Finding ways to win

[randy]

Mar 7, 2009: (9) Southern Methodist (10-18, 7-11) vs (1) #10 Rice (25-5, 16-2)


Tip off

C Richie Lewis' injury got healed in time, and is available to play. SMU SF Brennan King is CUSA's leading scorer with 18.2 ppg

SF Ross Brown was recently named Norton finalist to guarantee him a spot in the All-American team. Brown showed us why with another good overall performance in the 1st half, scoring 15 pts, and more importantly shutting down SMU's SF Brennan King (5 pts, 1-10 FG).


Halftime, Up 42-31


Start of 2nd half

SMU's SF Brennan King (1-12 FG) continues to struggle against the defense of SF Ross Brown. Teh rest of the SMU can't get their offense going either, and we have opened up a wide gap
13:05, Up 57-35

Our offense eventually slowed down, but our defense remained solid, allowing SMU just 4 made FGs on their half court sets the entire 2nd half.


Final Score: Southern Methodist - 48, Rice - 76


Box Scores
[INDENT]Brown 21, 2, 0, 2 stls, 2 blks (*)
Harper 14, 11, 2, 2 blks
Lewis 14, 4, 0
McFadden 12, 3, 2
Betts 5, 3, 0, 3 tos
Piatowski 4, 2, 0
Fountain 4, 2, 0
Evans 2, 3, 5
Tiggs 0, 4, 1
Barker 0, 1, 3
Mason 0, 0, 1
Young 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 56-28%
REB: +15
TO: +1
Pts in paint: +20
2nd chance: +8
Fast break: +6
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Mar 8, 2009: (4) Tulane (16-12, 10-8) vs (1) #10 Rice (26-5, 16-2)


Tip off

We lost to TUL in our last meeting, where SG Alvin Ware burned us with 30 pts (8 triples)

We switched SF Ross Brown to shadow Ware, and Ware finished the 1st half with only 1 pt, 0-3 FG. TUL shot just 36% FG. C Curtis Harper leading all scorers with 13 pts.


Halftime, Up 42-30


Start of 2nd half

TUL's SG Alvin finally getting his 1st FG, but it could be a little too late for them. TUL's shooting has dropped down to 27% FG, 1-10 3PT.
10:53, Up 55-35

The best TUL could do was get as close to 12, but with 1 min remaining, there wasn't enough time for them. TUL's SG Alvin Ware finished with just 6 pts, 2-10 FG. Another well-executed defensive game plan by our players.


Final Score: Tulane - 58, Rice - 73


Box Scores
[INDENT]Harper 15, 4, 1
Brown 14, 4, 1, 3 blks, 3 tos (*)
Betts 13, 3, 5, 2 stls, 3-7 3PT
McFadden 11, 8, 1
Lewis 6, 4, 0
Evans 4, 3, 3, 3 tos
Fountain 3, 2, 1
Tiggs 3, 2, 0
Barker 2, 2, 3
Piatowski 2, 2, 0
Mason 0, 1, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 48-35%
REB: +6
TO: -3
Pts in paint: +18
2nd chance: -7
Fast break: -2
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Mar 9, 2009: (2) #13 Memphis (25-8, 14-4) vs (1) #10 Rice (27-5, 16-2)


Tip off

No better way to end CUSA tournament with the 2 best teams gunning for the title. We had a come-from-behind win against MEM on their home court earlier in the season, which gives them all the motivation to get back at us.

Had a slow start trying to adjust against MEM's 2-3 zone, and trailed early 0-5. We got settled in, made some good stops, and we went on an 11-0 run to take the lead. Rest of 1st half was a shooting struggle for both teams. We got to the penalty, and MEM's 15-18 FT became a major factor. MEM's PG Ryan Watson with 19 pts already.


