Finding ways to win

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


Team Stats (per game)

1. Points: 83.8 (+6.4, #1, #1)
2. Rebounds: 35.9 (+0.8, #9, #2)
3. Assists: 16.6 (+0.3, #11, #1)
4. Steals: 9.4 (+3.0, #9, #1)
5. Blocks: 5.3 (+0.3, #1, #1)
6. Turnovers: 11.1 (-0.2, #2, #1)
7. FG%: 0.483 (+0.017, #6, #1)
8. 3PT%: 0.418 (+0.085, #5, #1)
9. FT%: 0.787 (-0.032, #16, #1)

Opp Team Stats (per game)

1. Opp Points: 61.1 (-2.7, #29, #3)
2. Opp Turnovers: 18.1 (+2.7, #7, #1)
3. Opp FG%: 0.395 (-0.007, #15, #2)
4. Opp 3PT%: 0.353 (+0.001, #212, #8)

Metrics (Offense)

1. OEff: 61.3 (+5.5, #1, #1)
2. OeFG%: 49.0 (+2.0, #5, #1)
3. OTO%: 13.2 (-0.5, #1, #1)
4. OR% 33.8 (+2.0, #4, #1)
5. OFTRate: 14.5 (-17.3, Last, #12)
6. Tempo: 73.2 (+1.1, #16, #1)

Metrics (Defense)

1. DEff: 44.7 (-1.3, NR, #4)
2. DeFG%: 40.1 (-0.6, #15, #2)
3. DTO%: 22.8 (+3.2, #9, #1)
4. DR%: 77.1 (+1.1, NR, #2)
5. DFTRate: 26.9 (-7.7, NR, #2)

What we did well

1. Impact of SG David Williams was felt not only offensively (insane offensive efficiency numbers), but also in defense by creating more turn overs
2. We increased our tempo not because we're taking quick shots, but we convert a lot of turn overs into transition baskets

Areas of improvement

1. We lose 3 of our top 4 (Harper, Brown, Tiggs) rebounders to graduation. Also, Harper and Brown are 2 of the best shot block artists in the nation. Rebounding and interior defense would have to be a collective effort by the team next season. Hopefully, we can con continue to create more turn overs, so we'll be less reliant on our half court defense. The increase in use of zone defense may also help compensate for the personnel losses

[randy]

Offense: 83 (+6)
Defense: 81 (+6)
Recruiting: 68 (+1)
Scouting: 34 (+1)
Development: 81 (+6)
Reputation: 65 (+10)

Record: 330-47 (0.875)

[randy]

Junior College

1. SF Tim Mason (#42); SCR: A, REB: A, DEF: A, OVR: A

HS Seniors

1. SF Tony Brown (#57); REB: A, DEF: B, INS: B, OVR: A
2. C Richard Thomas (#1275); REB: B, DEF: B, BLK: B, OVR: C

[randy]

Starting Lineup

• 1: Sr PG Brent Evans, 6-3, 2.5/4.0 (Allen, TX)
• 2: So SG David Williams, 6-2, 4.0/4.5 (Whiting, IN)
• 3: Sr SF Andre McFadden, 6-8, 4.0/5.0 (St. Johnsbury, VT) (*)
• 4: Sr PF Sam Piatowski, 6-11, 3.5/4.0 (Oakman, AL)
• 5: Sr C Scott Fountain, 6-10, 3.5/4.0 (Hood River, OR)

Bench

• 2/3/4: Jr SF Tim Mason, 6-7, 4.5/5.0 (Waynesville, MO) (*)
• 4/5: Jr C Brent Phillips, 6-10, 3.5/4.0 (Selfridge, ND)
• 1/2: Sr PG Jovan Barker, 6-5, 2.5/4.0 (Dallas, TX)
• 4/5: Fr Tony Brown, 6-11, 2.0/4.5 (Whitesboro, TX)
• 1/2: Sr SG Jimmy Young, 6-1, 3.0/4.0 (Jacksonville, NC)
• 4/5: Fr C Richard Thomas, 6-10, 1.0/4.0 (Victor, NY)
• 1/2: Jr PG Hayletts Johnson, 6-4, 1.5/4.0 (Addison, IL)
• 1/2: Jr SG Ray Richard, 6-3, 2.0/4.5 (Monticello, KY)

