#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.