Halftime, Down 31-38


Start of 2nd half

We started double teaming on MEM's PG Ryan Watson. We slowly climbed our way back, and was able trim our deficit to just 1. We had chances to reclaim the lead, but turned the ball over 3 consecutive times.
9:58, Down 43-46

An defensive-oriented 2nd half so far, where both teams missing too many shots. We eventually got the lead on a 3 PT shot by SF Andre McFadden.
5:47, Up 50-48

MEM's PG Ryan Watson has been scoreless so far in the 2nd half, after scoring 19 in the 1st. After MEM tied the game at 50, we went on a 7-0 run for our biggest lead of the game so far
2:44, Up 57-50

PG Ryan Watson (21 pts) gets his 1st 2 pts of the 2nd half, against a double team. SF Ross Brown responded with a 3. Teams traded baskets afterwards.
1:48, Up 62-55

MEM's SF Greg Perry converted a 3pt play opportunity. Timeout. Game is far from over
1:00, Up 62-58

SF Ross Brown can't get a shot off. PG Brent Evans left wide open for a 3. Missed. Timeout MEM
0:40, Up 62-58

We get a steal! MEM now forced to give up fouls, but they are not yet in the penalty. 3 more fouls by MEM; still one more to get them to the penalty. With time running out, we were able to move and pass the ball, and time expires

Back-to-back CUSA Tournament Champions!


Final Score: Memphis - 58, Rice - 62


Box Scores
[INDENT]Brown 15, 8, 0, 4 blks (*)
Betts 12, 4, 1
McFadden 11, 2, 0
Tiggs 6, 5, 0
Lewis 6, 4, 1, 2 blks
Harper 6, 4, 1, 2 blks
Fountain 4, 1, 0
Evans 2, 3, 5, 3 tos
Barker 0, 0, 3, 2 stls
Piatowski 0, 0, 1
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 38-32%
REB: -4
TO: +2
Pts in paint: +4
2nd chance: -3
Fast break: -6
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Our RPI is 8, and ranked #7

We're in the Midwest Regionals (Kansas City)

1st round matchup:
(3) Rice vs (14) Murray St

Teams in the Midwest Regionals

• (1) #6 LSU, 2 Nat'l Titles, 8 Final Fours
• (2) #12 Minnesota, 1 Nat'l Title, 5 Final Fours
• (3) #7 Rice
• (4) #11 Memphis, 1 Nat'l Title, 4 Final Fours
• (5) #21 UCLA, 3 Final Fours
• (6) Kentucky, 5 Nat'l Titles, 10 Final Fours
• (7) Brigham Young, 1 Final Four
• (8) San Francisco
• (9) Clemson
• (10) Mississippi
• (11) Houston, 2 Nat'l Titles, 6 Final Fours
• (12) Santa Clara
• (13) Appalachian St
• (14) Murray St
• (15) Bucknell
• (16) William & Mary

Other Ranked Teams

East

• (1) #3 Michigan St
• (2) #4 Gonzaga
• (3) #14 Arkansas
• (4) #16 Georgia Tech
• (5) #17 Dayton
• (6) #24 Stanford

South

• (1) #2 Pittsburgh
• (2) #10 Oklahoma
• (3) #20 St John's
• (4) #22 Xavier
• (5) #25 Arizona
• (6) #15 Cal St Northridge
• (8) #23 VCU

West

• (1) #1 Duke
• (2) #13 Kansas
• (3) #18 Iowa
• (4) #5 Toledo
• (6) #19 Vermont

On Probation

• #8 Georgia
• #9 Temple

[randy]

Mar 16, 2009: (14) Murray St (18-12, 11-5) vs (3) #7 Rice (28-5, 16-2)

Pregame Notes

• Key Players
  
  1. Jr SG Mike Miller (11.7 ppg, 40% 3PT)
  2. Sr C Jamel Harris (8.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg)
• How they got here
  
  1. Finished 1st OVC; Champion OVC Tournament
• Strengths
  
  1. Defense: 60.5 opp ppg, 79.5 DR%
• Weaknesses
  
  1. Turn overs: 15.7 topg
  2. We expect MURRAY to grind this game to a halt. If we can force turn overs on them and run, we'll have the upper hand

Tip off

We were shooting just 25% FG midway in the 1st half, thus allowing MURRAY to clog up the lane and not allow our big men room to operate. Game was tied at 16, and the MURRAY came up with an 8-0. The possibility of being in the wrong end of a big upset looms into our favor. We came back and cut the lead to 1, but MURRAY answered with another 6-0 run. A buzzer-beater 3 by PG Brent Evans brought down our deficit.


Halftime, Down 27-32
We didn't get much from our big men in the 1st half; they need to assert themselves in the 2nd half.


