | Kristen Mayo – 2.0 per game
  • Blocks | Mahogany Matthews – 2.5 per game

Rice 12-1 (8-0), Last 5 (5-0)

  • 55-43 (W) vs UTEP
  • 77-66 (W) at Old Dominion
  • 67-59 (W) at Old Dominion
  • 64-55 (W) vs Western Kentucky
  • 77-74 (W) vs Western Kentucky

Rice statistical leaders

  • Scoring | Nancy Mulkey – 16.6 per game
  • Rebounds | Nancy Mulkey – 7.7 per game
  • Assists | Jasmine Smith – 4.3 per game
  • Steals | Jasmine Smith and Sydne Wiggins – 1.4 per game
  • Blocks | Nancy Mulkey – 3.4 per game

Whats’s at stake

Rice (8-0) is the only team in Conference USA undefeated in league play, but they don’t have much wiggle room. North Texas (8-2) and Middle Tennessee (10-2) are close and the Owls still have a date with the Mean Green to close the season. Holding serve against Marshall (4-6), even on the road, will be crucial for the Owls.

Men’s Basketball update

The men’s games against Marshall in Houston were first postponed by Winter Storm Uri then canceled because of COVID-19 concerns within the program.

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Rice Athletics: All Friday events postponed, multiple games impacted

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Rice Athletics will not host any events on Friday. Winter Storm Uri has altered schedules for multiple sports. Here is the latest.

The effects of winter storm Uri continue to impact Houston, stretching beyond the personal impacts and into the upcoming Rice Athletics schedule. Rice baseball’s opening weekend round robin including games against Washington, Arkansas-Little Rock and Houston Baptist has seen multiple games called off because of the conditions.

Both Washington or Little Rock announced they would not be able to travel to Houston because of the inclement weather. The Huskies have already added a three game series with UC-Irvine, who Rice played last year. Little Rock is in the process of scheduling additional games this weekend. They won’t be playing in Houston.

For the time being, the Sunday contest between Houston Baptist and Rice is on as scheduled. The two intra-city teams don’t have to worry about coordinating flights, but more conversations will take place before that weekend schedule is finalized.

If both programs are able, it would seem possible for baseball to add additional games with Houston Baptist over the weekend. If and when those games might be played would be dependent on several factors. Per a release from Rice, “an update on the schedule will be provided Friday at 12:00 p.m.”

As for basketball, after originally being bumped back a day, the men’s series against Marshall has been canceled. On top of the weather, the Owls have experienced COVID-19 issues within the program. The women’s series against Marshall is still on for the time being, but the schedules will be adjusted. Originally set for Friday and Saturday, the series has been moved to Saturday and Sunday.

This is a developing situation.

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