Walk-ons

• 3: Fr SF Dan Jones, 6-7, 1.0/1.0 (San Antonio, TX)
• 3/4: Sr PF Keith Platts, 6-7, 1.0/1.0 (Temple, TX)

(*) Norton candidate; it is a travesty that SG David Williams wasn't even considered. All he did last season was to lead a team to the national title, and broke the single-season record for 3 pointers made

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Nov 14, 2011: Rice (0-0) @ Texas Tech (0-0)


Tip off

TT with 17 turn overs, and it helped us get some fast break pts (10). We're not exactly doing good either on ball handling, with 10 turn overs. TT shot well at 50% FG, but could not get enough scoring opportunities because of their errors. SG David Williams doing what he does best, hitting 4 triples, 12 pts.


Halftime, Up 31-26


Start of 2nd half

We go all in on our defensive pressure, and TT now with 20 turn overs. But TT continues to shoot well from the outside to stay close. We'll use m2m defense exclusively
13:15, Up 46-41

After TT got to within 2, we go on a 13-2 run to take a 13 pt lead midway in the 2nd half. We made enough stops, and didn't let TT break our double-digit lead until the final seconds of the game. SG David Williams completely owned the 2nd half. SF Tim Mason was quiet offensively on his debut, but did help out on the boards. Good contributions from freshman PF Tony Brown


Final Score: Rice - 73, Texas Tech - 64


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 35, 5, 3, 5 stls, 4 tos, 9 3PT (*)
McFadden 11, 4, 4, 4 tos
Fountain 10, 4, 0
Brown 6, 2, 1, 2 stls
Evans 4, 0, 3, 3 stls, 4 tos
Piatowski 2, 4, 0
Phillips 2, 3, 1, 3 stls
Barker 2, 0, 2, 3 tos
Mason 1, 6, 0
Johnson 0, 1, 0
Thomas 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 47-51%
REB: +4
TO: -8 (TT: 26)
Pts in paint: +22
2nd chance: +4
Fast break: +10
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Nov 18, 2011: (6) Rice (1-0) vs (3) Bradley (0-1)


Tip off

We're not getting enough offense on our half court sets, not shooting the ball well and committing 9 turn overs. But we compensated on getting on transition once again, with 14 fast break pts. BRAD shot 31% FG, with 10 turn overs. SG David Williams quiet with just 5 pts, 1-6 3PT.


Halftime, Up 30-22


Start of 2nd half

SG David Williams starting to make his mark. We go on a 18-0 run, 14 coming from Williams, and suddenly increase our lead early in the 2nd half to 26. BRAD scored their 1st basket in the 2nd half at 13:00 mark, but the game is practically over at that point. Starters rested early


Final Score: Rice - 68, Bradley - 50


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 25, 3, 1, 4 stls, 4 3PT (*)
Mason 9, 4, 3, 3 stls, 4 tos
Fountain 8, 6, 0
McFadden 8, 3, 2, 2 stls
Phillips 4, 6, 1, fouled out
Piatowski 4, 5, 0, 2 stls
Barker 4, 2, 2, 3 tos
Brown 2, 1, 1
Evans 2, 0, 4, 3 stls, 3 tos
Young 2, 0, 0
Thomas 0, 0, 0
Johnson 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 45-36%
REB: -6
TO: -12 (BRAD: 26)
Pts in paint: +8
2nd chance: -13
Fast break: +3
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Nov 19, 2011: (6) Rice (2-0) vs (2) Ohio St (1-1)


Tip off

OSST shot 50% FG, but not enough opportunities for them due to their 15 turn overs. As always, we used those turn overs to generate a big part of our offense (14 fast break pts). SG David Williams with 17 pts (3 triples) and 5 steals.


Halftime, Up 46-32


Start of 2nd half

We kept our comfortable lead, partly because of the collective solid play of our bigs, led by C Brent Phillips. If we can get consistent production from our big men to complement our perimeter players, we'll be tough to beat again this year.