Start of 2nd half

MURRAY made their 1st 2 shots in the 2nd half, and we go down by 9. Our fans beginning to worry. We started our comeback by making our last 3 attempts from beyond the arc.
15:04, Down 38-40

We made 2 more stops. A 3 by Jon Betts finally gave us the lead. ut our lead didn;t last long. MURRAY's SG Mike Miller (18 pts) converted his last 2 attempts from 3. Our fouls are mounting up once again (6 team fouls; MURRAY with zero)
9:50, Down 45-46

We forced 2 turn overs on MURRAY. We got a rare transition basket, and then a 3 from SF Ross Brown (14 pts). We got 3 more stops, but we can't make a basket either. In our last possession, we had 2 offensive rebounds, before C Scott Fountain finally able to score on a put back.
6:59, Up 52-46

Trading a long list of misses afterwards. Both teams are fighting very on the boards. The drought was broken by SF Ross Brown who hits a bank shot. Up 8. MURRAY commits another turn over. We go back to Brown, who drives and scores. MURRAY has scored only 6 pts in the last 11+ minutes.
4:07, Up 56-46

SF Ross Brown added 2 more FTs and we go up by 12. MURRAY broke their silence with a 3, and another FG on their next possession. This is not yet over. Timeout
2:24, Up 58-51

SF Ross Brown missed a 3, but C Curtis Harper is there for the put back; that is just Harper's 2nd FG of the game. Up 9. MURRAY's Mike Miller (20 pts) can't get a shot because of our double team. Miller had to give up the ball. They try to force it back to Miller, but we stole the ball. Brown got fouled on the other end. Brown puts up a shot, missed but got fouled. Brown cans both FTs. It would be difficult now for MURRAY to catch up
1:30, Up 62-51

We slowed the game down, and hang on for the win. Game was closer than the final score indicates. MURRAY had a good game plan, but SF Ross Brown came to the rescue just in time


Final Score: Murray St - 53, Rice - 67


Box Scores
[INDENT]Brown 24, 7, 0, 3 tos, 4-12 3PT (*)
McFadden 10, 5, 0
Betts 10, 2, 1, 2 stls
Evans 9, 1, 2, 3-3 3PT
Harper 6, 6, 1
Fountain 6, 6, 0
Lewis 2, 4, 0
Barker 0, 4, 5
Tiggs 0, 3, 0
Piatkowski 0, 0, 0
Mason 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 38-34%
REB: -2
TO: -4
Pts in paint: +8
2nd chance: +1
Fast break: +1
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Mar 18, 2009: (7) Houston (20-11, 11-7) vs (3) #7 Rice (29-5, 16-2)

There were 3 teams from CUSA playing in the NCAA tournament; and all of them are in the same regionals


Pregame Notes

• Key Players
  
  1. Sr SG Darrell Poole (17.0 ppg, 44% 3PT)
  2. Fr PF Larry Williams (10.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg)
• How they got here
  
  1. Finished 3rd CUSA; Lost CUSA Tournament Quarter Finals
  2. (Rd 64)Def Kentucky, 63-61 (5 players with 9+ pts)
• Strengths
  
  1. Rebounding: 35.8 rpg (#1 CUSA)
  2. Gets to the line often: 20+ FTAs per game
• Weaknesses
  
  1. Turn overs: 15.0 topg
  2. We beat them twice this season, but only by a combined 6 pts. We can't just focus our defense on Poole, as they have plenty of players who can score. We averaged more than 20 fast break pts on those 2 wins; we need to do the same today.

Tip off

HOU started 0-8 FG, but their shooting picked up midway in the 1st half. HOU also was awarded a lot of FTs, making 13-17. We shot 44% FG, including 4-10 3PT


Halftime, Down 34-35
I keep pointing out to the refs the discrepancy on fouls. Hopefully, it won't be as much in the 2nd half. We need to be consistent on defense in the 2nd half; our performance on the defensive end during the last 10 mins of the 1st was dismal.


Start of 2nd half

HOU already with 7 2nd half turn overs, but still able to keep the game close by going to the line
13:06, Tied at 43

SF Andre McFadden scored 5 straight pts. HOU answered with a 6-0. Lead has changed hands a couple more times. Both teams not wanting the other to establish momentum
8:44, Tied at 53

Score was tied also at 55, 57, and 59. This is going down the wire.
5:38, Tied at 59

HOU got the lead once again with a basket. Down 2. We answered with a 3. Up 1. HOU getting back with also a 3. Down 2. We missed. Anotehr foul on us, and HOU hits both FTs (23-30 FT so far). Timeout
4:15, Down 62-66

SF Ross Brown got fouled, and he hits both FTs. Down 2. HOU missed a 3. We get the ball back. C Richie Lewis hits a short jumper.
3:30, Tied at 66

