Conference USA Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2019-20 season

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 27: Head coach Rick Stansbury of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Utah Utes during their 2018 National Invitation Tournament Championship semifinals game at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 20: Ako Adams #3 of the Rice Owls drives against Jordan Johnson #24 of the UNLV Rebels during day one of the Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

#14 — RICE

2018-19 IN REVIEW

Record: 13-19 (8-10, T-9th in C-USA)
Rankings: #217 in NET, #248 in KenPom
Postseason: none

2019-20 AT A GLANCE

HEAD COACH

Scott Pera (3rd year)
School W-L: 20-43 (.317)
Career W-L: 20-43 (.317)

PROJECTED STARTERS

Tommy McCarthy, G, Gr. — 8.8 PPG, 3.6 APG in ’15-16 at Harvard
Ako Adams, G, Sr. — 27.3 MPG (32 starts), 11.2 PPG, 2.6 APG
Chris Mullins, G, So. — 28.8 MPG (21 starts), 12.0 PPG, 2.7 APG
Drew Peterson, G/F, So. — 19.8 MPG (23 starts), 5.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Bobby Martin, F, Sr. — 25.6 MPG (1 start), 12.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG

NON-CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

11/05 @ Arkansas
11/09 vs Penn
11/16 @ UC Santa Barbara
11/19 @ Houston

https://twitter.com/RiceBasketball/status/1164215360540880897?s=20

2019-20 SEASON OUTLOOK

At first glance, it’s hard to say much positive about the Owls’ 2018-19 campaign. But their 13-19 record actually represented a six-win increase from Scott Pera’s first season with Rice. That said, it’s still a long way up from the bottom of the C-USA standings. If you’re a fan of roster stability, the Owls do have that going for them. Pera brings back over 75 percent of his team’s minutes from last season, including three players who averaged better than 11 points per game.

Adams, Martin, and Mullins all return to Space City for another year. Joining them is graduate transfer Tommy McCarthy, who comes over from Harvard. McCarthy had a promising freshman year for the Crimson, but the point guard had his career derailed by injuries, playing in just 26 games over the past three seasons. While it’s certainly not impossible for Rice to finish closer to the middle of the pack in Conference USA, the rest of the conference simply has them outclassed on talent.

If the Owls are to succeed, it will have to stem from the leadership of their veterans.