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LOCATION: Houston, TX
CONFERENCE: Western Athletic (WAC)
LAST SEASON: 18-10 (.643)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 8-6 (3rd, Mountain)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 3/2
NICKNAME: Owls
COLORS: Blue & Gray
HOMECOURT: Autry Court (5,000)
COACH: Willis Wilson (Rice '82)
record at school 98-98 (7 years)
career record 98-98 (7 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Marty Gross (Jacksonville '77)
Todd Smith (Valparaiso '89)
John Herndon (Washington & Lee '85)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 15-14-12-6-18
RPI (last 5 years) 137-109-126-199-86
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference semifinal.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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Willis Wilson was right when he told the media to be patient a year ago. The Owls won just six games two seasons ago after being picked as a potential sleeper in the WAC Pacific Division. Winning 18 wasn't a shock, but it proved that Wilson should be recognized for his coaching. He certainly deserved the interest he received from Vanderbilt and Minnesota. But neither job happened, whether it was his call or theirs. Wilson is banking on another surprise season. But he is realistic. Like last year, the Owls need to get off to a good start. Rice has been a team that needs early-season confidence to get it going. Playing high-major teams two years ago did little to restore the team's self-image. It led to losses and the Owls couldn't recover. A year ago they opened with a more realistic schedule by beating teams like Missouri-Rolla and Stephen F. Austin and Texas-Pan American. The fast start didn't slow it down as Rice stayed in the WAC Mountain race throughout the season. Don't expect the Owls to be hanging around the WAC title race in February, but they may not be out of it early with games against teams like Northwestern State, Rockhurst College and Stephen F. Austin. "If we win games early, we can be better than a year ago," Wilson said. "If we don't get the confidence, well. ... we're more talented than a year ago. The intangible is how will guys respond to adverse situations." Robert Johnson was the most improved player in the league last season, averaging 22 ppg. Jason Skaer gave the Owls a toughness they lacked the previous year. Derek Michaelis was a steady presence on the wing.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT C- BENCH/DEPTH C-
FRONTCOURT C- INTANGIBLES C+
The grades may be too harsh for a team that won 18 games last season, but there are too many questions. It's true that no one knew Robert Johnson would be a big-time scorer, but it's hard to predict who among this lot can repeat his performance. Mike Wilks can handle his own in the WAC, but Shawn Tyndell hasn't proven he can score in bunches yet. Alex Bougaieff is a solid middle man but needs to be a reliable low-post scorer. T.J. McKenzie hasn't played in a year. Erik Cooper is a serviceable rebounding forward, but may struggle to defend quicker players. The bench is all newcomers. Rice can surprise teams in the WAC. It happened last season. Unfortunately, the Owls are going to have to prove it again. |
All three are gone and the pressure is on a host of unknowns to keep the Owls on their continued climb back to the top of the conference. Mike Wilks, a 5-11 junior point guard, returns at the point. Wilks (8.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.1 apg) had nine games with six or more assists, including 10 in a game against SMU. He's not going to wow teams, but he is as capable a point as there is in the league in getting a team into its offense and defending the ball. "There's not as many points guards who can take the ball end to end like Mike," Wilson said. "He's starting to shoot the ball better outside and he can defend as well as anybody as we have." Shawn Tyndell, a 6-5 junior swing guard, will have to replace Johnson's production at wing. Tyndell (3.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg) has never been a big-time scorer, but he better be if the Owls are going to hang with the likes of Fresno State's Courtney Alexander. Tyndell had two breakthrough games, scoring 16 points against Portland and 15 against TCU. "He can take his game to another level," Wilson said. "If we have a good year, it's because he did. He's a terrific shooter and can break you off the dribble. We need him to be an integral part of the offense." The Owls will miss Skaer's rebounding, but 6-6 junior Erik Cooper can take on more responsibility. Cooper (6.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg) had a rough start to the season after developing mononucleosis. He came back later in the season to average 14.3 ppg in his final three games, including scoring 21 points against San Jose State in the WAC Tournament and 10 against New Mexico. "He can pick up where he left off last season," Wilson said. "He's as good a scorer as we have. He's capable of giving us that kind of point production, rebounding and intensity." The strength of this team is up front, where Rice can go big with 6-11 senior Alex Bougaieff (8.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and 6-11 sophomore transfer T.J. McKenzie (Providence College). Bougaieff started five of 22 games last season and led the team in rebounding. He's a wide body who can be a more legitimate low-post scorer. Wilson said he put on more weight and his shooting has improved from 17 feet and in over the summer. During the summer, he played for the Canadian team at the World University Games, scoring 28 points and grabbing eight rebounds in a game against the United States in Spain. McKenzie played in 27 of Providence's 29 games as a freshman but didn't produce. He was a scorer out of Trumbull High in Connecticut, averaging 23.5 points and 11.5 rebounds. "He can step in and give us a physical, tough player that Skaer gave us," Wilson said. "Skaer gave us attitude last season. McKenzie can do that. I think he'll have a great career here. He can score and has a body that can allow him to get things done inside." The bench is all newcomers. Jay Christian, a 6-5 freshman from Midland High in Texas, averaged 25.6 ppg and 15 rpg. Wilson thinks he will be a blender on the wing with ability to go inside. "He can take guys outside with his size and can be a capable three-point scorer," Wilson said. "He could come in and produce like Erik Cooper." Ferron Morgan, a 6-10 freshman, took a medical redshirt season after breaking his right foot in practice Nov. 5. Later in the season he broke the same foot. Morgan averaged 15.2 points and 9.8 rebounds at Denver East High in Aurora, Colo. "He gives us size and depth at center," Wilson said. "He's a rugged, aggressive player that in the long run; the redshirt season will help him because it developed his game. He's a lot more polished than a year ago." Brandon Evans, a 6-9 freshman from Kempner High in Sugar Land, Texas, is another big body player who has raw post skills but could turn into a reserve banger. He averaged 15.6 points and 13.3 rebounds last season. Michael Walton, a 6-foot freshman from Mountde Sales Academy in Macon, Ga., will be the backup point to Wilks. He averaged 2.5 assists per game and scored 1,295 points in his career. "He's a savvy player who can score from the perimeter," Wilson said. Kevin Craig, a 6-6 freshman from Dulles High in Sugar Land, Texas, will fill in behind Cooper and Tyndell. He has little more athleticism and can pop a three-point shot, too. He averaged 13.5 points and 9.6 rebounds last season. "Morgan, Christian, Walton, Craig and Evans will play," Wilson said. "We will play 10 guys early because they need the seasoning. These freshmen have to play for us early for us to gain confidence as a team. The only way to build confidence is to win games early in the season."
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