HOU made a shot plus a foul. They missed the bonus shot. Down 2. PG Brent Evans shoots a 3. Missed. Off rebound by C Richie Lewis. Put back is no good. Lewis gets the rebound once again. 2nd try by Lewis. Also no good. HOU finally secures the rebound. We get called for another foul while they are attempting a jump shot. Oh man. Split FTs. Timeout
2:31, Down 66-69

SG Jon Betts shoots. Blocked. SF Ross Brown recovers the ball. Brown shoots. Miss. HOU gets the ball. HOU able to hit a big shot. Timeout
1:33, Down 66-71

SF Ross Brown able to get 2 shots from beyond the arc. Both missed. HOU with the ball. We got assessed for another foul. Not the getting the breaks today. HOU added 2 more pts from the line. I called my last timeout
1:03, Down 66-73

We have to shoots 3s, and foul to stop the clock. SF Ross Brown gets 1 to go. Down 4. We foul. HOU splits. Down 5, 0:47 left. We go back to Brown, but he missed a 3 this time. 2 more FTs by HOU to make it a 3 possession game with half a min left. Not gonna do it.

A very disappointing loss. 3 straight years we got eliminated at this stage of the NCAA tournament. 6-0 in our 6 previous meetings to HOU, but we couldn't pull it off in this big game. HOU had 41 FTAs (making 31)


Final Score: Houston - 78, Rice - 71


Box Scores
[INDENT]Brown 24, 5, 0
Betts 13, 2, 1
McFadden 12, 1, 3, 2 stls
Lewis 6, 11, 3, 2 stls
Harper 6, 7, 1, 5 blks
Fountain 4, 1, 0
Evans 2, 1, 4, 3 tos
Barker 2, 1, 5
Tiggs 2, 1, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 40-47%
REB: -10
TO: -5
Pts in paint: -6
2nd chance: -4
Fast break: -4
[/INDENT]

[randy]

NCAA

• #1 Duke def #6 LSU, 79-38, and win their 2nd national title

[randy]

All-American 2nd Team

• So SF Ross Brown

CUSA 1st Team All-Conference

• So SF Ross Brown
• So C Curtis Harper

CUSA 2nd Team All-Conference

• Sr C Richie Lewis

I won my 2nd CUSA COY. MEM's PG Ryan Watson got all major individual awards in the conference, including POY, FOY, and DPOY

[randy]

If applicable: (National Rank, Conference Rank; NR = Not Ranked)


Points

1. SF Ross Brown - 16.8 ppg
2. C Curtis Harper - 14.6
3. SG Jon Betts - 11.2
4. C Richie Lewis - 10.4
5. SF Andre McFadden - 7.7
6. PF Kevin Tiggs - 5.0
7. C Scott Fountain - 4.7
8. PF Sam Piatkowski - 3.2
9. PG Brett Evans - 3.0
10. PG Jovan Barker - 2.6
11. PG Brad Hahn - 1.4
12. PF Jason Ramsey - 1.3
13. SG Jared Mason - 1.3
14. SG Jimmy Young - 0.9

Rebounds

1. C Curtis Harper - 7.6 rpg (#34, #3)
2. C Richie Lewis - 6.1
3. SF Ross Brown - 5.1
4. PF Kevin Tiggs - 3.2
5. SF Andre McFadden - 3.0
6. C Scott Fountain - 2.6
7. SG Jon Betts - 2.2
8. PF Sam Piatkowski - 1.8
9. PG Brett Evans - 1.4
10. PG Jovan Barker - 1.2
11. PF Jason Ramsey - 1.0

Assists

1. PG Brett Evans - 4.6 apg (#29, #2)
2. PG Jovan Barker - 3.9
3. SG Jon Betts - 2.1
4. SF Andre McFadden - 1.3
5. SF Ross Brown - 1.2
6. PG Brad Hahn - 1.2
7. C Curtis Harper - 1.0

Steals

1. SF Ross Brown - 1.3 spg
2. SG Jon Betts - 1.2
3. C Curtis Harper - 1.1

Blocks

1. C Curtis Harper - 2.2 bpg (#4, #1)
2. C Richie Lewis - 2.1 (#6, #2)
3. SF Ross Brown - 1.6 (#11, #3)

3PM

1. SG Jon Betts - 80
2. SF Ross Brown - 55
3. SF Andre McFadden - 20
4. PG Brett Evans - 14
5. PG Jovan Barker - 3
6. SG Jared Mason - 2
7. PG Brad Hahn - 1