Final Score: Rice - 87, Bradley - 69


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 37, 4, 1, 7 stls, 8 3s (*)
McFadden 16, 2, 1
Phillips 14, 6, 0, 2 blks
Fountain 8, 2, 0, 2 stls
Piatowski 4, 7, 1
Mason 4, 5, 4, 2 stls
Evans 2, 2, 10, 2 blks
Barker 2, 0, 4
Thomas 0, 1, 0
Johnson 0, 0, 1
Brown 0, 0, 0
Young 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 49-50%
REB: +1
TO: -10 (OSST: 20)
Pts in paint: +12
2nd chance: -1
Fast break: +7
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Nov 20, 2011: (6) #19 Rice (3-0) vs (1) #6 Auburn (4-0)


Tip off

Got off to a 22-4 lead. AUB got back, shooting well from beyond the arc, 6-9 3PT in the 1st half. Our lead was cut to 7. And then SG David Williams went nuts towards the end of the half, finishing with 25 pts (7 triples)


Halftime, Up 48-34


Start of 2nd half

We effectively stopped AUB's perimeter shooting, and thus preventing them from making another big run. AUB shot just 2-11 3PT (the last one was a meaningless buzzer beater), after making 6-9 3PT during the 1st half. SF Tim Mason had a good game, and starting to find his place in our offense.

Hawaiian Shootout Champs!


Final Score: Rice - 82, Auburn - 64


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 39, 4, 0, 4 tos, 11 3s (*)
Mason 15, 3, 1
Fountain 12, 9, 2
Piatowski 5, 8, 0
Evans 5, 3, 6
Phillips 4, 6, 0
McFadden 2, 3, 2
Thomas 0, 1, 0
Barker 0, 0, 2
Brown 0, 0, 0
Young 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 47-38%
REB: +5
TO: -3
Pts in paint: +10
2nd chance: Even
Fast break: -1
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Nov 21, 2011: Alabama (2-0) @ #19 Rice (4-0)


Tip off

Home debut as defending national champs. Electric atmosphere in our home court. And we didn't disappoint our fans, shooting an impressive 61% FG. A surprising top scorer in the 1st half is PR Sam Piatowski with 12 pts, 6-7 FG.


Halftime, Up 49-23


Start of 2nd half

Shooting was not as accurate compared to the 1st half, but I am pleased that we only had 6 turn overs the whole game, and we did good on getting rebounds

SF im Mason suffered a sprained toe, and will be out 2 weeks


Final Score: Alabama - 58, Rice - 84


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 31, 8, 2, 5 stls, 7 3s (*)
Piatowski 12, 6, 0
McFadden 11, 4, 0
Phillips 8, 5, 0
Barker 7, 0, 5, 2 stls
Fountain 5, 4, 1
Evans 4, 4, 4
Mason 4, 4, 1, 2 blks
Brown 2, 1, 0
Johnson 0, 0, 3
Thomas 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 47-41%
REB: +1
TO: -14 (BAMA: 20)
Pts in paint: +32
2nd chance: +4
Fast break: +13
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Nov 24, 2011: Weber St (1-2) @ #19 Rice (5-0)


Tip off

We shot 58% FG. WEB able to keep the score close, as they were shooting the ball well also during the 1st 16 mins, but we pulled away towards the end when they started making turn overs. SG David Williams with 21 pts (5 triples)


Halftime, Up 51-32


Start of 2nd half

We scored 10 pts in the 1st 2 mins of the 2nd half, and led by 28. WEB is not going to recover in this game. At the 12-min mark, SG David Williams outscoring the entire WEB team, 47-46. Early rest for our starters


Final Score: Weber St - 56, Rice - 104


Box Scores
[INDENT]Williams 50, 3, 3, 5 stls, 3 tos, 12 3s (*)
McFadden 19, 5, 2
Evans 8, 1, 6
Fountain 8, 6, 0, 3 blks
Barker 6, 1, 4
Phillips 4, 8, 0, 2 blks
Johnson 3, 1, 0
Brown 2, 3, 2
Young 2, 2, 2, 2 blks, 3 tos
Richard 2, 1, 0
Piatowski 0, 2, 2, 2 stls
Thomas 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 61-39%
REB: +9
TO: -10 (WEB: 22)
Pts in paint: +16
2nd chance: +3
Fast break: +19
[/INDENT]