Turnovers

1. PG Brett Evans - 2.7 topg
2. PG Jovan Barker - 2.3
3. SF Ross Brown - 1.3
4. PG Brad Hahn - 1.3
5. SG Jon Betts - 1.3
6. SF Andre McFadden - 1.2

FG% (min 30 FGA)

1. C Scott Fountain - 67.4%
2. PF Sam Piatkowski - 63.3
3. C Curtis Harper - 61.8
4. C Richie Lewis - 56.1
5. PF Kevin Tiggs - 47.1
6. SG Jon Betts - 46.2
7. PG Jovan Barker - 44.4
8. SF Ross Brown - 42.2
9. PG Brett Evans -40.3
10. SF Andre McFadden - 38.8

FT% (min 20 FTA)

1. PF Sam Piatkowski - 96.3% (26 of 27)
2. SF Ross Brown - 92.1
3. C Curtis Harper - 83.3
4. PG Jovan Barker - 80.0
5. PG Brett Evans - 72.0
6. PF Kevin Tiggs - 71.4
7. SG Jon Betts - 71.1
8. SF Andre McFadden - 63.6
9. C Scott Fountain - 62.1
10. C Richie Lewis - 34.5

3PT% (min 10 3PTA)

1. SG Jon Betts - 41.9% (80 of 191)
2. SF Ross Brown - 35.9
3. SF Andre McFadden - 33.3
4. PG Brett Evans - 28.6

Minutes

1. SF Ross Brown - 25.9 mpg
2. SG Jon Betts - 24.2
3. C Curtis Harper - 24.2
4. C Richie Lewis - 23.4
5. PG Brett Evans - 19.5
6. SF Andre McFadden - 19.3
7. PF Kevin Tiggs - 16.5
8. PG Jovan Barker - 16.5
9. C Scott Fountain - 10.2
10. PF Sam Piatkowski - 7.7
11. SG Jimmy Young - 7.6
12. PG Brad Hahn - 7.6
13. SG Jared Mason - 4.3
14. PF Jason Ramsey - 3.8

[randy]

If applicable: (+/- from last season, National Rank, Conference Rank)


Team Stats (per game)

1. Points: 78.3 (-0.3, #2, #1)
2. Rebounds: 34.0 (-0.9, #40, #3)
   
3. Assists: 17.1 (-0.1, #3, #1)
4. Steals: 7.5 (+0.8, #32, #1)
   
5. Blocks: 6.0 (+2.4, #2, #1)
   
6. Turnovers: 12.0 (+0.6, #8, #2)
7. FG%: 0.481 (+0.010, #7, #1)
8. 3PT%: 0.369 (+0.031, #70, #4)
   [color="Red"]
9. FT%: 0.699 (-0.060, #276, #8)[/color]

Opp Team Stats (per game)

1. Opp Points: 66.1 (+0.8, #137, #3)
2. Opp Turnovers: 16.3 (-0.1, #39, #1)
3. Opp FG%: 0.410 (-0.002, #41, #3)
4. Opp 3PT%: 0.331 (-0.038, #91, #3)

Metrics (Offense)

1. OEff: 57.5 (+1.5, #4, #1)
2. OeFG%: 48.5 (+0.9, #7, #1)
3. OTO%: 14.6 (+0.8, #3, #1)
4. OR% 29.6 (-2.4, NR, #2)
5. OFTRate: 28.5 (+1.7, NR, #9)
6. Tempo: 73.4 (+0.9, NR, #2)

Metrics (Defense)

1. DEff: 48.5 (+1.1, NR, #6)
2. DeFG%: 41.5 (-0.4, NR, #3)
3. DTO%: 20.2 (-0.6, NR, #1)
4. DR%: 74.0 (-2.4, NR, #3)
5. DFTRate: 37.9 (+5.3, NR, #10)

What we did well

1. We have given more focus on inside scoring, hence the slight increase in our FG%
2. We had one of the best shot blocking front court in the country.

Areas of improvement

1. We made great strides in defending the 3PT line. Limiting our opponents to less than 40% FG next season would be a reasonable target, and perhaps the key to progress deeper into the NCAA tournament
2. We expect to lower our turn overs, as our corps of young guards have gained a year of experience